Woman, 76, crashes Toyota into church, says gas pedal stuck

[Jennicut]

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 10:47 PM EST
By LISA BACKUS

NEW BRITAIN, CT — A 76-year-old member of St. George’s church “flew through the air with the greatest of ease” Tuesday after she said the gas pedal on her 2007 Toyota stuck while she was delivering items for the parish’s tag sale.

The woman and her 15-year-old grandson who was in the car were not seriously injured when the vehicle drove over the church lawn, struck the church steps taking out both railings, and sailed down a flight of steps leading to Grove Hill Street.

“It was just like in the movies,” said the woman, who refused to be identified. “I was hitting everything.”

“It’s a miracle,” said Father Rev. James Bogiatzis when he surveyed the damage.
“That’s right, we flew through the air with the greatest of ease, Father,” the woman said. “The police told me I should be a NASCAR driver.”

http://www.newbritainherald.com/articles/2010/03/09/news/doc4b9715e8a5702401673045.txt

Poor old lady. The car is being taken to Stephen Auto Mall in Bristol, literally down the street from my house.

[SimonPhoenix]

1. another one

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6293IC20100310

(Reuters) - Federal regulators said they were looking into a report of another runaway Toyota Prius, this one in Westchester County, New York, where police said a woman pulling out of a driveway zoomed across a busy street and into a stone wall.

The 56-year-old driver sustained nonlife-threatening injuries on Tuesday when the 2005 Prius she was operating knocked some large boulders from the wall after the crash, said Capt. Anthony Marraccini, acting police chief in Harrison, New York, which is about 25 miles northeast of New York City.

[Jennicut]

2. I saw that on the local news tonight right after they interviewed the Father at the church in New

Britain.
I am so happy not to have a Toyota right now. I used to drive one but that was two cars ago.

[SimonPhoenix]

3. My dad has a 2010 Prius and refuses to take it to the dealership

He says that he hasn't had any problems yet, so why should he?

[Jennicut]

4. That is like playing Russian Roulette.

Toyota has a huge problem on their hands. These cars are going to be like weapons on the road.

[Dr.Phool]

8. I bought my wife a 2008 Prius. Identical to the one in the Cali chase scene.

I took a ride on the bike this afternoon for a couple of beers. A woman sat down next to me, well, a couple of stools away. Turns out she's a Toyota salesperson. Boy, do they ever have their talking points and propaganda down.

According to her, it's all a big government conspiracy, because they own 55% of GM, and they want to run Toyota out of business. She even said that GM recalled 1.5 BILLION cars in the US last year. She wouldn't even let up when I said that translates into 5 cars for every American. Including babies.

[Jennicut]

10. I doubt it is a conspiracy. I used to like Toyota but their quality must have gone downhill.

Greedy and lazy at the top maybe?

[yodoobo]

5. These events are accelerating in reoccurance.

If this trend continues every Toyota you see on the highway will have stuck accelerator by this time next year.

[Johonny]

6. thank god she found a use for religion

[951-Riverside]

7. The elderly are always crashing into restaurants, stores, crowds, gas stations, etc

I doubt her car suddenly accelerated. :)

[Jennicut]

15. Her 15 year old grandson was with her and said that it suddenly accelerated.

But you are right about the elderly and accidents. My 86 year old Grandma does not drive anymore...too many accidents. My parents finally told her that it was just not safe anymore.

[Bryn]

9. I know this shouldn't be funny, but I am laughing

what a very funny woman! I am so glad she and her grandson weren't seriously injured.

[flamingdem]

11. POLTERGEIST !!!!!!!!!!!! nt

[Confusious]

12. Well, at least it was a church, not something more valuable

like an outhouse.

[DemoTex]

13. Buick hits building; driver cops a Toyota defense.

I was in the barber chair early Tuesday morning when a police officer walked in and started talking to the shop owner (who was cutting what little hair I have). Seems that a woman's Buick hit the barber shop building on Monday when the shop was closed. The damage was confined to brickwork, but was substantial.

The policeman said that the woman parked the Buick and went into another shop. The car rolled into the barber shop building. The woman claimed that she had put the car's transmission in "park" and set the brake (there was a pronounced slope where she parked). She claimed that the car must have slipped out of "park" and jumped the parking brake to roll like it did.

The policeman said, and I quote, "She is copping a Toyota defense."

[elocs]

14. Why on earth doesn't everyone know now what to do with a stuck accelerator

no matter what model car they may be driving? :shrug: Especially if you are driving a Toyota. I don't understand this, "Oh My GOD!, What do I do" when this happens. Are there people out there who are simply unaware of this problem? Toyota aside, this is hardly the first time that there have been problems with stuck accelerators whether by model cars or individual vehicles.