Ford settles ahead of Texas Explorer rollover trial

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The family of a Texas woman who died in an accident involving a Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle said on Tuesday it reached a settlement with Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F - news) one day before a trial on allegations that faulty design of the Explorer led to tire failure.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed is a brief statement released by the family of Margarita Gonzalez, who was killed last July after her 1998 Explorer rolled over when the tread separated on their Firestone Wilderness AT tires. Her son, Alfredo, was severely injured in the accident.

``Now, as a result of a settlement reached with Ford Motor Company, the healing for the Gonzalez family can begin,'' family spokesman Skip Rutherford said in the statement.

The automaker had been holding settlement talks with the Gonzalez family. It has already settled about 200 lawsuits involving rollovers of its top-selling SUV and blowouts or tread separations of Firestone tires.

``Our condolences go out to the Gonzalez family. We respect the right to privacy for the family and do not discuss details of any settlement,'' Ford said.

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