Runaway Toyota Prius owner is a Corvette Owners Club member, 911 call released

Posted: Mar 10, 2010
Filed under: Hybrids, Green News, Industry News, Toyota, Videos

If you’ve been watching the news recently, you’ve probably heard James Sikes frantic 911 call that he made while his Toyota Prius was stuck going 94 mph on a San Diego highway.

While watching a segment about the whole incident on the FoxNewsChannel, we noticed that Sikes was wearing a Corvette Owners Club jacket, meaning he’s a member of the most exclusive auto club in the United States.

We’re guessing Sikes will stick to driving his ‘Vette while his Prius is being investigated by Toyota and NHTSA.

Hit the jump for the video to hear Sikes’ call to 911.

- By: Omar Rana

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  • SmackDownStupidity
    He's too busy controlling the car to shift into neutral but yet he has time to make a 911 call. I smell a scam. You know, California is filled with actors. Hmm.. Maybe I am being too hard on the guy. Maybe I should go ride MY breaks and accelerator pedal and burn out my breaks and get a bunch of money. Only, I'm not good at acting. I can't get that fake heavy breathing down just right. Oh well. More power to the scammer.
  • Antinous
    Since the SD man's problems, a Prius belonging to the county of LA sped up and ran off the road in the county. Also a Dr and his wife from Minn driving a Prius when it sped up while in reverse, he donated the car to a college for them to study and find the answer. The woman in NY in the Prius hit the stone fence, and a woman yesterday in a Camry that sped up and ran she and her grandson into a churches steps..........OH WHAT A FEELING!!!!!!!!

    Toyota get these dang death machines off the road.....
  • GMfan87
    haha, stick to the chevy

    @jbrock...there's been reports that shifting into neutral or any other gear for that matter does not work.
  • Bob
    Really, where were all these guys in the pass. All of a sudden incidents like these are poping up everywhere. Something is fishy with this Sikes incident, his story imo is staged the way he said "I'll never drive that car again."
  • jbrock
    I think it sounds fishy too. He shut the car off when he dropped to 50mph, but had already travelled 20 miles. Why didn't he shut it off after the first mile? And why didn't he just push it into neutral as the 911 operator said. With most engines now governed, engines won't blow up if in neutral and floored. So you coast to a slower speed and then shut it off. I just don't get it. Do they panick and freeze up. If so, take away his corvette that has more power!
  • Anyone else think Toyota is done for? I mean, the guy was driving with his accelerator STUCK and could only get to 90?
  • j man
    If I remember right Al Gores son got his up to 90+ a few years ago and it was a bid deal. he did it on his own, no stuck pedal.
  • weslee99
    Thats one fast Prius. No one could have imagined a Prius doing 90.
  • Priusphere
    The 2004-2009 Prius can go 106 MPH, rev limited, without much problem. I've done it many times.
  • caseyverdant
    Bad news keeps coming for Toyota. Hybrids and electric cars are the greenest technology in the mainstream and it’s a shame to see their popularity decreased by these design flaws: the safety concerns not only tarnish the maker but also the model.

    Researching how to make your company, product, or next project more Green? Go to www.greencollareconomy.com for sustainability white papers and the largest b2b green directory on the web.
  • j man
    This is a Toyota design flaw not a hybrid flaw.
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