Strange Twist in Air Bag Death Suit

C A M D E N, N.J., Oct. 26 -- It began as a product liability lawsuit by adentist who claims his pregnant wife was killed by a deploying airbag. But the case has since taken a new twist, bolstered byallegations of adultery, conflicting medical reports and suspicioustelephone records.

Now, the prosecutor’s office has reopened the investigation intoher death.

Dr. Eric Thomas, of Cape May County, maintains his first wife,Tracy, was killed by a deploying air bag when she drove their FordExplorer into a pole on a snowy night in 1997. He has sued FordMotor Co., alleging wrongful death.

But the automaker, citing forensic experts the company hired forthe case, contends Tracy Thomas, 37, was strangled.

Ford: Evidence of Affair

Ford alleges the 35-year-old New Jersey dentist was having anaffair at the time of his wife’s death. Company lawyers William J.Conroy and Glenn A. Zeitz say telephone records show Thomasreceived more than 140 calls from his high-school sweetheart inAustin, Texas, in the three months before his wife died Feb. 9,1997. At least seven of the calls came the day of the accident, thelawyers say.

Eric Thomas married Stephanie Arrington, 34, a year and a halflater.

Urged by Tracy Thomas’ family, prosecutors reopened theinvestigation last week, when the phone records came to light.Acting Prosecutor David Blaker said he wants to review the records.

Suspicious Behavior

According to court records, Eric Thomas’ actions after hiswife’s death caused her parents to become suspicious. He had askedthem not to talk about Tracy and to take down any photographs ofher when the couple’s daughter, Alix, went to visit them at theirhome on Cape Cod, Mass.

Ford’s lawyers have asked U.S. Magistrate Joel B. Rosen to letthem re-interview Thomas. But his lawyers on Wednesday asked thejudge for more time, saying they needed to review records.

“It’s a large case, there are a lot of documents,” said JohnEastlack, one of Thomas’ lawyers.