GM Ignition Switch Death Toll Rises to 77

The independent fund set up to compensate victims of defective General Motors Co. ignition switches has identified three more families eligible for death payments, raising the total to 77.

The fund also has agreed to offer compensation to 141 victims who were injured in crashes involving the flawed switches, up from 126 deemed eligible a week ago.

The program continues to review another 1,263 applications received by the Jan. 31 deadline, including 89 that seek compensation for fatalities.

Last year GM recalled 2.6 million vehicles with ignition switches that could be jogged out of the "run" position, thereby turning off the engine and disabling the power steering, power brakes and airbag systems. GM originally put the resulting death toll at 13.