UH OH! NY Runaway Prius May Have Been Due To DRIVER ERROR...

The Truth About Cars reports:

Last week, Harrison Police Capt. Anthony Marraccini said he had no indication of driver error, after a 56 year old house keeper had driven her employer’s Prius into a wall. Wall and car were totaled. Airbags deployed, housekeeper was unharmed. Now, Marracini isn’t so sure anymore.

Yesterday, six Toyota technicians and two NHTSA inspectors descended on Harrison, NY, to inspect the Prius, which had been kept in a Harrison police impound. According to CNN, “two independent inspectors from a forensic technology company, hired by the Police Department, also were aiding the investigation.” There was no shortage of experts. Presence of congressional aides was not reported.

Toyota successfully downloaded data from the vehicle. After receiving their findings (which have not been made public), Capt. Anthony Marraccini said driver error “was a possibility,” the New York Post reports. According to the paper, “the police chief overseeing the investigation of a supposed runaway Prius reversed himself yesterday, saying human error may have caused the vehicle to crash into a stone wall...

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thetruth01 - 3/18/2010 9:29:52 PM

+7 Boost

No, it can't be!!!!! hahaha

WorldofLuxury - 3/18/2010 10:38:45 PM

+1 Boost

didn't Mercedes also have steering problems? Did people forget about that or got tired of bashing good old Benz?

Joe_Limon - 3/19/2010 1:30:21 AM

-6 Boost

What's funny is I haven't even heard of this case. Why should I comment on it?

Agent00R - 3/19/2010 8:36:43 AM

+1 Boost

If only you could see the PVs, Badge ;)

uaw_lax - 3/19/2010 2:42:14 AM

+1 Boost

So why hasnt Toyytos findings been made public yet since they are the only ones that can download the data and know the real truth.

upwards - 3/19/2010 1:09:14 PM

+3 Boost

Just like people on auto spies to deboost a guy that ask a good and unbiased question.

M53R - 3/19/2010 3:08:36 AM

-3 Boost

They paid off the inspectors before.. why wouldn't they do it again? ;)

agent507 - 3/19/2010 6:21:49 AM

-3 Boost

Anybody who assumes, that because there is an accident where it was driver error, and therefore there was no reason for the recall on the Prius, is a complete retard.

Nobody actually claimed, that EVERY accident in a Toyota is Toyotas foult.

So Fanboys, go back to licking your wounds, and don´t turn the propaganda around.

BMW4me4ever - 3/19/2010 10:35:48 AM

-1 Boost

So let me understand this as though i am a 7 year old.
Did Toyota find that there was an acceleration problem in some cars? yes.... Did toyota find that there was a braking problem in the prius & lexus hybrid model? yes .... Did toyota find an issue with the steering in the corolla? yes .... Toyota is the one that recalled 15 million cars over the last 2 years due to floor mats, acceleration, steering and braking problems. That is ALOT of cars ....

Has the media blown this out of proportion? Yes and Absolutely. But it still doesnt explain why Toyota didnt become more honest & it took an action of Congress before Mr. Toyoda appoligized for the actions and shortcomings of their company ...

Whether you like it or not, Toyota is at fault for this mess. The Media is at fault for believing every Tom, dick & harry's story before doing some investigation ....

mpls - 3/19/2010 5:36:43 PM

+2 Boost

another frame up bites the dust..

Willis - 3/19/2010 6:29:38 PM

+1 Boost

On the news just a few minutes ago: a Lexus RX350 ran into the sidewalk and injured five pedestrians. Happened in New York. The funny thing is the Lexus slammed into these people in REVERSE.

No data yet if it was a faulty gas pedal or driver error.

Eyecarehawaii - 3/19/2010 8:55:27 PM

+9 Boost

After living and working in Germany for a number of year it's become sadly apparent that there's a huge difference in the way Germans and (US) Americans approach things. The Germans believe strongly in the concept of personal responsibility; Americans seem eager to blame someone else for their misfortunes.

XYZZ - 3/20/2010 5:13:44 AM

0 Boost

LOL!

maybe we can find a brain doc for for willis to have HIS brain re-installed backwards. or flipped BACK from being backwards all this time. then he mite stop seeing ONLY the dark side.