Lawsuit filed against Honda and Takata says exploding airbag killed 22-year-old Kylan Langlinais.

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Honda Civic Owner Kylan Langlinais Killed By Airbag
Lawsuit filed against Honda and Takata says exploding airbag killed 22-year-old Kylan Langlinais.

— Honda has confirmed Kylan Langlinais of Louisiana was killed by an exploding Takata airbag in her 2005 Honda Civic, and a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Kylan's mothers says the same thing.

The lawsuit says on April 5, 2015, Kylan Langlinais, 22, was driving a 2005 Honda Civic when the car left the road and hit a utility pole. The Takata airbag exploded and sent shards of metal into the occupant area, striking Langlinais in the right side of her neck. The shrapnel cut her right carotid artery causing an immediate loss of blood.

Langlinais died four days later and according to the lawsuit, the only cause of death was the laceration caused by the ruptured metal inflator.

In a statement June 12, 2015, Honda confirmed the inflator in the Takata airbag ruptured in the 2005 Civic and caused the death of Kylan Langlinais.

Honda says the Civic was included in a June 2014 "safety improvement campaign" to replace the driver-side front airbag inflator. The automaker says registration records show the Civic was sold to Langlinais in October 2014, but the car hadn't been repaired from the June "safety improvement campaign."

Honda says it mailed a notification to the new owner (Langlinais) on April 2, 2015. The lawsuit says the notice arrived at the Langlinais residence on April 7, 2015, two days after the airbag exploded in the crash.

The lawsuit accuses Honda and Takata of concealing knowledge of the defective airbags for over 10 years before the death of Kylan Langlinais.

The plaintiff says Takata has known since 2001 the airbags could explode because an inflator exploded in a 2001 Isuzu. A recall was ordered months later. Further, the lawsuit alleges Honda has known about the exploding airbag inflators since 2004 when an airbag exploded in a 2002 Honda Accord.

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the Langlinais family during this difficult time. Honda is currently in communication with representatives of the family in an effort to address their concerns." - Honda statement

In January 2015, Honda was fined $70 million by the U.S. government for failing to report warranty claims, claims under customer satisfaction campaigns and for failing to report 1,729 death and injury claims for a period of 11 years.

The wrongful death lawsuit of Kylan Rae Langlinais was filed in the United States District Court Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette Division - Crystal Lynn Langlinais individually and on behalf of her daughter Kylan Rae Langlinais v. Honda Motor Company, Ltd. et al.

The plaintiff is represented by Kenneth D. St. Pe'.