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UPDATE: Takata Implicated in 4th U.S. Fatality

A fatal crash earlier this month in Florida is the fourth to date in which injuries caused by an exploding airbag inflator caused or contributed to death, Reuters reports.
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A fatal crash earlier this month in Florida is the fourth to date in which injuries caused by an exploding airbag inflator caused or contributed to death, Reuters reports.

The crash in Orlando involved a 2001 Honda Accord sedan equipped with a Takata Corp. airbag system. Investigators say the victim suffered several "stab-type wounds," including one that cut her trachea, as well as other head trauma.

The car's airbag was punctured and no windows were broken. The victim was wearing a seatbelt.

Earlier this week authorities reported a similar fatality involving a Takata airbag system in a 2002 Acura TL sedan, a model also built by Honda.

Honda and nine other carmakers have recalled more than 16 million cars since 2008 to replace defective airbag inflators supplied by Takata. The devices may explode when triggered and spray shrapnel into the passenger compartment. Besides posing a threat to occupants, the fragments puncture the airbag and reduce its ability to provide a cushion against crash forces.

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