Texas woman blamed in fiance's death learns GM defect caused crash
DETROIT -- On Thursday, General Motors will make public the results of its own investigation of how it responded to a deadly defect -- specifically, why it waited more than a decade to recall 2.6 million small cars with faulty ignition switches linked to at least 13 deaths.
Mikale Erickson, the father of two young children, died in November 2004 while riding in a Saturn Ion in Canton, Texas, when the car went off the road in the middle of the day. His fiancee, Candice Anderson, was driving.
There were no skid marks and no obvious cause. The airbags did not deploy.
Anderson was thrown through the windshield and barely survived.
Anderson had a trace amount of anti-anxiety medication in her system, but no other drugs or alcohol. She was charged with manslaughter, and pleaded guilty to criminal negligent homicide.
She told CBS News, "...it's been a question if I was at fault for his death, and I've carried it for so long." As a convicted felon living in a small town, she said, "every part of my life's been affected from it."
In late May, Anderson learned Mikale's death was one of the 13 GM has linked to a faulty ignition switch. Mikale's mother, Rhonda Erickson, contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and they confirmed it in a letter.
Erickson said GM has not been in contact with her. She told CBS News, "I think they owe me an apology. They can't give me my son back. But, I mean, they could at least give me an apology."
Erickson believes since the car was defective, Anderson's record should be cleared. They are both hoping to get more answers from GM's internal investigation.
