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Feds Question 'Runaway Prius' Driver's Story

Investigators can't replicate incident; brake-wear patterns inconsistent

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 14, 2010 4:59 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Investigators have not been able to replicate the incident of uncontrolled acceleration a Prius driver says he experienced last week, and the condition of the car's brakes is raising suspicions with federal investigators and Toyota engineers, the Wall Street Journal reports. James Sikes said he lost control of his car near San Diego and slammed on the brakes as it topped 90mph, but the wear pattern on the brakes refutes that.

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration memo prepared for the House oversight committee and leaked to the AP and the Jalopnik blog indicates that the Prius would shut down if strong counteracting forces—such as acceleration and braking—canceled each other out. Said Sikes' wife: "There's no intent at all to sue Toyota. If any good can come out of this, maybe they can find out what happened so other people don't get killed."

A row of Toyota Prius cars sits on the lot at Toyota of El Cajon Tuesday, March 9, 2010 in El Cajon, Calif. Driver James Sikes' 2008 Toyota Prius raced out of control on a San Diego freeway Monday. A California Highway Patrol officer helped him stop the car.
A row of Toyota Prius cars sits on the lot at Toyota of El Cajon Tuesday, March 9, 2010 in El Cajon, Calif. Driver James Sikes' 2008 Toyota Prius raced out of control on a San Diego freeway Monday. A...   (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
James Sikes talks about his experiences in his Toyota Prius during a news conference at Toyota of El Cajon in El Cajon, Calif., March 9, 2010.
James Sikes talks about his experiences in his Toyota Prius during a news conference at Toyota of El Cajon in El Cajon, Calif., March 9, 2010.   (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 16 comments
breckandy
Mar 15, 2010 6:49 AM CDT
He had presence of mind to cell phone while weaving throught traffic at 94mph for 20 minutes but couldnt' figure out to turn key off or put in neutral after all the publicity.
I think he's got his finger in the Chili.
DickyJoe
Mar 15, 2010 1:16 AM CDT
Liar, liar,
your pants are on fire.
SalParadise
Mar 14, 2010 11:35 PM CDT
Busted!
Money • Science • US

 
Toyota • San Diego • Toyota Prius • NHTSA • Prius • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration • House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform • sudden acceleration • runaway Prius • James Sikes • Patty Sikes

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