I’m no expert, just a driver.
You can downshift an automatic but it will not reduce the gear unless the speed and gear are close to matching. Revving the engine may help.
You cannot select Park.
You cannot turn the engine off unless it is in park.
The emergency brake, if it’s a foot brake may lock up and cause a skid. It’s not an easy maneuver.
Years ago I blew out a brake line and lost all brakes. The E-Brake went to the floor and did nothing. I downshifted and revved the engine to catch the gear. It blew out third gear but caught on second gear. I swerved around a semi and drifted to a stop.
As the sweat trickled down my face and my heart rate returned to earthly, the wife and kids woke up. The youngest said “ Are we home yet?” I could only laugh.
EC
Back around 1976, I drove a mid-60s Pontiac Bonneville across Eugene, OR with no brakes at all. It was the car’s final journey, to the scrapyard. We chose Sunday morning for the trip so there wouldn’t be much traffic, and I drove the thing really slowly, watching far ahead. When I’d have to stop for a red light, I’d downshift the automatic into first, then pop it in reverse to get completely stopped, then into park to stay stopped. It all worked fine, mostly because there were no hills to deal with. I don’t think I’d try it today.
You can turn the car off it its in neutral, for this exact reason.
I have yet to see a car that does not allow that.
Our 2009 Outback allows one to shift into neutral at any speed. I’m not sure about the 2014 Tahoe.
The lady in the article had to have gone a significant distance, I would think, for the cops to be able to catch up to her. I’m not sure why she turned onto a road that ends in the lake!
Wow. Thanks for the info.! I am glad your difficult situation ended well and you were able to laugh about it!