Robert G Hetsler
Executive Who Experienced Ford Vehicle Explosion
Robert G. Hetsler Jr. began his career as a business valuation and forensic accounting advisor in 1996, working as a consultant with the law firm of Kuritz, Naughton & Schoeppel in Jacksonville, Florida. He went on to serve as chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Breakthrough, Inc., and Orivision, Inc. His resume also includes leading HMV Holdings, LLC, as managing director and spending 14 years in leadership roles at Luxury Homes Jacksonville, Hetsler Mediation and Valuation, and QDRO Now, as well as operating a prominent 1031 exchange company. Robert also completed a strategic financial analysis program for business evaluation at the Harvard Business School in 2013. Robert Hetsler Jr. was a serial entrepreneur and extraordinarily successful in the self-storage industry and was on the verge of closing an international deal on self-storage facilities in Germany when tragedy struck.
Robert was forced to abandon his various leadership responsibilities in 2017 following the spontaneous explosion of his new Ford Roush Mustang, which inflicted severe injuries and kept him in coma for 8 months. The Ford Roush Mustang explosion was a result of a malfunction on or around the under carriage of the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The explosion and resulting fire caused 3rd and 4th degree burns on over 70% of his body. Both of his hands required amputation as well as losing his right ear. Robert is lucky to be alive haven been given less than a 5% chance of survival by the emergency room doctors. He is now able to walk again and has been out of a wheelchair for only 8 months. Robert has incurred millions of dollars in medical bills.
The Roush modified Ford Mustang had under 900 miles on it and was purchased less than 10 days prior from World Imports of Jacksonville. The vehicle was still on the original ¾ tank of gasoline that World Imports had in it. World Imports represented during the sale that they had given the Ford/Roush Mustang their very carefull and highly advertised 16-point inspection. It has been nearly 4 years since the incident took place and neither Ford, Roush, or World Imports have offered any sort of compensation or assistance with the approximately $7 million in medical bills that have accrued.
One of the most unfortunate outcomes of the incident is that several of Robert Hetsler Jr.’s 1031 Exchange clients, to which he was holding money for as part of his business practice, were unable to access their funds while Robert was in a medically induced coma. To protect their own interest those clients filed suit in civil court within 10 days of Robert being in a coma. While Robert was incapacitated, with no one to defend him, there was a lot of speculation which resulted in incorrect information and negative press surrounding the incident. There was a criminal investigation conducted during this time as well which resulted in Robert being cleared of any wrongdoing. Once he became lucid, Hetsler was able to communicate and release the clients funds back to them. It is extremely unfortunate that Robert Hetsler Jr., as a well-respected expert in his field, sustained significant damage to his reputation after being cleared of wrongdoing on his part. These are extremely difficult circumstances to deal with as the victim of an automobile malfunction from a Ford Roush Mustang.
Roberts main interest is making up for the lost time with his two minor children. Hetsler’s business interests are now 3-fold centering on mentoring young entrepreneurs, inspirational speaking, and bringing attention to faulty vehicles, specifically those made by Ford, so others don’t have to experience what he did. Robert is currently working with a National Publishing Company, writing a book to be released nationwide to bring attention to these facts and to help inspire others and bring attention of the inherent dangers of Modified Ford Roush Mustangs.
