Officer helps stop runaway Toyota Prius in San Diego (w/ Video)

Posted: Mar 09, 2010
Filed under: Breaking, Hybrids, Green News, Industry News, Toyota

While Toyota was trying to prove to the media and the public that there is nothing electronically wrong with their gas pedal issue, a runaway Toyota Prius in San Diego had a driver calling 911 for help after his hybrid hit speeds of up to 94 mph.

James Sikes, 61, was driving down a San Diego County freeway when he accelerated to pass another vehicle and could not control his car, according to California Highway Patrol.

“I pushed the gas pedal to pass a car and it did something kind of funny … it jumped and it just stuck there,” Sikes said. “As it was going, I was trying the brakes … it wasn’t stopping, it wasn’t doing anything and it just kept speeding up.”

Eventually an officer pulled up and told Sikes to apply the brake pedal and the emergency brake at the same time. After the car came down to about 50 mph, Sikes turned off the engine and coasted to a stop with the officer’s car in front of his as a precautionary block.

Sikes said that two weeks prior to the incident, he had taken his Prius to an El Cajon dealership for repairs after receiving a recall notice, but was turned away.

“I gave them my recall notice and they handed it back and said I’m not on the recall list,” Sikes said.

In a short statement Toyota said that it has “dispatched a field technical specialist to San Diego to investigate the report and offer assistance.”

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit News

Share |  Email  Print |

Tags: , , ,



  • Pradeep
    That dude's story has WAY too many loopholes. Just seems to be another attention seeker.
  • wwide4082
    Toyota and others knew they were having issues and attempted to hide it. All Car Companies should have came forward with a full disclosures of what car were dangerous. Instead of waiting for a huge media blitz and tons of public pressure. I never seen so many car companies GM - NISSAN - TOYOTA - HYUNDAI having recalls all at the same time. I had no idea my car was affected until I looked on http://www.carpedalrecall.com and found I had a bad Anti Lock control unit on my 2008 Pontiac G8 , my co workers Ford Truck had a recall also. So be careful
  • autoguru
    It's funny that everyone is suprised about the whole Toyota situation. When are we going to realize that these corporations will lie to you without regard to human life at any given chance.These companies are big marketing spin machines that need regulations! Do you all get it yet, or do we need more examples of how a lack of regulation upon corporations is a recipe for disaster. You Decide...
  • Dane
    What more proof do you want Toyota??? You're done....
  • Pat
    WHY don't these people ever thing of popping the car in NEUTRAL and then slamming the break?! Even the cops that help these people out.
  • BobS37
    According to the testimony of Rhonda Smith during the Toyota hearing it seems that she attempted to put her car into N … Additionally she attempted to put the gear lever into R D P, anything to stop the Lexus ES350 as it approached 100mph. As you state it is obvious that had the transmission actually shifted into any of these gears selected it would have slowed the car (or fell out of the car). Finally, Rhonda stated she attempted to turn “off” the Lexus by holding down the Start/Stop … nothing happened. She called her husband and prepared to die.
    It seems that a defective ECU unit will not acknowledge that the gear shifter is in D R or N, so shifting into these gears does not work. This makes everything ‘more scary’ to be clear, as you really have no control of the computer and there is no mechanical connection to the engine of transmission. My suggestion: First try to put the car in N (you may just have a sticky pedal and not a defective ECU), but if this fails: Then tuck your head between your legs and Kiss your ass goodbye.
    Toyota has two problems – (1) Sticky pedals causing unintended acceleration where you take your foot off the pedal and the pedal does not retract causing the car to keep going. (2) Defective ECU units, which Toyota is heavily denying, … car accelerates regardless of pedal and gear lever input. The evidence is overwhelming that this issue is real and occurring! Keep denying it Toyota ~ Just because you can pay our Senators off and try and get away with it.
  • Brian
    This story doesn't add up- everyone knows a Pious can't hit 94mph, even down a hill with a tailwind. ;)
  • Bumblefoot
    Well said!!!! FYI: Try reversing a Prius up a hill or steep driveway. It doesn't work! Epic Fail
blog comments powered by Disqus