CHP Officer Stops Driver in Runaway Prius Hoax

UPDATE: Runaway Prius, appears to be a hoax. Technicians who tested the Toyota Prius after its owner claimed its gas pedal stuck, were unable to recreate the same condition. Pruis owner Jim Sikes' claim, that the car kept going even though he slammed on the brake while his gas pedal was stuck to the floor "does not appear to be feasibly possible," according to federal investigators.

I've decided to leave this clip up for now, original news story follows below. Four video responses are posted in the "channel blog" playlist on the front page.

Cop saves driver in a runaway Prius wasn't exactly the news Toyota wanted to hear this week. Toyota had just finished telling Congress that there was no hard evidence their Prius software had caused runaway accerleration or accidents. Toyota representative will probably be seeing a doctor now, to get his foot out of his month.

US Safety Investigators have begun to probe the case of a runaway Toyota Prius in California, sources said Tuesday, in an incident threatening to undermine the Japanese automaker's effort to repair its battered image.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration "is gathering details on yesterday's incident involving a recalled Prius that accelerated out of control," a source familiar with the matter said.

"Two investigators are flying out to California to examine the car and look for potential causes."

The latest case involved James Sikes, 61, who was driving his 2008 Prius on the busy Interstate 8 freeway outside San Diego when he noticed his car starting to accelerate of its own accord, the California Highway Patrol said.

The terrified motorist was helpless as the car raced along the road at speeds of more than 140 kilometers (90 miles) per hour.

Tragedy was only averted after Sikes was able to call police, and officers using a loudspeaker talked the driver through the process of slowing down by using his emergency brake and then turning off the engine.

Toyota later issued a statement saying technical specialists had been sent to San Diego "to investigate the report and offer assistance."

The drama was a chilling echo of the tragic accident last August where off-duty California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor and three family members were killed when the accelerator became stuck in the Lexus ES350 in which they were riding.

Officials said there was no information about any additional recalls. The 2004-2009 Prius was already subject to a recall for "pedal entrapment" in November, and the 2009-2010 Prius is subject to the recall over braking system problems.

The Japanese auto giant has recalled more than eight million cars and trucks worldwide, including six million in the United States, to address potentially deadly defects blamed for incidents of sudden, unintended acceleration and other issues.

US regulators said last week that they had received more than 60 complaints from Toyota owners reporting sudden unintended acceleration despite having their recalled vehicle repaired by a Toyota dealer.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Runaway
• Prius
• Toyota
• California
• Freeway
• Highway
• Patrol
• CHP
• Cop
• Saves
• Driver
• Congress
• Safety
• Investigation
• Recall

[RonCarGuy]

Runaway Prius, appears to be a hoax.

Technicians who tested a Toyota Prius after its owner claimed its gas pedal stuck, were unable to recreate the same condition. Pruis owner Jim Sikes' claim that the car kept going even though he slammed on the brake while his gas pedal was stuck to the floor "does not appear to be feasibly possible," according to federal investigators.

I decided to leave this clip up for now, and attached 3 video reports in the "Video Blog" playlist on the front page.

[SIRoadrnr]

what a scammer!! he thinks we're all idiots. how about NEUTRAL?! how about OFF?!!

[LOVELIFE54]

I certainly hope Jim Sikes is prosecuted !

[scotplaya]

No offence but Sounthern California has the most shittiest drivers in CA and city San Diego itself is too car dependent.

[suggesttwo]

in electronic car killing the power to the ECM will stop the engine. gas pedals have been sticking for a long time. in my driver's ed book they said kick the pedal to dislodge it.

[kevind15]

90mph over what hill? Where's the hill?

[raceboy404]

@deadhead02420

most toyotas have a fail safe so you don't shift out of drive... so everyone loses

[JUKIO01]

lol, i think its funny how all of a sudden people are having problems with toyota's. sound like a conspiracy, government is probably involved. but toyota is too powerful and smart to be fooled by the guys in washington.

this guy is such a fuckn dumbass, such a bad liar. all this just to get out of a ticket, my god, 100 dollar fine, hes probably poor or something

[rjgwapo]

I think a polygraph test should be done as standard operating procedure to anyone who has a complain/issue about Toyota or any other vehicles including American and German cars.

[nuke1989]

is he mexican?

[kodezerokool]

COME ON! Don't tell me you can watch his statement and actually believe his face when he gives his speech. I felt very uncomfortable listening to him give that speech cause I felt he was telling lies the whole time just from his reactions, the man cant look at the camera or into the eyes of the person listening.