Judge clears decade-old homicide conviction against Saturn Ion driver

A Texas judge has reportedly cleared a decade-old criminal negligent homicide conviction involving a Saturn Ion, after recent defect revelations cast doubt on the original charges.
Candice Anderson was behind the wheel when her 2004 Saturn Ion lost control and struck a tree, leaving her with serious injuries and killing her fiancee. The airbags failed to deploy in the crash, however she was blamed for the death after police determined that she had been under the influence of anti-anxiety medication.

Then 21 years old, Anderson accepted a plea bargain and was sentenced to community service and five years probation. She suggests the lingering felony record has interfered with her attempts to find employment as a certified nurse’s aide.

“Due to the wreck, and being charged with criminal negligent homicide, I lost my chosen career,” she said in a statement published by The Detroit News. “I applied and was denied positions at numerous jobs due to my criminal record.”

The airbag failure is now viewed as clear evidence that the accident may have been initiated by the ignition-switch problem, shutting down the engine and disabling the power-steering.

Anderson plans to seek compensation from the GM victim compensation fund.