AFTER WAITING AT A LIGHT IN THE LEFT TURN LANE, I STARTED ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, SLOWLY INTO MY LEFT TURN. AT ALMOST COMPLETION OF THE TURN, MY TACHOMETER WENT FROM 3000 RPMS TO OVER 6000 RPMS. THE CAR HAD A SUDDEN JOLT AT THIS MOMENT AND THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP. I WENT INTO A SLIDE AND THE CAR SLID ACROSS 2 LANES INTO A TREE FILLED MEDIAN. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THERE WERE NO FACTORS THAT COULD INFLUENCE SUCH A CRASH, AS THE ROAD WAS DRY, IT HADN'T RAINED. THE ROAD WAS WELL PAVED. FINALLY, SPEED WASN'T A FACTOR IN THE CRASH. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DOWNSHIFTS IN GEARS, HOWEVER AFTER A RECENT RECALL WE REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED.