A taxi slammed into a hospital in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka Saturday afternoon, killing three people and injuring seven others.
The 64-year-old driver of the taxi, Tatsuo Matsuoka, was arrested on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in injury.
The taxi burst through a window on the first floor of one of the hospital's buildings and stopped when it hit the wall, according to local police.
Matsuoka told investigators that the taxi did not stop though he hit the brakes and did not slow down though he attempted engine braking, according to the police.
- See more at: http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/118395.php#sthash.gZOzhrly.dpuf
Cabbie told cops car ‘wouldn’t stop after hitting the brakes’
An elderly taxi driver slammed into a hospital in Fukuoka City, killing two persons and injuring several others (TBS News)
FUKUOKA (TR) – An elderly male taxi driver slammed into the reception area of a hospital in Fukuoka City, killing two people and injuring several others, three of them are unconscious in serious condition, police said on Saturday.
Police arrested Tatsuo Matsuoka, 64, on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in injury after he drove through the windows of Harasanshin Hospital into its reception area before slamming into an interior wall at around 5 p.m. in Hakata Ward, NHK reports (Dec. 3).
Police are rushing to confirm hospital reports of several people with injuries.
Matsuoka was quoted by police as saying the car “wouldn’t stop even after hitting the brakes, so I changed gears and tried to put on the engine brakes, I wanted to slow down.”
A witness at the scene said they “saw the entire taxi smash through the windows and into the hospital. There was a man getting CPR before being carried away.”
‘I saw a woman’s head under the car’
A witness told TBS News the car “was going crazy fast. It was horrible, I saw a woman’s head under the car.”
TBS News quoted another witness as saying they saw a “little girl calling out ‘dad, dad’ and ‘my dad is dead.’ [The driver] was just sitting there in silence, like he was dazed.”
Another witness said they “headed to the hospital after hearing a loud sound, and that’s when I saw that a car had broken through the windows and crashed into the hospital building itself.”
“There were overturned sofas and boots that came off people strewn around the car,” the witness said. “Numerous people were being carried into the hospital.”
Aug 03, 2015 - Sunland, CA - Vehicle Speed Control I WAS INCHING INTO A GROCERY STORE PARKING SPOT IN MY NEW, PERFECTLY MAINTAINED 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN I EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. MY VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD AND IN A SECOND HAD CRASHED OVER A CEMENT CURB, THROUGH A FLOWER BED, AND WAS STOPPED - DESPITE MY DESPERATELY JAMMING THE BRAKE - ONLY BY SMASHING INTO A BRICK WALL. THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING ON THE CAR IS NOW SEVERELY DAMAGED, AND THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN. I AM HORRIFIED: I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AND WORSE, HIT/HURT ANOTHER PERSON (OR AT THE VERY LEAST SEVERELY DAMAGED PROPERTY). WHAT IF I HAD CHOSEN A PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF CHILDREN?!! THEY CLOUD HAVE BEEN KILLED! THE CAR IS NOW AT A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER WAITING FOR TOYOTA CORPORATE TO "DECIDE" IF A CAR ACCELERATING INTO A BRICK WALL OF ITS ACCORD IS A "DESIGN FLAW" THAT IT WILL PAY TO FIX. I BELIEVE THAT WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IS THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE THROTTLE/ACCELERATION EXPERIENCED A SOFTWARE BUG WHICH THREW THE CAR FORWARD. IN FACT, TOYOTA WAS FORCED PAY OUT OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN FINES LAST YEAR (2014) BY THE US GOVERNMENT FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE - BUT APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T FIX ITS 2015 LINE B/F LETTING IT GO TO MARKET. I PURCHASED THE TOYOTA PRIUS BECAUSE IT WAS RECEIVED TOP SAFETY AND RELIABILITY RATINGS. ONLY NOW DO I LEARN TOYOTA HAS A HISTORY OF HIDING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BUGS IN ITS CAR DESIGNS FOR YEARS - AND BLAMING OWNERS FOR ITS RECKLESSLY UNSAFE AND THEREBY UNETHICAL AUTO DESIGNS (NO, THIS WASN'T CAUSED BY A STUCK FLOOR MAT). I AM FURIOUS. NO ONE CAN AFFORD TO BE BLAMED FOR VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER DUE TO MANUFACTURER NEGLIGENCE. EVEN IF TOYOTA CLAIMS TO HAVE FIXED MY PRIUS, ITS WORD CLEARLY MEANS NOTHING AND I DO NOT TRUST THE COMPANY. I WILL BE GETTING RID OF THE CAR ASAP AND SEARCHING FOR A SAFER MODEL.
Vehicle Speed Control Problem on the 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS [7]
Sep 08, 2015 - Modesto, CA - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A BUILDING AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700. UPDATED 01/20/16
Jun 22, 2015 - Chittenango, NY - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,687.
Sep 15, 2014 - Frederick, MD - Vehicle Speed Control ACCELERATION DRIVING EAST ON US RTE. 50 AT ABOUT 60 MPH: VEHICLE ACCELERATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I NEARLY RAN INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH RADAR ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WAS ENGAGED AT THE TIME. I TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAS SPORADICALLY OCCURRED, BUT IT IS USUALLY FAIRLY MILD. THIS TIME IT WAS SO POWERFUL THAT IT FELT LIKE I HAD STOMPED ON THE ACCELERATOR; THE ENGINE ROARED AND THE CAR TOOK OFF AT FULL THROTTLE. THANKFULLY I WAS TRAVELING AT THE MAX DISTANCE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. ACCELERATION WAS NOT CAUSED BY FLOOR MATS. I WATCHED WHILE THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER CHECKED. DECELERATION DRIVING EAST ON I-70: THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SIGNALED TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE AND TURNED SMOOTHLY ONTO THE EXIT RAMP. AS SOON AS HE WAS OUT OF MY LANE MY CAR'S CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED ON TO THE THAT OF THE EXITING CAR AND VIGOROUSLY APPLIED THE BRAKES. STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR DID NO GOOD.
Sep 09, 2014 - Oak Park , IL - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE VEHICLE BEHIND IT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50.
Aug 24, 2014 - Tempe, AZ - Vehicle Speed Control I WAS PULLING INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE IN MY 2014 PRIUS. AS I WAS GLIDING IN, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR KEPT GOING. I CONTINUED TO PRESS THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I COULD FEEL THE SURGE OF POWER. I WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND I RAN INTO PARKING POSTS AT THE FRONT OF THE STORE. ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I GOT A CUT ON MY FOREHEAD AND WAS BLEEDING. AN AMBULANCE ARRIVED AND MY HUSBAND DROVE ME TO THE ER AFTERWARDS AND I RECEIVED TREATMENT. I WAS COMING HOME FROM THE GYM AT 9AM IN THE MORNING. I HAVE NEVER BEEN AT FAULT IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT BEFORE. I HAVE A WITNESS THAT SAID HE HEARD A CHIRPING SOUND COMING FROM MY BRAKES RIGHT BEFORE THE CRASH. I HAVE THE PIN DRIVE FROM THE CAR THAT A REPRESENTATIVE, SUPPOSEDLY FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE, THAT RETRIEVED IT. THIS IS WHAT TOYOTA USED TO CONDUCT THEIR "INVESTIGATION" INTO THE INCIDENT. THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY NOT THEIR FAULT, NOT INDICATING HOW IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HELP AT ALL. SOMEONE OTHER THAN TOYOTA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GETS KILLED. ( I FILED A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT THIS MORNING BUT REALIZED I HAD ENTERED THE VIN NUMBER WRONG. THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT WITH THE CORRECT VIN NUMBER.
Vehicle Speed Control Problem on the 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS [11]
Oct 07, 2014 - Seattle, WA - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING AT 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE SPIN AND CRASH INTO SEVERAL PARKED VEHICLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Jul 18, 2014 - Reddick, FL - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING APPLIED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
May 19, 2014 - Rinder , GA - Vehicle Speed Control TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO 40 MPH ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AGAIN. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. A CRASH OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Dec 19, 2013 - Cleveland, TN - Vehicle Speed Control 2013 PRIUS C TWO, BOUGHT BRAND NEW WITH 15 MILES ON IT 5 WEEKS AGO. A FEW TIMES WHEN DRIVING, I NOTICED THE BRAKES SEEMED WEAK, LIKE THEY WEREN'T STOPPING THE CAR VERY WELL EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. MY DRIVING IS MOSTLY IN TOWN ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, SO I'M RARELY GOING OVER 35 MPH. EVEN SO, I'D HAVE TO REALLY MASH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, OTHERWISE IT WOULD KEEP MOVING FORWARD. SEVERAL TIMES I ENDED UP ABOUT 5-10 FEET PAST THE LINE, STICKING THE FRONT BUMPER INTO CROSS TRAFFIC. LUCKILY NO ONE HIT ME. I CHALKED IT UP TO THE QUIRKS OF A DIFFERENT CAR THAN THE ONE I WAS USED TO, AND FIGURED IF IT KEPT HAPPENING I'D TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON MONDAY, MY WIFE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD. AFTER A FEW HUNDRED FEET, HE SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES. SHE SAID HER BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE PRIUS DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AT ALL. SHE HIT HIM GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND TOTALED THE PRIUS. SHE'S AN EXCELLENT DRIVER AND I'VE BEEN WITH HER BEFORE WHEN SHE'S HAD TO PANIC-STOP. SHE'S NEVER DRIVEN A CAR WITHOUT ABS, SO SHE IS USED TO PUSHING THE PEDAL HARD AND KEEPING HER FOOT ON IT. SHE WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO "PUMP" THE PEDAL. SHE SWEARS THE PEDAL JUST WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AT ALL. THANKFULLY, SHE'S OKAY AND NO ONE WAS INJURED.
Mar 19, 2013 - Beaverton, OR - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A WOODEN STAIRCASE. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY IN REVERSE, COMING TO A STOP IN THE STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. AN ENGINEER WAS DISPATCHED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE RESULTS WERE MAILED TO THE CONTACT, STATING THAT THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 899.
Vehicle Speed Control Problem on the 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS [9]
Oct 01, 2015 - Mission Viejo, CA - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXTREME FORCE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE TURNED RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A TRASH DUMPSTER. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER'S COLLISION CENTER WHO REPAIRED THE BODY DAMAGES AND WAS TO SEND A THIRD PARTY TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE THE REMEDY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Jun 18, 2014 - Fairfax, VA - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO ITS NORMAL ACCELERATION AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE LIGHTLY, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/23/14
Apr 08, 2014 - Santa Cruz, CA - Vehicle Speed Control 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE ENTERED A PARKING LOT AND TURNED TO GO DOWN AN AISLE, HE HIT THE CURB TOO CLOSELY AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT AN INCREDIBLE SPEED. HE PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR; HE TRIED TO TURN THE POWER OFF, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. AT THE RATE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, HE PASSED BY 2 PARKING AISLES AND WAS STOPPED BY HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE, WHICH THE FORCE OF HIS VEHICLE WAS PUSHED UNDER A FENCE AND ONTO A RAILROAD TRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS BADLY DAMAGED BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON AND THE IMPACT DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP REVIEWED THE COMPUTER DATA AND CONCLUDED THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THEY IMPLIED HIS FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR AND NOT THE BRAKE.
Sep 06, 2013 - Pearand, TX - Vehicle Speed Control WHILE TRAVELING IN A RAIN STORM AT 17MPH, I TRIED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES TO PREVENT FROM CRASHING INTO AN 18 WHEELER AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I REPEATEDLY TRIED TO STOP THE CAR AND THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGHT I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES NOT THE GAS. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT DOWN, GO INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL. I DID CRASH INTO THE 18 WHEELER BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS ACCELERATING AND I WANTED TO STOP.WHEN I CRASHED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EVEN AFTER IMPACT THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO PUSH THE 18 WHEELER. EVENTUALLY THE CAR POWERED DOWN AFTER REPEATEDLY PUSHING EVERY BUTTON POSSIBLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I PHONED YOUR HOTLINE BUT THE VIN NUMBER I GAVE HAD A NUMBER THAT WAS WRONG MY PRIOR CONFIRMATION NUMBER IS 10542285. TOYOTA IS AWARE AND I AM WAITING FOR THEM TO CALL ME BACK.
Sep 06, 2013 - Pearland, TX - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 17 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT ADDITIONALLY STATED THAT ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,500.
Apr 06, 2013 - Henderson, NV - Vehicle Speed Control PARKING CAR IN HANDICAPPED SPOT - SPEED APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH - GAS ENGINE CUT IN AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. IT WENT OVER SPACE STOP (CONCRETE) - CROSSED THE SIDEWALK ONTO GRASS AND I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED THE CAR APPROX. 3 FEET FROM A WALL OF A BUILDING AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE HANDICAPPED SIGN SCRAPED THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR AND THERE ARE SEVERAL DENTS. THE SIGN WAS FINE.
May 24, 2012 - Pompton Plains, NJ - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE AT 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT+S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO FURTHER ASSES THE FAILURE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE REPRESENTATIVE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,400.... UPDATED 08/15/12
Vehicle Speed Control Problem on the 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS [15]
Sep 23, 2015 - Walnut Creek, CA - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. DURING THE CRASH, THE FRONT END SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.
May 14, 2015 - Kerrville, TX - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE INTO A SPACE AT APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED INTO A SEMI CIRCLE AND STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
Apr 18, 2011 - Long Island, NY - Vehicle Speed Control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE FORWARD WHILE PRESSURE WAS BEING APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT ON THE CONTACTS BEHALF BUT PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.
Vehicle Speed Control Problem on the 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS [265]
The California Highway Patrol has released the names of the two people involved in a San Luis Obispo car accident that claimed one life. 86-year-old James Grant Snider from Los Osos, died from his injuries at the hospital. Jane Ann Upton, 52 years old from San Luis Obispo, suffered major injuries.
Upton was later arrested for suspicion of felony DUI and manslaughter.
[November 17, 2014] Authorities are investigating a fatal car accident that happened shortly after 2 p.m. Monday,
A Toyota Prius was traveling northbound on Foothill Boulevard when it veered onto the wrong side of the road. It then collided with a Ford Escape that was traveling southbound on Foothill Blvd.
The driver of the Ford Escape was transported to Sierra Vista Hospital where he died from his injuries. The driver of the Prius is at the hospital with major injuries.
Police believe drugs may have played a role in the collision.
Toyota and Lexus are #1 in cases of sudden unintended acceleration and FORD is #2. The current unintended acceleration plaguing newer vehicles is the electronically-induced type. The engine throttle control systems depend on computer software to command them. Sometimes glitches occur...like in some of your other electronic devices...which can cause the command to be different than what you desire. The evidence of the glitch is often undetectable after the vehicle is restarted.
Unfortunately, the EDR (black box) is not always accurate as shown by expert Dr. Antony Anderson in his analysis of a 2012 Toyota Highlander. The EDR results indicated the driver was not braking when she was doing so. The EDR results are inconsistent.
The key to avoiding a horrific crash during a SUA event is whether or not the vehicle has an effective fail-safe in the event a glitch occurs. If it does not, as in the case of the glitch-prone Toyota ETCS-i, then the vehicle may become a runaway with an ineffective means to stop it. Unfortunately, the safety standards aren't as strict in automobiles as they are in airplanes. Some manufacturers have more effective fail-safes than others. In the case of Toyota, an embedded software expert, Michael Barr (see Oklahoma Bookout vs. Toyota court case involving a 2005 Camry) found that an electronic glitch could induce a SUA event. Another expert, Dr. Henning Leidecker, found that a SUA event could also be triggered by "tin whisker" formation, particularly in 2002-2006 Toyota Camry vehicles.
SUA events have been DEADLY for vehicle occupants as well as pedestrians and people in storefronts, buildings, and even homes. The numbers of such crashes are ever-increasing with the advent of the very complex ELECTRONIC throttle control systems.
With the increase in such serious vehicle crashes, there is a concerted effort to show driver "pedal misapplication" or a "medical condition" or some other reason for the incident...anything other than a vehicle defect. Investigators aren't scrutinizing the buggy electronic throttle control software or other conditions that can elicit a terrifying sudden unintended acceleration incident. They usually just examine the *mechanical* causes which tend to be just red herrings in these cases. Investigators simply don't have the expertise to find such electronic glitches. In fact, the staff at the NHTSA, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, do not have this very specialized training!
Think of it...the next step in electronically-controlled vehicles seems to be so-called "self-driving cars." Do YOU want to be in a such a vehicle when there is no evidence that strict safety standards, particularly in the throttle control system's software, have been adhered to? Will you just BLINDLY trust the automaker (criminally-investigated and nearly-prosecuted Toyota and soon-to-be GM and others?) to come through for you and your family's safety *on its own*?
A recently published Huffington Post article by Jonathan Handel,
How Do We Know Driverless Cars Are Safe? Google Says 'Trust Us'
Posted: 07/01/2014 7:23 pm EDT Updated: 07/02/2014 1:48 pm EDT speaks to these very issues and poses tough questions about Google's "driverless" vehicles. Educate yourself carefully before you put your faith in automakers who have knowingly lied to their customers and the government for decades. Study the issue of vehicle electronic sudden unintended acceleration and ask WHY we aren't seeing it addressed publicly. WHY is blame placed on the driver with little more than speculation about which pedal was used or with little more than an assumption on medical condition. This is being done *even when the drivers steadfastly cite a VEHICLE PROBLEM as the cause of the crash. Absence of proof is not proof of absence of a serious ELECTRONIC computer glitch or other electronically-caused SUA.
Sudden Unintended Acceleration is real, it happened to me in 2005. I had purchased a brand new 2004 ES 330 Lexus while sitting at the red light my car took off like a rocket going through the red light. By the time I realized what was happening my car was going over 100 miles an hour and I realized that I did not have brake and I could hear the accelerator revving. All I was able to do hold on to the wheel trying to avoid hitting anyone. All I could think that my car was going to kill people.
I was so fortunate that no one was kill and what eventually happen I end up on the other side of the street hitting a SUV head on totaling both cars. The dashboard fell on my legs and crushed both legs severely. The SUV driver had some minor damages. As the result of my Lexus suddenly accelerating, I have had 24 surgeries and more in future. My left leg will have to be amputated above the knee since surgery can not do any good anymore and my right ankle will have to be fused since I am in sever pain. I hope Toyota stops the lies and fix those cars rather than blaming the elderly, teens, medical issues or anything else they can come up with except sudden unintended acceleration..
This case was settled out of court for $10,000,000. because Toyota did not wan publicity.
On August 28, 2009, California Highway Patrol Officer Mark
Saylor, his wife, daughter and brother-in-law were killed in an uncontrolled acceleration crash in a 2009 Lexus ES350 in San Diego. Unlike the many deadly Toyota sudden
acceleration before, this crash was captured on a 911 call made by Mrs Saylor from the speeding car with a stuck accelerator before it crashed and killed all the occupants. At the time of the crash, NHTSA did not have a single open investigation in Toyota sudden acceleration. Toyota exploited to avoid recalls until the tragic crash in San Diego in August 2009 that resulted in 4 deaths in a Lexus driven by an experienced highway patrol officer who was unable to bring
the vehicle to a stop. But for the crash being caught on a 911 tape, the recent recalls would not have occurred because the crash would have gone unnoticed like so many before it
which the agency blamed on driver error.
UPDATE, February 8, 2009: Speaking in a sort-of-webchat on Digg, Toyota president Jim Lentz said of the Woz complaint, "We are working with him on the operation of the cruise control." Please forgive us while we quietly smirk.
Equally bad, on Monday a celebrity came forward to claim he'd experienced sudden acceleration in his new 2010 Toyota Prius while using the cruise control.
Since he's Apple co-founder and Silicon Valley luminary Steve Wozniak, universally known as "Woz," he got attention. Lots of it.
In fact, Toyota asked Jalopnik to send Woz the personal number of Toyota president Jim Lentz. (If only all owners got such treatment ....)
NOT sudden acceleration
But we think we know what's causing Woz's problem. It's not a sudden acceleration issue. It's Toyota's electronic cruise control, which behaves differently than most other carmakers' systems.
Speaking at Discovery Forum 2010, Woz said, "This new model has an accelerator that goes wild, but only under certain conditions of cruise control,"
"And I can repeat it over and over and over again--
safely," he continued. "This is software. It's not a bad accelerator pedal. It's very scary, but luckily for me, I can hit the brakes."
Repeating it over and over
And that's what tipped us off. Not only is the 2010 Prius not subject to the accelerator pedal recall, but every report of accelerator behavior has essentially said that it was a random occurrence.
Instead, we think Woz didn't understand how Toyota's adaptive cruise system worked. Because we didn't either, when we first tested the car. Neither did an auto-industry friend of ours who asked to remain anonymous. Here's what he wrote [edited slightly for clarity]:
Ohhhhh, this happened to ME!
It's the way the cruise control in their hybrid cars works. I was driving the Lexus HS250h we tested, and I set the laser distance cruise control.
Accelerating in 5-mph increments
In every other car I've driven that has cruise control, when you press "ACCEL," it accelerates your vehicle for as long as you hold the button down. And it stops when you reach the speed you want and let go of the button or paddle.
But not so, this Toyota system. As you hold the button down, a tiny little electronic counter in the gauge cluster is SETTING YOUR SPEED. With each click up or down, it sets it 1 mph faster or slower.
But if you hold it down, it changes toincreasingyour speed in 5-MPH INCREMENTS. So as you hold it down at 55 mph, thinking you'll let go at 70 mph when you're at the speed you want, the system is in fact rapidly increasing your target speed.
From 70 to 115 mph
By the time you're at 70 mph and you let go of the button, the computer has set your cruise control speed at 115 mph. And it's now rapidly accelerating you to that speed!
I had to have my passenger look in the owners manual while I was driving to see what I was doing wrong. I tried it a couple times before I realized what it was doing. I mentioned this later to [a Toyota executive]. He just quietly nodded, and looked perturbed...
If we had to guess, we suspect Toyota will find that Woz's 2010 Prius works exactly as it's designed to do. It's just that its cruise control is designed to act in a way that's different to most others, and hard to interpret unless you focus on the digital speed indicator.
Tossing the manual in the trash?
If we knew Woz (we don't, except by reputation), we'd ask him whether he read the (thick-ish) manual that came with his new 2010 Toyota Prius.
Of course, early Apple Macintosh aficionados said the only way to find out if software was any good was to rip off the shrink wrap, put the diskettes in the Mac, and toss the manuals in the trash. If you got it to work, it was good.
Unfortunately, modern cars aren't like that. Even uber-green third-generation Toyota Prius hybrids that get 50 mpg.
