Yeah, it sounds stupid, but keep in mind that what you are reading isn't necessarily what he said. It has been filtered through the mind of a know-nothing journalist.
As my brother says, "If you want to see someone get the simplest thing wrong, tell something to a journalist"
Also, in computer-controlled, fly-by-wire systems, there is no direct linkage between the shift lever and the transmission. If the computer is already going haywire due to a software issue, there is no reason to believe that it will respond to any of the driver controls, including the "stop/start" button, the transmission, or the gas pedal.
I'm sure we've all experienced this type of non-responsiveness with our own computers.
I simply would have tried to put it in neutral knowing that the car wouldn't flip.