According to the official reports, General Motors Co. is suing a hauler it says hasn't accepted responsibility for a crash that destroyed the automaker's innovative hydrogen fuel-dispensing pump.

The Detroit News reported on Sunday that the $850,000 fuel station was destroyed two years ago when a semi rig, en route from Pennsylvania to California, crashed in an Arizona canyon during a windstorm. In its suit filed in U. S. District Court last week, GM seeks to recover the cost of the 45,000-pound station plus expenses from CHAT of Michigan Inc. of Romulus, Mich.

GM spokesman Alan Adler told the News, "GM has been trying for two years to recover the cost of the hydrogen refueler that was destroyed in this crash. The incident delayed the rollout of Project Driveway, the largest demonstration of fuel cell vehicles in the world, by three to four months."

His firm did not violate its contract with GM because the accident was "an act of God," CHAT of Michigan President Greg Katcher told the newspaper. He also said that his company has a good history of transporting the fuel pumps before and after the crash.

He said, "I have a 21-year track record with GM, and we've never had a screw-up."

CHAT of Michigan violated the contract by subcontracting the hauling job to Landstar Ranger Inc., which in turn subcontracted the work to Professional Trucking LLC, GM has said. (With Inputs from Agencies)