Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

The CBS report on the dubious history and safety record of the Yamaha Rhino that aired in August has prompted the husband of a Rhino rollover victim to tell his story to Phoenix, Arizona’s KPHO, A CBS affiliate.

Tyler Chase said that his wife Jennifer wanted to drive the family Rhino in November 2005. Tyler was a passenger as Jennifer drove with their 2-year-old son seated in the back. The family was traveling down a road in Rocky Point, Arizona, when Jennifer attempted to make a left turn and flipped the Rhino. The vehicle rolled over onto the driver’s side, causing Jennifer to hit her head on the roll cage. The impact killed Jennifer instantly.

Tyler suffered three skull fractures and a broken pelvis bone in the rollover, and he did not learn of his wife’s death until weeks after the accident when he regained consciousness.

“It was just overwhelming,” Tyler told KPHO. “I had lost a person that I loved.”

Tyler is raising his son, who is now 6 years old, on his own.

Tyler disagrees with Yamaha’s stance that all Rhino accidents are the result of driver error. “For Yamaha, I think they need to improve the vehicle,” Chase said. “I think they need to make it safer. Whatever they need to do to make it safer.”

The Consumer Products Safety Commission continues to closely monitor reports of injuries and death involving Yamaha Rhinos, especially rollovers that occur on flat surfaces and at low speed. In the U.S., the Rhino has been a factor in 59 deaths and 440 injuries.

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