Inspection scheduled on car that caught fire

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The National Highway Safety Administration will inspect the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria that burst into flames last month, killing a highway patrol trooper.

Inspectors will conduct the car autopsy of the vehicle driven by Trooper Micheal Newton on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Missouri State Highway Patrol's garage located behind Troop F headquarters in Jefferson City.

Newton, 25, was making a traffic stop on Interstate 70 near Odessa on May 22 and was killed when his car was rear-ended by a truck and he became trapped inside the burning vehicle.

Police departments have alleged the Crown Victoria is prone to catch fire when struck from behind at high speed. At least a dozen other officers in the country have been killed in fiery crashes in Crown Victorias since 1983.

But Missouri State Highway Patrol officials said Newton's car was a 2003 and had new gas tank modifications in place.