The Ford Police Interceptor Utility, which is a variant of the Ford Explorer, has been at the center of a number of lawsuits alleging that the crossover presents with dangerous exhaust leaks. A federal jury recently ruled in the favor of The Blue Oval in one such case, which was originally filed by officer Jeremy Bellamy. Not too long after the decision was reached, Bellamy was found dead on April 23rd, 2025.
According to a report from Express News, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to determine the cause and manner of Bellamy’s death. Bellamy alleged that he suffered permanent brain injuries due to carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from an exhaust leak in his Ford Police Interceptor Utility. His lawyer told the jury that Bellamy experienced memory loss, loss of balance, and poor mental health due to the alleged exhaust leak.
The jury deliberated for more than three hours across two days before deciding the case on April 17th, 2025. There were no design or manufacturing defects present in the Ford Police Interceptor Utility, and the jury decided against awarding damages to Bellamy.
Maureen Farrell, Houston lawyer who represented Bellamy, had asked for damages “not to exceed $136 million.” Farrell filed a motion for a new trial just one day after the verdict was reached.
Ford’s representation argued that Bellamy had passed out at the wheel of his Ford Police Interceptor Utility not because of carbon monoxide poisoning, but because of a number of preexisting conditions like sleep apnea, hypersomnia, hypertension, and an opioid addiction.
“This is so sad,” Universal City Police Chief Johnny Siemens said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
It’s worth noting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated the exhaust leak issue for six years before closing the case, determining that the Explorer and Police Interceptor Utility units were not faulty. Ford’s own investigation returned that the Police Interceptor Utility vehicles could, in fact, present with exhaust leaks, but that said leaks were caused by work performed to add sirens, lights, and other modifications.
Workers are reportedly dealing with a variety of hazards.
It's part of a bigger giveaway involving an entire home.
It's rather cheap by comparison, but also a bit rough.
Its per-unit cost impact is lower than almost all of its rivals.
And a whopping seven percent, year-over-year.
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If he had a drug issue, how was he a policeman?
Because he also beat his wife
He had dirt on the Clintons?
Feel better now?
Time for your nap, and then you can have a juice box.
We need some respect here. A life has ended. That is very sad. Also sad is misguided plaintiff lawyer tactic for going after Ford to grab/extort from “big pockets”, except Ford’s pockets are shrinking. The lawsuit, if any, should have been against the 3rd party installer of the sirens/lights. Also sad is the consumption of resources Ford spends on such misguided lawsuits.
Well said Sir!