WHILE DRIVING WITH TRAFFIC ON 6 LANE ROAD WITH 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT, THE VEHICLE, A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO CONVERTIBLE, WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY A BOX TRUCK AT SPEED CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT DELTA-V EVENT. UPON INITIAL IMPACT, THE STEERING WHEEL, AIRBAG, IGNITION LOCK, TURN SIGNAL AND WIPER SWITCH ASSEMBLY, SPLINE SHAFT AND METAL CYLINDER FROM THE TILT/TELESCOPING ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AS A SINGLE ASSEMBLY. THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY STRUCK THE DRIVER IN THE CHEST AND JAW, BREAKING THE MANDIBLE IN MULTIPLE PLACES. DRIVER ALSO SUSTAINED COMPRESSION FRACTURE OF THE T12 VERTEBRA AMONG OTHER INJURIES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT BUT DRIVER COULD NOT STEER WITH THE SEPARATED STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE DRIFTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD STRIKING A 6? I-BEAM SUPPORTING A ROAD SIGN. ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO THE AIRBAG AND IGNITION SEPARATED DURING THE INITIAL IMPACT. DRIVER WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE CAMARO AND WAS USING SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10667311