Acceleration questioned in fatal crashes New England(bio's on each victim with info photos & videos)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.boston.com/business/specials/accelerationdeaths/

Reporting and multimedia by Erin Ailworth, Globe Staff

A Globe review of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's database revealed at least seven fatal accidents involving New England drivers in which the possibility of unintended acceleration has been raised by family members. The accidents resulted in 10 deaths. These are the cases:


Sept. 4, 2003
Camry accelerates, crosses traffic, collides with car

Victim
Maria Cafua, 44

Car: 2002 Toyota Camry

Hometown: Wilmington

Crash location: Interstate 93 at Exit 39

Killed: Cafua

Crash details: Cafua was getting on the the interstate at 5:30 am when her Camry shot across three lanes of traffic and was broadsided by another car. The accident confounded family members, who called Cafua a good driver and said her route to work was one she obviously knew well. A family lawyer filed a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, stating, "It is believed that the Camry experienced an un-commanded acceleration." The accident left Cafua in a coma for several months before she died. While she lay in the hospital, son David said, he read a newspaper article about problems with Toyota vehicles and began to suspect that the car might have been at fault in the accident. "I can't see my mother losing control with the car," David Cafua said. "It kind of makes sense if the car wouldn't stop."


March 15, 2004
Camry shoots back into pedestrian
Victims
Leonard Rubin, 87, and Blossom Malick, 79

Car: 2003 Toyota Camry

Hometowns: Framingham (Rubin) and Boynton Beach, Fla. (Malick)

Crash location: Delray Beach, Fla.

Killed: Pedestrian Blossom Malick

Crash details: Rubin had just finished eating at 3G's Gourmet Deli and Restaurant and was pulling out of his parking space when his Camry "shot back," according to son-in-law Marvin Cohen, killing Malick, who was standing in the parking lot. Family members described Rubin, then 87, as sensible driver despite his age. Cohen reported Rubin's accident to NHTSA as a possible case of sudden unintended acceleration because, based on Rubin's driving habits, "I could not believe it was his fault." After the accident, Rubin, a retired kosher caterer who died in April 2008, had his car shipped back to Massachusetts. Too afraid to drive the vehicle, he traded it in for another Camry. NHTSA is investigating the accident, and has been in touch with Cohen.

FULL story, info, videos, etc. at link.

[TexasObserver]

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