1999 Honda Odyssey Child Seat Problems

THE DECEDENT IS A 3 MONTH OLD FEMALE INFANT WHO WAS A PASSENGER IN A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY VAN. THE INFANT WAS SECURED IN A BABY TREND FLEX LOC INFANT CAR SEAT (MANUFACTURED IN 062809 HH, MODEL # CS31029) AND THE BASE OF THE CAR SEAT WAS SECURED TO A SEAT BELT. THE REAR OF THE VAN WAS IMPACTED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE CARRIER TO SEPARATE FROM THE BASE. THE INFANT, WHO WAS SECURED TO THE CARRIER, WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE INFANT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL, WHERE SHE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PRONOUNCED DEAD IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM ON JANUARY 30, 2010 AT 16:02 HOURS. *TR

CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS IN REAR SEAT WHEN SEATBELT BUCKLE LOCKED UP, AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. SEATBELT BUCKLE WOULDN'T MOVE TO RETRACTOR IN ORDER TO RELEASE HER. AT THIS POINT, CONSUMER'S CHILD HAD TO REMOVE HER CLOTHING TO WIGGLE OUT OF SEATBELT. *AK

THE REMOVABLE BASE SECTION OF A CENTURY SMART FIT PLUS INFANT CHILD RESTRAINT, SER. # 4529, MANUFACTURED 11-21-97, SHOWS SIGNS OF COLLAPSE CAUSED BY NORMAL INSTALLATION. THE EXTENDABLE FOOT USED TO ADJUST THE BASE ANGLE HAS THIN PLASTIC GUIDES, WHICH THE FOOT MOVES UP AND DOWN ALONG. THESE GUIDES HAVE BENT TOWARD THE REAR OF THE SEAT, AND MAY COLLAPSE FURTHER, ALLOWING THE BASE TO SETTLE TO AN IMPROPER ANGLE. ALSO, THE BLUE PLASTIC FOOT ITSELF SHOWS WHITENING OF THE PLASTIC, INDICATING THAT THE PLASTIC HAS BENT OR DEFORMED. IT APPEARS THAT THE ASSEMBLY COLLAPSES BECAUSE OF THE DOWNWARD PRESSURE APPLIED DURING NORMAL, BUT TIGHT, INSTALLATION WITH THE CAR SAFETY BELTS. THIS DEFECT WAS FOUND BY, AND IS REPORTED HERE BY, OFFICER MARK BERGIN, ALEXANDRIA VA POLICE DEPARTMENT, 703-848-4763, WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE OWNER.