Jury deliberates in Ford Pinto case

March 12, 1980

A jury in the Ford reckless-homicide trial deliberated Tuesday whether Ford Motor Company knowingly sold a defective car when it marketed the Pinto. The Pulaski Circuit Court jury, which began deliberations Monday, resumed its discussions Tuesday in the first criminal liability trial against a major corporation.

Ford is charged with reckless homicide in the deaths of three teen-agers -- Judy, Lyn, and Donna Ulrich -- whose 1973 Pinto burst into flames after it was struck from behind by another vehicle on Aug. 10, 1978. The three girls dies of burns they suffered in the accident.