Toyota investigators haven’t been able to replicate the high-speed ride that so terrified a San Diego Prius owner, leading one official to question whether it really happened. According to a spokesman for California Rep. Darrell Issa, the top Republican on the oversight committee, the car company’s results put “the credibility” of the story into question, but Patty Sikes, wife to the “runaway Toyota” driver is enraged by the suggestion. "We're just fed up with all of it," she said. "Our careers are ruined and life is just not good anymore." Meanwhile, an alleged local victim of pedal acceleration will get a visit from a company engineer.
The probe into the California Prius—which was covered under floor mat recalls but not supposed to have acceleration defects—revealed that a “backup mechanism that shuts off the engine when the brake and gas pedals are floored" worked properly during tests,” according to USA Today. Test drivers were unable to take the car on any kind of uncontrolled ride, let alone a 23 minute sprint like the one described by the car’s owner. Another recent investigation focused on Jim Sikes’s finances, turning up a 2008 bankruptcy filing. “Everyone can just leave us alone," said his defensive wife. "Jim didn't get hurt. There's no intent at all to sue Toyota. If any good can come out of this, maybe they can find out what happened so other people don't get killed."
In Harrison, NY an engineer will seek answers for a Prius owner whose car allegedly flew across two lanes of traffic, stopped only by a stone wall, reports LoHud.com. Like Sikes, her 2005 hybrid was recalled for faulty floor mats, but shouldn’t have had pedal problems. In recent weeks, Toyota has faced increased criticism for putting off recalls, and in doing so, endangering the public.
