Investigation Points to Driver Error in New York Prius Crash

One of the two controversial Toyota Prius crashes earlier this month is now being attributed to driver error, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration. However, the information released by the agency was brief:

“Information retrieved from the vehicle's onboard computer systems indicated there was no application of the brakes and the throttle was fully open."

USA Today reports that there was no further explanation or any mention of when more details might become available. But at first glance, the fact that no brakes were used and the gas was at full throttle does suggest driver error or depressing the wrong pedal.

Toyota is not commenting on this case, despite heavy criticism of a separate incident in California. Instead, Toyota says it will wait for the police report to be made public before making a statement.

Feds say no brakes, full throttle in N.Y. runaway Toyota Prius crash (USA Today)

Comments

Please don't print the facts as I'm still loading up on Toyota stock. I need the media Lemmings to keep up their hysteria and the longer the better. To date I'm only up seven dollars but know there is a lot more left on the table. Go media Lemmings!

Well might better hurry. ABC is now saying Toyota's backing down from saying the throttle in Sikes car was opened and closed repeatedly. They're now admitting that while the brakes were depressed and released around 250 times, the throttle was shown open the entire time. Ouch.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/hed-runaway-toyota-prius-driver-thought-die-dek/story?id=10114198&page=2

Don't believe ABC, they had to apologize to the public for staging the tachometer shot.

Well we'll wait for Toyota to issue another statement saying their spokesperson didn't say that. In the meantime, other sources are saying the only data available, according to Toyota, is the moment of airbag deployment. Not even the three seconds before. It seems likely to me if you know you're about to hit something, you might pull your foot back. So if that's truly the case, this proves or disproves nothing. Before any judgment is made one way or another, we need to know exactly what time frame this data covers.

The above assumes that the driver didn't sign off on a police report claiming she was frantically pushing on the brake through the moment of impact.

The 250 times pressed is exactly part of the reason why Sikes' story is a suspected a hoax. He was cycling back and forth between the throttle and brakes, when a firm press of the brakes would have activated the override system. It 'contradicts' his claims:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/18/business/main6312166.shtml

Now it seems like this Prius NY driver was on the wrong pedal. Seems like these Prius drivers don't know how to drive, and maybe shouldn't be driving.

Derrick G,

Wow, I cannot believe there are idiots like yourself that buys Sikes' story of "250" times.
Really? Would you still be having such a clear mind to keep the count when you are flying down the highway at 90mph?!

In CA, 90 MPH is normal speed on the freeway! :P

This is what happens when you allow your illegal immigrant maid drive your car. The owners of the car should be arrested for putting the public in danger.

So if I was driving a Ford toward a wall with the throttle wide open and I decided not to hit the brakes.... would it still be Toyotas fault?

When the brakes failed for the second time on my 2006 GMC I wish I could have used Toyota as a scapegoat for my trucks problems.

I spilled a glass of milk so who do I contact at Toyota? It's obviously their fault.

The problem is that, now, when you are in a Toyota and you press the brake and the car accelerates, your first thought is that the accelerator is malfunctioning, so you SLAM DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR in a frantic attempt to stop the car.

Even if this woman did press the accelerator instead of the brake, I still blame Toyota, because they could have prevented ALL of the unintended acceleration problems if they had paid the money to fix the problem 4 years ago when they found it, instead of opting to pay out eventual settlements instead.

J,

Sikes didn't say 250 times. Toyota said that's what the diagnostic computer said. Though they've variously said 254 and then later that 250 is the max the system will record. How about keeping up with the goings-on before making such statements?

Mike, Toyota said cycling the throttle at first; now they've told ABC the throttle was open the entire time. I think someone here at cars.com should call them up and ask them to clarify which it is. David?

I just stubbed my toe getting out of my Impala. Can I sue Toyota?

Hundreds of consumers across the nation want a return their recalled Toyota for a refund. Are you one of them? I work with attorneys fighting for a refund remedy for Toyota owners in Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Maryland. More at: hbsslaw.com/toyota

Why is a Lawyer on here looking for people who want to return and be refunded for their Toyota purchases? Didn't all these buyers read thier purchase/sales contract for the vehicle which clearly states NO REFUNDS, NO RETURNS, NO COOLING OFF PERIOD (at least in CA, and you have to sign and initial it like 10 times!!!).