WASHINGTON — In what it called a “voluntary safety campaign,” Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) recalled about 297,000 tires in LT265/75R16 LR D on 2000-2002 and some early-2003-model-year Ford Excursions late last week.

Now, NHTSA is reporting that it has linked six accidents, which resulted in five fatalities and 20 injuries, to the Steeltex tires being recalled.

A NHTSA spokesman blamed the accidents mostly on tread separation and sidewall failure.

_______________________________________

Click here to view the rest of today’s headlines.