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Trooper Death Sparks Calls for Re-Investigation

By AP/KWMU

Washington, DC – The recent death of a Missouri state trooper has led to a request that the government re-open the federal investigation of Ford's Crown Victoria sedan.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) is urging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to look into the issue of fatal gas tank explosions on the car.

Crown Victoria's are used by about 80% of all U.S. police departments. In the past 20 years, 14 officers have died in crashes when their Crown Vic's gas tank caught fire after being hit from behind.

The most recent was last week in western Missouri, when trooper Micheal Newton died in a fiery wreck. A truck struck his patrol car that was stopped alongside Interstate 70.

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