FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A Florida woman died because a faulty air bag ruptured and fired shrapnel into her head during a crash she should have survived, a report released Wednesday by the state’s Highway Patrol said.

Nichol Barker, 34, of Holiday, Fla., was struck by metal pieces that burst through the Takata air bag, causing a 6-inch by 3-inch gaping wound to her left temple, a fractured skull and bruising and bleeding on her brain, according to the report written by Sgt. Chester Everett, the lead investigator.

Barker is at least the 21st person killed worldwide since 2009 by exploding Takata air bags, which were first recalled in the early 2000s. Air bags deploy at up to 200 mph, but are not supposed to rupture.

According to Everett’s report, Barker, her 10-year-old son, 5-year-daughter and her mother were traveling on a two-lane road in Holiday at about 30 mph on July 19 when a 1999 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am driven by a 19-year-old man made a left turn in front of her. Barker’s 2002 Honda Accord slammed into the Trans Am’s passenger’s side.

Barker’s son, mother and the other driver received minor injuries and her daughter was unhurt. Barker was flown by helicopter to the hospital and pronounced dead 40 minutes after the crash. The other driver was cited for an illegal turn.

Both Everett and Dr. Christopher Wilson, the medical examiner who performed Barker’s autopsy, concluded she would have survived except for the faulty air bag.