Sophie Rollet, a former French childcare worker, spent ten years of her life conducting a solitary investigation to hold the US auto equipment group Goodyear responsible for her husband’s death. Her hard work and determination finally paid off when authorities conducted raids on Goodyear sites in Europe as part of a probe into involuntary manslaughter. Rollet meticulously tracked clues, data, and articles relating to all road accidents linked to explosions of a specific model of Goodyear tires from her stone house in Geney, a village in eastern France.
On July 25, 2014, Jean-Paul, Rollet’s husband, lost his life in a collision on highway A36 in the eastern Doubs department at the age of 53. His tanker truck was hit by a semi-trailer that was rolling in reverse after its front left tire burst, leading to the instant death of both drivers. Rollet’s investigation connected the tire model, Goodyear Marathon LHS II, to several other accidents in France and Europe.
The Legal Battle
After her husband’s case was closed, Rollet filed a complaint in 2016 for involuntary manslaughter. Her personal findings were handed to prosecutors in Besancon, where an expert concluded that the tire blowout was due to a manufacturing defect, validating Rollet’s findings. Besancon prosecutor Etienne Manteaux compared Rollet to Erin Brockovich, acknowledging her determination and role in pushing the investigations forward.
The Ongoing Probe
Prosecutors in Besancon expanded their probe to include two other cases involving similar accidents, resulting in media coverage and a documentary shedding light on Rollet’s legal battle. Another whistleblower provided authorities with internal documents suggesting that Goodyear was aware of defects in certain tire models and attempted to conceal them.
The Authorities’ Response
Authorities conducted searches at Goodyear’s European office in Brussels, a site in France, and the Luxembourg factory producing the tires in question. Goodyear expressed cooperation with the authorities, signaling a step towards achieving justice for the victims of these accidents.
Despite feeling a sense of accomplishment and relief, Rollet expressed frustration at the inability to identify all victims ten years later. She acknowledged the need to distance herself from the case and focus on her training to become an accountant. Rollet continues to advocate for road safety by speaking at schools and businesses, emphasizing the importance of her contribution to the cause.
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