FILE – A Ford logo is seen on signage at Country Ford in Graham, N.C., Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 550,000 pickup trucks in the U.S. because the transmissions can unexpectedly downshift to first gear no matter how fast the trucks are going.

The recall covers certain F-150 pickups from the 2014 model year. Ford’s F-Series pickups are the top-selling vehicles in the U.S.

Ford says in documents posted Tuesday by U.S. safety regulators that the downshifting can cause drivers to lose control of the trucks, increasing the risk of a crash.

The recalls come after U.S. auto safety regulators in March began investigating complaints that more than 540,000 Ford pickup trucks from 2014 can abruptly downshift to a lower gear and increase the risk of a crash.

Documents say the problem is caused by a lost signal between a transmission speed sensor and the powertrain control computer. There also could be corrosion and problems with connector pins.

Dealers will update the powertrain control software at no cost to owners, who will be notified by letters in early July.

In a statement Tuesday, Ford said it expects repairs to be available in the third quarter of this year. Owners will be able to use mobile service or pickup and delivery at participating dealers.

Ford says in documents posted Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it has 396 warranty and field reports and 124 customer complaints about the problem, covering 482 trucks.

The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker says it knows of 130 complaints to the government, with 52 alleging that rear wheels locked up or that drivers lost control of the trucks. Two of the complainants reported injuries and one reported a crash that could have been caused by the problem, Ford said.

Ford’s statement said that before the trucks downshift, drivers could see a malfunction indicator light on the dashboard. In some cases, signals can be restored while the trucks are moving, and they can be driven normally. In other cases drivers may need to stop and restart the engine to get the transmissions to work properly.

The company says it expects fewer than 1% of the recalled vehicles to have the problem.

NHTSA said it started its investigation in March after getting complaints about sudden downshifts in the trucks’ automatic transmissions.

The agency is looking into whether those trucks should have been included in previous recalls for the problem.

Ford started recalling trucks and other vehicles from the 2011 and 2012 model years in 2016, and added two recalls in 2019 covering pickups from the 2011 to 2013 model years. The recalls covered about 1.5 million vehicles.

The company said it’s working with NHTSA to support the investigation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) released the following statement after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a board meeting to approve the final report on the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine last year. The executive summary of the report will be published by the NTSB after the conclusion of Tuesday’s meeting.

Congressman Deluzio represents constituents in Beaver County, PA, the community just on the other side of the state line from the Ohio derailment—dozens of whom were within the evacuation zone in the wake of the derailment. He is the lead sponsor of the Railway Safety Act, a comprehensive measure to address issues that contributed to the derailment and has been pushing for action on the bipartisan legislation for over a year. Last year, he wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson calling for a vote on the measure, and he hosted President Joe Biden in Darlington Township to speak with first responders who responded to the derailment.

“Today’s NTSB meeting makes clear: it is long past time for Congress to act to make freight rail safer.

“Since the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine unleashed a toxic fireball into the sky near the homes, schools, businesses, and farms of my Beaver County constituents, I’ve been pushing for accountability for this disaster and for strong rail safety reform.

“We cannot trust the railroads to regulate themselves—and Congress must take action to protect communities like mine.

“We are tired of the delays, and with the final NTSB findings public, opponents of common-sense safety reforms are out of excuses.

“The American people want to see Congress make rail safer. It’s time to pass my bipartisan bill, the Railway Safety Act.”

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published June 26, 2024 11:16 A.M.

(Hopewell Township, Pa) On Tuesday night the board announced that the budget will be $47,793.064, and real estate tax millage will be 11.99 mills.

The board announced that Dr. Robert Kartychak will begin his duties as high school principal effective on July 1, 2024. His salary will be $122,500.

Debbie Engleman was reappointed as the district’s treasurer for the 2024-25 school year.

The board approved the Nutrition Group’s contract for the upcoming school year . Student lunches will be $2.75, Adult breakfasts $2,85, and adult lunches $4.10.

Retired athletic trainer and athletic director Don Short will provide consulting services to the district for the 2024-25 school user effective on July 1, 2024. He will be paid $500 a month.

The board meets on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published June 26, 2024 11:15 A.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) Francis Edward Morrison, 33, was apprehended after he fled from police Tuesday morning. Police were called to Polk Street at 7:40 a.m. for a theft of items from a vehicle. Morrison proceeded to flee the area in a Silver Nissan SUV that was stolen. Door bell cameras in the area provided his description to police. Before fleeing he stole a 22 caliber firearm from a residence. He was located outside a convenience store on Monaca Road, fled on foot, but was apprehended by police. Morrison was found with the stolen items and drug paraphernalia. He threw the stolen firearm and it was recovered by police.

He is charged with 2 felonies, theft of a motor vehicle and theft of a firearm. Misdemeanor charges include: tampering with evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft from a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, fleeing on foot, and a summary offense for criminal trespass.

He is lodged in the Beaver County Jail.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published June 26, 2024 11:12 A.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) Firefighters responded to a fire at an abandoned building on Erie Avenue in West Aliquippa at 4 a.m. The building is owned by the city, according to the report and was destroyed by the blaze. Firefighters remained on scene for 45 minutes and were assisted by Ambridge, Center Township, and Crescent Township.