Airbag malfunction kills car dealer during vehicle inspection

Assistant Police Inspector S.S. Kashid said Soni suffered a deep cut on the right side of his neck after the steering wheel airbag allegedly deployed suddenly, and the plastic cover flew off with force, striking him. “He appears to have lost a large amount of blood and may have become unconscious immediately. As there was no one around at the time, the bleeding proved fatal,” Kashid said.

Senior Police Inspector Rajendra Kamble said preliminary inspection found no signs of collision or external damage to the vehicle. “The car was stationary. There was no impact from outside. The steering wheel airbag appears to have deployed on its own, and the plastic casing hit the victim’s neck, causing a fatal injury,” he said.

A forensic team visited the spot and collected blood samples and other evidence from inside the vehicle. Police have also informed the Regional Transport Office (RTO), which is examining the vehicle’s mechanical and electrical systems to ascertain what triggered the airbag deployment.

Police said they will also seek a technical report from the vehicle manufacturer. “We are awaiting the forensic and technical reports to establish the exact sequence of events and determine whether a mechanical or electrical defect caused the airbag to deploy,” an investigating officer said.

Investigators said the Honda car is around 15 years old but reportedly has a valid fitness certificate.