SUV Safety Feature Gets US Special Agent Killed In Mexico
When US special agent Jaime Zapata was confronted and killed in Mexico last year by the countries ruthless Zeta cartel an investigation was launched. It turns out that cartel members were able to gain access to the agents armored SUV because the vehicle contained a safety feature meant to protest everyday drivers.
According to the Washington Post the vehicles doors automatically unlocked when the vehicle was throw into park, allowing cartel members to gain immediate access to the $160,000 state-of-the-art armored Chevy Suburban.
Essentially the vehicles armor was rendered useless and as one congressman pointed out if it had been disengaged “Zapata would probably still be alive today.”
With hundreds of similar armored SUV’s used by US agents around the world various agencies were quick to examine all of their armored vehicles and make changes as required.
While it’s still unclear how many vehicles were at risk agents now claim that the entire Mexico fleet was reprogrammed after the incident to remove the auto unlock feature.
BAE Systems, which outfitted the specially armored SUV units say “the government customer is aware of the importance of disengaging the auto-unlock feature.”
Perhaps it’s easy for me to say this with the perspective I have on the case but I would have thought some field testing of the vehicles would have exposed such a major flaw in the design of a vehicle that’s suppose to keep people and objects out.
Do you think BAE Systems is at fault for agent Jaime Zapata’s death or should government agencies have better examined the armored vehicles before purchasing them?
