WASHINGTON - An Indiana company is recalling about 91,000 Go-Karts for repair after one teenage girl was killed and two others seriously injured when their hair got caught in partially exposed engine parts behind the seats.
Manco Products Inc., of Fort Wayne, Ind., received a report of a 13-year-old Idaho girl dying from a fractured neck when her hair got caught in the drive chain and sprocket of a Go-Kart she was driving, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Monday. In Michigan, another 13-year-old girl suffered a scalping injury, and a 16-year-old girl lost consciousness and suffered severe head injuries.
Manco previously recalled carts in 1996 because of exposed rotating rear axles. One child died and two others were seriously injured when hair or clothing became entangled in the axles.
The vehicles in the current recall were sold under the Manco, Phoenix, Fox, Rattler and Coyote labels. The one- and two-seat carts are powered by gasoline engines and most have brush bars to protect riders from low tree branches and other foliage.
The recall involves two groups of carts. All have a black serial number on a silver label located on the floor pan immediately in front of the driver's seat.
The first group has black plastic deck covers over the rear axle and brake. Their serial numbers are: 1757022 through 1855821, and 3000010 through 3050632.
The second group of carts have a crossover jackshaft drive system and have serial numbers lower than 1757022. Carts with this type of drive system were part of the 1996 recall, and Manco will provide guards for both recalls if needed.
Outdoor power equipment dealers; specialty, discount, hardware, automotive parts supply and agricultural supply stores; and motorcycle dealers sold the carts nationwide from January 1983 through July 2000 for between $600 and $2,000.
The safety commission advises consumers to stop using these carts immediately and call Manco at 1-800-293-0795 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday for a free repair kit with installation instructions. Consumers also can contact any Manco dealer to get free installation of the repair kit.
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On the Net:
Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov
Manco Products: http://www.mancoprod.com