Quemado, Texas—U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) on Aug. 31 called on the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate an Aug. 22 incident in Quemado, Texas, when one person died and four were injured when a truck carrying Takata airbag inflators and ammonium nitrate-based propellant crashed and exploded. Lucila Robles, 69, died when her house, which was near the truck crash, was destroyed. She could not be located for two days and could only be identified via dental records. Two truck drivers and two other motorists fled the accident prior to the explosion and were injured. The material was reportedly enroute from Takata’s propellant factory in Moses Lake, Wash., to Takata’s airbag factory in Monclavo, Mexico. Takata, which was using a subcontractor for the transport, said it has strict safety procedures relating to the transportation of its products that meet or exceed all regulatory requirements. Takata is in the midst of multiple litigation over its airbags, and several automakers have recalled more than 64 million airbag inflaters. Allegedly, the AN-based propellant can break down over time and become unstable, combusting violently when triggered. Takata has not responded to inquiries as to where it procures its AN, and it does not appear to date that AN manufacturers have been pulled into the litigation. Major AN producer CF Industries Holdings Inc. last week told Green Markets it does not supply AN to Takata and it is not involved in the litigation. The New York Times reported that former company Mississippi Chemical Corp. once considered being Takata’s supplier, but backed away due to liability concerns. Takata has reported explosions at both the Moses Lake and Monclava plants.
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