MY SPOUSE HIT A LARGE MALE DEER HEAD ON AT APPX 55MPH AT ABOUT 5AM THIS MORNING. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE BLAST FROM THE AIRBAG BURNED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE SLEEVES OF HIS JACKET, THROUGH TWO LAYERS OF SHIRTS, AND CAUSED SECOND DEGREE BURNS OF HIS ARMS. HAD HE NOT BEEN WEARING SO MANY LAYERS OF CLOTHING, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE BURNS WOULD HAVE BEEN FULL THICKNESS THIRD DEGREE BURNS. WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE BURNS ON HIS ARMS AND THE BURNED GARMENTS. WHILE WE ARE PLEASED THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, THE HEAT GENERATED AND DIRECTED TOWARDS THE DRIVER IS TOO HIGH AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, CAUSING SERIOUS BURNS AND CAUSING CLOTHING TO IGNITE WHICH CAN RESULT IN DEATH. THOUGH HIS CLOTHING WAS BURNED COMPLETELY THROUGH, THE FLAME DID NOT SPREAD IN HIS CASE. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD HAVE IGNITED THE DRIVER'S (MY HUSBAND'S) CLOTHING AND UNNECESSARY KILLED HIM AND BURNED HIM TO DEATH. THE BURNS HE SUFFERED ARE NOT MINOR AND WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE WITHOUT THE LAYERS OF CLOTHING THAT HELPED REDUCE THE INTENSITY. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR SUCH A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IN A FEATURE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT PASSENGERS AND DRIVER. CAUSING SERIOUS BURNS, OR WORSE, SETTING DRIVER/PASSENGER ON FIRE, IS HARMFUL AND POTENTIALLY FATAL. *TR
