I think what compounds the problem of the bursting fuel tank is that the rear end of the car collapses and makes it impossible to open the front door for the trooper to get out. There was a story on Dateline (or another tv news magazine deal) a couple weeks ago about it. They talked about troopers being stuck in the car and burning alive; witnesses hearing the screams of the trooper and not being able to do anything. The trooper just couldn't get out of the car.
I have a feeling that any car would have troubles if it were hit from behind at a high rate of speed by another vehicle. Dateline mentioned one officer being killed after being rear ended by an 18 wheeler. They say the fire killed the trooper, but I have a feeling that the impact probably left him with life ending injuries as well.
People just need to slow the hell down and move over when they see a cop car on the side of the road. Indiana enacted some very tough laws a couple years ago after two troopers were killed on the side of the road. You gotta move over a lane from the emergency vehicle, or slow down ALOT. Penalty is pretty harsh if you don't and they catch up to ya.
Blame Ford all ya want, because they're the big evil corporation. But don't forget to go after the moron drivers that are more concerned with saving a few seconds than slowing down when they see a cop on the side of the road.
