Shopper crushed to death by used car he was considering buying

NY Daily News ^ | 11 Dec 2019 | Rocco Parascandola and Thomas Tracy

[oh8eleven]

Michael Kosanovich, 21, was eyeing a 2002 Lexus at 148th St. and Foch Blvd. in South Jamaica when the owner inadvertently started the car’s remote ignition about 9:45 p.m. Saturday.

The car was not in park and when the remote was triggered it lurched forward, pinning Kosanovich between the luxury car and another parked Lexus, cops said.

[N. Theknow]

I don't know of any car that will start if not in Park or Neutral.

And apparently the accelerator had a brick on it to make it "lurch" forward instead of moving at idle speed.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The car was not in park and when the remote was triggered it lurched forward, pinning Kosanovich between the luxury car and another parked Lexus, cops said.

Speaking as someone who has installed quite a number of remote starter electronics...if the car wasn't in 'park' then the remote starter unit should not have engaged at ALL. That's IF it was installed properly.

[NEMDF]

Exactly what I was thinking.

[super7man]

After market remote ignition?

I think we have a winner.

[libertylover]

I’m pretty sure the DESIGN would be that it wouldn’t start unless it’s in park but, the car’s fairly old (2002) and maybe something just wore out, or it possibly was tampered with in the past.

[Vaquero]

Perhaps the shopper was bent over looking into the grill or hood when it lurched forward. It could have been behind. When I drove standard transmission cars I would put them in reverse (as reverse is the lowest gear) instead of using the parking brake.

[thefactor]

If the car was being sold at that location, it was definitely a piece of crap with a salvage title that was being resold after being bought at auction by one of those shady dealers. Terrible story.

[Rebelbase]

Was remote ignition available on 2002 Lexus?

[libertylover]

Probably an improperly installed remote starter as others have said. I don’t know when those remote starters became common on luxury cars. I have an old (2005) Jaguar, which had a sticker price of over $50,000, and it does not have a remote starter.

[oh8eleven]

No vital organs from there down, so how did that kill him?
Went into shock?

[null and void]

OK, that makes sense, thanks!

[null and void]

Possible, or maybe a bone splinter pierced the femoral artery? I think Vaquero’s take makes as much sense as anything.

[Hot Tabasco]

When I drove standard transmission cars I would put them in reverse (as reverse is the lowest gear) instead of using the parking brake.

I drove a standard for 35 years and can't recall ever using the parking brake....

[VTenigma]

I hate when that happens.

[Songcraft]

Well, if it was one of those driverless kind of vehicles, the guy would not even have to be alive, in order to take it out for a test drive.   (I know, it's wrong to try to joke about something with such a tragic ending, and I feel guilty already!   Mea culpa...)

[Balding_Eagle]

A Shakedown?

Yeah the dead man was determined the Shakedown someone, and he was willing to give his life to succeed.

[READINABLUESTATE]

“It was Audi, but yes many remember that ridiculous travesty.”

Used Audi 5000’s were really cheap after it was all over.

[VTenigma]

When was the last time you saw a Lexus with a manual transmission? They are as rare as hen’s teeth. More like the neutral safety switch was bypassed.

[MrEdd]

Please refrain from abusing the news forum. This is chat material

So is most of what the associated press puts out. If you are in any way serious about avoiding chat material get Jim Thompson to ban them as a source...

[SaxxonWoods]

Agree, something weird there.

Either that, or, never negotiate price when standing in front of the car.