So, have you heard about the guy who has been in prison for vehicular manslaughter?

[Disney1fan2002]

He killed three people, two were children. He was driving a 96 Toyota Camry and plowed into another car at 90 miles an hour. He had his pregnant wife and daughter in his car with him, he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He has said all along that the car would not stop, that the brakes wouldn't work. The jury did not believe him.

This happened to me three different times, only it was a 98 Ford Windstar. The van would just accelerate on it's own, and the brakes would not stop it. I had to throw the car into park while it was accelerating. The third time, I had my kids in the car and it scared me so much I got rid of the car. (this was about 7 years ago)

I can imagine what that poor man is feeling, knowing his car killed three people, he has been in prison for years. I hope this is enough to set him free. (The Toyota recall)

 

[MizTink]

He killed three people, two were children. He was driving a 96 Toyota Camry and plowed into another car at 90 miles an hour. He had his pregnant wife and daughter in his car with him, he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He has said all along that the car would not stop, that the brakes wouldn't work. The jury did not believe him.

This happened to me three different times, only it was a 98 Ford Windstar. The car would just accelerate on it's own, and the brakes would not stop it. I had to throw the car into park while it was accelerating. The third time, I had my kids in the car and it scared me so much I got rid of the car. (this was about 7 years ago)

I can imagine what that poor man is feeling, knowing his car killed three people, he has been in prison for years. I hope this is enough to set him free. (The Toyota recall)

oh wow......sad story. wonder if you are right about the recall changing things for him??

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I really hope this is grounds for a re-trial or release. This Toyota thing is making me sick, how could they cover something like this up?!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

At the very least, I would hope his attorneys on on top of this and seek an appeal...IF his vehicle was part of the recall. If it wasn't, it would be hard to prove it.

I can't fault the jury though if they didn't have a reasonable doubt that what he said was plausible. (i.e. perhaps they looked at his lack of evasive action or attempts to warn people of his plight or to seek help?)

 

[Disney1fan2002]

At the very least, I would hope his attorneys on on top of this and seek an appeal...IF his vehicle was part of the recall. If it wasn't, it would be hard to prove it.

I can't fault the jury though if they didn't have a reasonable doubt that what he said was plausible. (i.e. perhaps they looked at his lack of evasive action or attempts to warn people of his plight or to seek help?)

I think why this story strikes a cord with me, is that my van did exactly what they are saying the Toyota's are doing. Yet, it was a Ford, not part of any recall. So even if they find his 96 Camry is not affected by the recall, I think the same mechanical failure could have happened to him as an isolated incident.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think why this story strikes a cord with me, is that my van did exactly what they are saying the Toyota's are doing. Yet, it was a Ford, not part of any recall. So even if they find his 96 Camry is not affected by the recall, I think the same mechanical failure could have happened to him as an isolated incident.

Oh it could--I'm just saying though..i can't fault the jury for convicting him and his case is definitely worth reopening.

 

[Luv2Scrap]

You know what - until this very moment I hadn't remembered this, but many, many years ago I had a vehicle that would randomly accelerate on it's own too. I was about 18 and nobody would believe me, but boy was it scary! It would just surge forward. I could even feel the gas pedal going down on it's own.

I think that was my 1977 Chevy Monte Carlo. One of my first cars. This would have been around 1991-ish.

 

[ckay87]

I think why this story strikes a cord with me, is that my van did exactly what they are saying the Toyota's are doing. Yet, it was a Ford, not part of any recall. So even if they find his 96 Camry is not affected by the recall, I think the same mechanical failure could have happened to him as an isolated incident.

My Chevy Venture would accelerate on its own when the engine was going bad. The brakes worked, though.

I get your point....who's to say that this couldn't happen with another model/make?

 

[XTinabell]

I think why this story strikes a cord with me, is that my van did exactly what they are saying the Toyota's are doing. Yet, it was a Ford, not part of any recall. So even if they find his 96 Camry is not affected by the recall, I think the same mechanical failure could have happened to him as an isolated incident.

My mom's ford car did the same thing. She had my sisters friend in the car with her and the car kept accelerating and the brakes weren't working. She called 911 and they told her to pull into the shoulder (she was on the highway) and turn the car off. Fortunately the road was empty (normally very busy) and she was able to stop the car without anyone getting hurt. Very scary, they were both understandably in tears. She immediately got rid of the car.

 

[surfergirl602]

I had an old oldsmobile that used to do that when I was in college. I ended up selling it because it scared the you know what out of me. One of my moms did it too, and she got rid of it. It never went very fast, but once you put it in drive, it would just go. You didn't even need to step on the gas.

 

[live4christp1]

My 1993 Grand Am did this once. Had the brake pushed all the way to the floor and it was still going faster and faster. Like PP said, I turned into the nearest stopping place I came to while riding the brake, yanked up the emergency brake and slammed it in park.

It never did it again, DH didn't believe me.

It was very, very cold that morning (below freezing) and my dad believed that there had been some water in the gas and maybe the valves had frozen open as if I was continueing to give the car more gas.....don't know if that's even a possibility......but it sure was scary.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

If you fail to avoid the car racing to 90 MPH by not shifting into nuetral, sorry, you were negligent in your actions and ability to control a motor vehicle. So yes, I would agree he should be charged with negligent homicide.

 

[ladycollector]

My dodge did that last year. It would accelerate on its own so in order to drive I pretty much just had to lay on the brake. It is VERY scary. Luckily I got it fixed quickly because my dad is good with cars.

 

[Pumbaa_]

It is very easy to say what someone should have done, much harder in the heat of the moment to always think logically

 

[MickeySP]

Also on some vehicles when you put it in Neutral the steering will lock up

 

[jlewisinsyr]

It is very easy to say what someone should have done, much harder in the heat of the moment to always think logically

Of course there is always a should have, would have, could have argument, but people take driving a vehicle with such a cavalier attitude. You need to remember, you are driving a 3,000 piece of machinery. You need to know how to drive in adverse situations, including emergency manuevers. Lack of education and experience is not an excuse for failing to do the right thing.

Also on some vehicles when you put it in Neutral the steering will lock up

If you shut off the car it will lock-up, never have heard of a vehicle locking the steering if in nuetral, ever.

 

[wenrob]

If you fail to avoid the car racing to 90 MPH by not shifting into nuetral, sorry, you were negligent in your actions and ability to control a motor vehicle. So yes, I would agree he should be charged with negligent homicide.

It is very easy to say what someone should have done, much harder in the heat of the moment to always think logically

Exactly. When I was 12-13yrs old my mother had a diabetic reaction and went over a mailbox, a tree and into the side of a mobile home. We were in one of those huge old Dodge trucks that didn't have seat belts, I was busy screaming for my little brothers to get down on the floor boards. My grandfather said a 100 times, "Why didn't you just turn the ignition off?" Well, because I was panicked (and a kid no less) and scared my little brothers were going to fly through the windshield, it honestly didn't even occur to me.

I had a Pontiac Grand Prix that would just lose all power, no steering, no brakes, nothing. The first time it happened I was approaching a red light with my 19 day old preemie just out of the NICU. I was STANDING on the brakes, smoke was coming from the tires. Thank goodness the car stopped just past the line for the light. DH asked me later why I didn't grab the emergency brake. Well, I was busy thinking me and my baby were going to die and kill someone else in the process, it happened it seconds, not much time to set a plan in action. I did what came naturally, tried to hit the brakes and steer a vehicle that wouldn't steer.

As Pumbaa pointed out it's very easy to say what should have been done or to judge if you've never been in that kind of situation.

What Toyota has done is despicable and that man should get a new trial. We've had a couple of cases here in Vegas where vehicles have plummeted off the top of parking garages. They've IMHO ruined lives and killed people for profit and chances are no one going to serve any time for it. Disgusting.

 

[allison443]

He killed three people, two were children. He was driving a 96 Toyota Camry and plowed into another car at 90 miles an hour. He had his pregnant wife and daughter in his car with him, he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He has said all along that the car would not stop, that the brakes wouldn't work. The jury did not believe him.

This happened to me three different times, only it was a 98 Ford Windstar. The van would just accelerate on it's own, and the brakes would not stop it. I had to throw the car into park while it was accelerating. The third time, I had my kids in the car and it scared me so much I got rid of the car. (this was about 7 years ago)

I can imagine what that poor man is feeling, knowing his car killed three people, he has been in prison for years. I hope this is enough to set him free. (The Toyota recall)

OP do you have a link? What state is this in? I hadn't heard of this case, and when I googled I didn't find anything about it (except this thread, lol)
Thanks.

Edited to add, found it! The car he was driving was a 1996 and the recall is for 2007-2010 cars. I wonder if his car is still available to be examined.

 

[Amy]

My dodge did that last year. It would accelerate on its own so in order to drive I pretty much just had to lay on the brake. It is VERY scary. Luckily I got it fixed quickly because my dad is good with cars.

Ladycollector - what did you dad do to fix your car? Does he agree with what Toyota is doing?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Exactly. When I was 12-13yrs old my mother had a diabetic reaction and went over a mailbox, a tree and into the side of a mobile home. We were in one of those huge old Dodge trucks that didn't have seat belts, I was busy screaming for my little brothers to get down on the floor boards. My grandfather said a 100 times, "Why didn't you just turn the ignition off?" Well, because I was panicked (and a kid no less) and scared my little brothers were going to fly through the windshield, it honestly didn't even occur to me.

An unexpected medical condition is a little different, plus you were neither the driver or someone who had taken a drivers test and obtained a license to operate a motor vehicle. Most would not expect you to know what to do.