Mother Saves Children from Electric Toy Car Before it Explodes

In August 2018, a mother in North Andover, Massachusetts saved her two children from an electric toy car before it burst into flames.

Michelle Kline was nearby when her children’s toy car began to smoke. At the time, her 16-month-old and three-year-old were buckled in the toy car. After she got them out, it took approximately two minutes for the vehicle to burst into flames and leave only charred remains. The children are okay and suffered no injuries.

The electric toy car, a $500 SPORTrax Awesome XL, was purchased as a birthday present for the Kline’s three-year-old and five-year-old.

The SPORTrax brand is a trademark of Rolling Hills Trading, Inc. The SPORTrax Awesome XL features two leather seats, four-wheel-drive, EVA foam rubber tires, and an MP3 player. It operates on two 12V 10Ah batteries and can run for 48 to 90 minutes on a single charge. It weighs 85 pounds and is recommended for children ages 24-months to six years.

While the manufacturer spoke with the fire inspector, they did not speak with the family or release any other comments. The company told the fire inspector their electric toy car has multiple fail-safes in place to protect people from accidents like this happening.

The fire chief believes the fire started near where the batteries are located; however, with the remains of the toy the way they are, it may be impossible to determine the cause. The fire department notified the Consumer Product Safety Commissions (CPSC), the fire marshal, the distributor, and the manufacturer about this incident.

The CPSC is an independent federal regulatory agency. They develop voluntary consumer product standards, issue and enforce mandatory standards, obtain the recall of products and arrange for their repair, replacement, or refund, conduct research on potentially hazardous products, and inform and educate consumers.

It is likely the CPSC will conduct their own investigation regarding the SPORTrax Awesome XL and act accordingly. If other children are in danger because of defective in this electric toy car that will be made known to the public, so parents can get rid of the toy or have it repaired.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an incident involving a toy or another product that was advertised as safe and used as intended, speaking with the product liability attorneys at Thomas Law Offices may give you an opportunity to take legal action against a manufacturer that could have done more to protect consumers. Get in touch today to learn more.