Posted on 03/12/2010 4:28:04 PM PST by Oklahoma
"On the very day Toyota was making a high-profile defense of its cars, one of them was speeding out of control," said CBS News--and a vast number of other media outlets worldwide. The driver of a 2008 Toyota Prius, James Sikes, called 911 to say his accelerator was stuck, he was zooming faster than 90 miles per hour and absolutely couldn't slow down.
It got far more dramatic, though. The California Highway Patrol responded and "To get the runaway car to stop, they actually had to put their patrol car in front of the Prius and step on the brakes." During over 20 harrowing minutes, according to NBC's report, Sikes "did everything he could to try to slow down that Prius." Others said, "Radio traffic indicated the driver was unable to turn off the engine or shift the car into neutral."
In fact, almost none of this was true. Virtually every aspect of Sikes's story as told to reporters makes no sense. His claim that he'd tried to yank up the accelerator could be falsified, with his help, in half a minute. And now we even have an explanation for why he'd pull such a stunt, beyond the all-American desire to have 15 minutes of fame (recall the "Balloon Boy Hoax" from October) and the aching need to be perceived as a victim
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Interesting, as this was my first reaction to this incident. I simply did not believe that it happened, nor do I believe that a significant number of other claimed Toyota speeding problems ever happened.
There are several ways to stop an out of control vehicle, from turning off the ignition to shifting in neutral to using the foot and emergency brakes, etc.
Pure BS, and the pols who now own Government Motors could not jump on the anti-Toyota bandwagon soon enough.
As the owner of 4 Toyotas/Lexus since 1980, I can say that I have never owner more reliable and low maintenance vehicles. I would not hesitate to purchase another one despite all the BS in the news today.
Hmm. Another interesting tidbit in the Comments: Apparently this fraud owned a website called Adultswinglife.com. We were told that he was a failed businessman earlier. Was that his business?
I have refrained from checking that website out.
I drive that section of Interstate 8 nearly every day and I remember thinking how fortunate he was to have had that happen to him on such a long, open highway where speeds up to 90mph are not only uncommon especially when heading westbound down the grade but are easily attainable and managable in any vehicle. How fortunate he was to have not been heading north on I-125 as were the four people who died in the Lexus last year when the freeway they were on ended.
I never bought the guys claim that he reached down and tried the unstick the accelarator. Geees drop something on the floor while you are driving and try to get at it! He would have had to contorted himself so much that he could not see the road. But hey - he was too scared to take his hands off the wheel to shift to netural!!!!!??????
My NPR affiliate in CT today reported that....
“Since the recall was first announced, 4 incidents involving Toyotas have been suspect. 3 with a Toyota Camry, and another with a Prius. One person has died. The cause of the incidents is, at this time, unknown.”
Nice job, NPR champs. The most common car in the world involved in detailless accidents, and you HAD to report it to jump in on the sensationalism.
I used to hold a list of the worst people in america, by profession. We all do. Mine read like this:
3: Politician
2: Lawyer
1: Used car salesman
Now I’m an adult, and my list is :
3: Cop
2: Real Estate Agent
1: Journalist
It’s the wierd ideas I’m married to in my old age: Things like “Never trust your girlfriend around someone with a yellow jeep” and “Anyone who drives a newer Monte Carlo is an @$$hole” It’s just one of those things that I can’t really explain to my younger fiance, who thinks I’m totally nuts.
*Brain breaking*
Shift... Into... Neutral!!
So you say. :•)
This is probably the best gag against a name brand company since the person who found the finger in Wendy’s chili.
I've only owned one, I bought it new in 2005. I had to change the wind shield wiper blade inserts on it at 93,000 miles. Can't they make wiper blade inserts that last longer than that?
Seriously though, If and that seems to be a big if, it ever wears out, I'll buy another one.
Totally agree. It was a set-up. Turn the damn thing off. Shift it into neutral.
All of the above plus use the emergency brakes.
Now he’s jumping on the “lawyered up” bandwagon but “doesn’t intend to sue”
Yeah, and I got a bridge to sell, real cheap...
Knew this was BS from the first report.
This looked like a fraud from day one. But I gave the guy the benefit of the doubt, until I heard the 911 recording.
I hope they throw the book at this lowlife.
Totally agree. It was a set-up. Turn the damn thing off. Shift it into neutral.
All of the above plus use the emergency brakes.
Now he’s jumping on the “lawyered up” bandwagon but “doesn’t intend to sue”
Reminds of the line from “Crimson Tide”:
“You don’t put on a condom unless you gonna ****!”
I have 5 prius’ in my family. 01,03,05, and 2 10’s
I drive one my son drives one my daughter drives one the president of my company drives one.
Neve had the a problem with any of them. The 03 and 05 have over 125,000 miles on them... Each. They still run like a new penny. The fact is that the motor only runs about 1/3 of the time. Hardly any engine usage for 125K miles. I thought the guy was a union whack out of a job in Ca.
Reminded me of a Union manage (thug)
Huh?
I'm sorry, but that's sort of creepy, especially for a Freeper.
I thought the story sounded hinky from the beginning. I wonder how many of the other ‘out of control’ incidents might also be an attempt to cash in?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.