A wrongful death lawsuit was filed last week against DaimlerChrysler Corporation by the family of a Zephyrhills, Florida man who died from injuries sustained when his van was rear ended in 1999. Robert Herman Crawford was killed when his 1993 Dodge Minivan was struck from behind by a 1988 GMC pickup truck driven by Anthony R. Williams.

Attorneys for Crawford's family say DaimlerChrysler is responsible. The lawsuit claims the automaker is guilty of negligence and willful and wanton misconduct. Investigators say Crawford's seat collapsed, throwing the 68-year-old man into the backseat where he sustained fatal head injuries. Attorneys claim DaimlerChrysler "knew or should have known of the dangerous propensity of the seat."