RALEIGH, NC --- -- The families of three women killed last year in a fiery crash, including the wife of a former NASCAR crew chief, are suing Ford Motor Co., claiming the limousine they were riding in was defective.

The crash in Greensboro on Sept. 10 killed Tara Howell Parker, 29, of Cornelius, whose husband was then NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett's crew chief. Also killed were her sisters, Mysti Howell-Poplin, 24, and Megan Howell, 16, both of Mocksville.

All three were passengers in the limousine when it was hit from behind by a pickup truck.

The suit filed Tuesday in Davie County alleges the limousine was defective because its fuel tank was located behind the rear axle, and was more likely to leak fuel when hit from behind.

Autopsies showed the women died of burns and smoke inhalation from the fire, not from the impact of the crash, according to the suit.

The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages, said attorney Bill Bystrynski, who is representing the families of Tara Parker's sisters.

Police said the limousine had stopped in a travel lane on Interstate 40 due to highway construction when it was struck by a 1998 Ford F-150 pickup driven by Jeffrey Niles McFayden of Greensboro. The truck pushed the limousine into the car in front of it.

McFayden, 35, was charged with driving while impaired and three counts of second-degree murder.

The limousine driver and the driver and a passenger in the front car were not injured.

Ford issued a statement on Tuesday, saying there are more than 20 million registered vehicles with fuel tanks located behind the rear axle, and that such designs are common among every major vehicle manufacturer.

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Association specifically investigated this issue and found that tank location does not determine safety, but rather component and structural design," the statement said.