Salliotte is one of 600 people killed in single-vehicle rollovers involving 15-passenger vans since safety warnings were first issued 17 years ago. Yet many churches around the country still use the old vans to haul kids to swimming pools, take parishioners to services or deliver members to conferences and revival meetings. And at least 28 states prohibit public schools from using them to transport students. A major religious denomination advises member churches to avoid them. Some insurance companies refuse to cover them. Federal officials have issued repeated safety warnings to carmakers and the public. Transportation safety officials have known since 2001 that 15-passenger vans like the E350 are prone to roll in a crash when loaded with people. The jury also found the First Baptist Church of New Port Richey negligent for not keeping seat belts in the van within reach. One was a teenager who had to repeat a year of school because of brain damage. Salliotte and the driver, who also died, were among five people thrown out as the van tumbled. The van flipped, and passenger Michalanne Salliotte, 44, was tossed from the vehicle and crushed on Feb. The left-rear tire on the 2002 E350 had shredded. That vehicle, the E350, dominated the large-van market for years.īut a Florida jury in March blamed that same make and model van for a woman’s death, granting her four children and husband nearly $20 million in damages. He blamed himself, not the van - and his superiors agreed. Available features include adaptive cruise control, active park assist, front and rearview cameras and an adjustable speed limiting device.Watch Video: Ford test-drive video of E350 15-passenger vanĪ Ford Motor Company employee test-driving a 15-passenger van flipped it while swerving through a series of cones in 1990. Medium and High-Roof versions of the Transit feature a high-mount rear view camera to assist in reversing.Standard safety features include pre-collision assist, forward collision warning, post-collision warning, lane keep assist, automatic high-beam headlights. Inside, cruise control, a rearview camera, a cargo-area spray liner, SYNC 3 infotainment, navigation, and rear air conditioning are all available. Optional equipment includes alloy wheels, a heavy-duty tow package, power running boards, and extended outside mirrors. Standard features on the Transit Van include 16-inch steel wheels, tilt/telescopic steering, walk-through console, front air conditioning, vinyl seats, power windows, mirrors and locks, a 4-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Power rack-and-pinion steering is paired with front MacPherson struts and a stabilizer bar, as well as progressive rear leaf springs and gas-charged dampers, which results in relatively flat cornering, a smooth ride and ease of maneuverability. All Transits come standard as rear-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive is available. All three engines are mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Finally, the turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 bi-turbo diesel generates 210 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque-90 percent of which is available starting at 1,500 rpm. Both V6s offer similar fuel efficiency, with a combined 16 mpg in regular-wheelbase Transit passenger vans. Also found in the F-150 pickup, the turbocharged unit produces 310 horsepower and best-in-class 400 pound-feet of torque. For more power, Ford offers the 3.5L EcoBoost V6. The engine is E85-capable and can also be fitted with a kit that allows it to run on compressed natural gas or liquid propane. The base engine is a 3.5L V6 that makes 290 horsepower and 265 lb-feet of torque. A five-passenger Crew Van configuration is also available, mounting a three-seat second-row bench in front of a cargo bulkhead, with curtain airbag protection for all outboard passengers.Three engines are offered. Even the shortest, lowest, smallest Transit is slightly larger than the Econoline it replaced. Such flexibility ensures there is a Transit for every need. Passenger capacity when properly equipped ranges from 8 to 15 people. All vans and wagons feature either side cargo or sliding doors, as well as rear cargo doors that open up to 270 degrees. High-roof models can accommodate a standing adult up to 6 feet, 4 inches tall, and it's possible to build a Transit with 487 cubic-feet of cargo capacity-that's almost 80 percent more volume than the largest Econoline van. It comes in three body lengths (Regular, Long, Long Extended), three roof heights, and two wheelbases. The Ford Transit full-size van offers versatility that few vehicles can match.
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