Isuzu Rollovers

The Isuzu Trooper was a mid-size SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Isuzu between 1981 and 2002. It was exported worldwide as the Isuzu Bighorn, Isuzu Trooper, Honda Horizon, Acura SLX, Chevrolet Trooper, Vauxhall/Opel Monterey, and Holden Jackaroo. It was a huge seller in the sport utility vehicle segment.

There were two generations of the Trooper produced – the first spanning 1981 through 1991, and the second from 1992 through 2002 when Isuzu ceased export of the model. It began its production run being somewhat primitive and underpowered, offered only with a 4 cylinder motor, standard 5 speed manual transmission, and part-time four-wheel drive system. As the first generation progressed, it became more luxurious, and offered more amenities, including a V6 engine. The second generation was more refined, and was available with two-wheel drive.

One hurt in rollover accident at 4th and Marquette

One person was taken to the hospital this morning following a two-vehicle crash that caused a sports utility vehicle to roll over at 4th and Marquette streets in Davenport.

Watch a video from the scene.

Police say an Isuzu SUV was westbound on 4th Street when it was hit broadside by a northbound Nissan Maxima that went through a red light shortly after 8 a.m. The impact of the crash forced the Isuzu to roll.

The driver and a passenger in the Nissan were uninjured, but the Isuzu driver was taken to Genesis Medical Systems, Rusholme Street Campus, according to police. Injuries didn’t appear to be life threatening.

The driver of the Nissan was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control device, according to police. Names of the drivers were unavailable.

The leading cause of death in SUV accidents is rollovers. Because of the speed involved in the accidents, untested environments, such as uneven or slick surfaces and the actual design of the vehicles themselves, crash and rollover tests do not meet real world circumstances. The current standards are simply not enough to replicate what happens on the highways that we drive on.

Faulty design is a leading contributor to rollover accidents, some even single car accidents. Here's a list of some safety issues that are common with SUVs, trucks and vans:

• Weak roof structure - does not prevent roof crush - allows driver/passenger ejection
• High center of gravity
• Faulty Seat Belts
• Seat back failures
• Narrow wheelbase
• Top heavy design with high center of gravity
• Weak window glass that allows driver/passenger ejection