A woman's conviction in the 2007 fatal crash that killed her fiance was overturned after a General Motors recall was issued on the car she was driving during the crash.
Candice Anderson, then 21, was driving a 2004 Saturn Ion in East Texas with her fiancé, Gene Mikale Erickson as a passenger. The car veered off the road and crashed into a grove of trees in 2004 and the air bags failed to deploy - killing Erickson.
"The emotional guilt - all these years. You know, it's been a question if I was at fault for his death, and I've carried it for so long," Anderson said to CBS News.
Little did she know GM would recall 2.6 million vehicles over an ignition switch issue, which could cause the car to switch out of position and cut power to the air bags and brakes, reported Reuters. Anderson's 2004 Saturn Ion was among the car models included in the recall.
The ignition switch malfunction in the GM vehicles were linked to at least 35 deaths, including Erickson's, reported Consumerist.
After the recall Anderson filed a writ of habeas corpus saying investigators and herself had no way of knowing the malfunction could have been a defense in the case.
"GM knew this defect caused this death yet, instead of telling the truth, watched silently as Candice was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter," Anderson's lawyer Robert Hilliard said in a statement.
Since Anderson filed the petition GM submitted a letter acknowledging the switch "may have caused or contributed to" the failure of the air bags to deploy, adding "It is appropriate for the court to determine the legal status of Ms. Anderson."
Hillard expressed anger to CBS News about GM's compliance with him during Anderson's case.
"I shouldn't have had to be the one to reach out to them. I started asking them weeks ago to show up at this court house in Texas and stand with me and ask this judge to do what she just did. Judge Drum just decided to acquit Candice Anderson because she is actually innocent of this incident and of this crime."
