This article caught my eye on the front of the local papers website just now, thought I would post it here to get opinions on whether its the real deal or another wannabe claim.
http://www.app.com/article/20100909/NEWS/100909131/Accelerator-suspect-in-Toyota-crash-in-Brielle
Ill make it easy for you guys:
"At about 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jessica L. Pringle, 21, of Howell was traveling east on Green Avenue when the 2010 Toyota Corolla she was driving unexpectedly accelerated, and she lost control of the car, Police Chief Michael W. Palmer said. Pringle traveled 434 feet, striking several objects before crashing into a concrete wall, Palmer said Thursday.
"We believe that is was a sticky accelerator that caused this accident," Palmer said.
Police said alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
After the Corolla left the roadway on the right side, it traveled over a curb by the entrance of the Brielle Marine Basin and then over a concrete planter in front of Reel Seat, a bait and tackle shop on Green Avenue, Palmer said.
The Corolla continued on, traveling between a sign and tree, across a sidewalk, and re-entered Green Avenue, crossing the railroad tracks and going into the opposite lane of traffic, according to Palmer.
The Corolla left the roadway again, going over another curb and striking several bushes before hitting a light post in the RiverHouse Restaurant parking lot on Ocean Avenue, Palmer said.
The vehicle continued from there, finally stopping when it crashed into a concrete wall causing debris to damage the passenger-side rear fender of an unoccupied parked car on Ocean Avenue, Palmer said.
During the episode, the Corolla's air bags deployed, obstructing Pringle's view in trying to steer the car, Palmer said. It was unclear when the air bags deployed or how fast the car was traveling.
Police inspection of the vehicle showed that there was no object, like a floor mat, stuck under the accelerator pedal, according to Palmer.
Pringle was wearing sneakers, not sandals that could have gotten stuck under the pedals, Palmer said.
Pringle suffered a minor injury to her left wrist and was treated at the scene before being released.
No further police investigation will be conducted because the accident didn't involve a fatal or serious injury.
"The rest of the investigation is up to (Pringle's) insurance company," Palmer said.
The Corolla was towed to an impound lot where it will remain until the insurance company releases it, according to Palmer.
Toyota Safety and Quality Communications Manager Brian Lyons said in an e-mail: "It appears that Toyota has not been contacted about this vehicle by the customer or law enforcement."
Lyons said that Toyota is committed to investigating concerns such as this one when they are raised, and has created teams named SMART (Swift Market Analysis Response Teams) to help investigate them.
"To date, we have conducted more than 4,000 on-site vehicle inspections; inno case have we found electronic throttle controls to be a cause ofunintended acceleration," he said.
"With these investigations, we have confirmed that the remedies we developed for sticking accelerator pedal and potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured or incompatible floor mat are effective."
According to safercar.gov, a website which tracks recalls and defects in motor vehicles, the accelerators on 2010 Corollas are currently on recall.
Beginning in October 2009, Toyota began recalling more than 10 million vehicles for a range of problems that included faulty gas pedals and floor mats that can trap accelerators."
Diagram of the crash:
http://www.app.com/assets/pdf/B316376499.PDF
http://www.app.com/article/20100909/NEWS/100909131/Accelerator-suspect-in-Toyota-crash-in-Brielle
Ill make it easy for you guys:
"At about 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jessica L. Pringle, 21, of Howell was traveling east on Green Avenue when the 2010 Toyota Corolla she was driving unexpectedly accelerated, and she lost control of the car, Police Chief Michael W. Palmer said. Pringle traveled 434 feet, striking several objects before crashing into a concrete wall, Palmer said Thursday.
"We believe that is was a sticky accelerator that caused this accident," Palmer said.
Police said alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
After the Corolla left the roadway on the right side, it traveled over a curb by the entrance of the Brielle Marine Basin and then over a concrete planter in front of Reel Seat, a bait and tackle shop on Green Avenue, Palmer said.
The Corolla continued on, traveling between a sign and tree, across a sidewalk, and re-entered Green Avenue, crossing the railroad tracks and going into the opposite lane of traffic, according to Palmer.
The Corolla left the roadway again, going over another curb and striking several bushes before hitting a light post in the RiverHouse Restaurant parking lot on Ocean Avenue, Palmer said.
The vehicle continued from there, finally stopping when it crashed into a concrete wall causing debris to damage the passenger-side rear fender of an unoccupied parked car on Ocean Avenue, Palmer said.
During the episode, the Corolla's air bags deployed, obstructing Pringle's view in trying to steer the car, Palmer said. It was unclear when the air bags deployed or how fast the car was traveling.
Police inspection of the vehicle showed that there was no object, like a floor mat, stuck under the accelerator pedal, according to Palmer.
Pringle was wearing sneakers, not sandals that could have gotten stuck under the pedals, Palmer said.
Pringle suffered a minor injury to her left wrist and was treated at the scene before being released.
No further police investigation will be conducted because the accident didn't involve a fatal or serious injury.
"The rest of the investigation is up to (Pringle's) insurance company," Palmer said.
The Corolla was towed to an impound lot where it will remain until the insurance company releases it, according to Palmer.
Toyota Safety and Quality Communications Manager Brian Lyons said in an e-mail: "It appears that Toyota has not been contacted about this vehicle by the customer or law enforcement."
Lyons said that Toyota is committed to investigating concerns such as this one when they are raised, and has created teams named SMART (Swift Market Analysis Response Teams) to help investigate them.
"To date, we have conducted more than 4,000 on-site vehicle inspections; inno case have we found electronic throttle controls to be a cause ofunintended acceleration," he said.
"With these investigations, we have confirmed that the remedies we developed for sticking accelerator pedal and potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured or incompatible floor mat are effective."
According to safercar.gov, a website which tracks recalls and defects in motor vehicles, the accelerators on 2010 Corollas are currently on recall.
Beginning in October 2009, Toyota began recalling more than 10 million vehicles for a range of problems that included faulty gas pedals and floor mats that can trap accelerators."
Diagram of the crash:
http://www.app.com/assets/pdf/B316376499.PDF