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1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

crash1 injured · 281973 · 2001-03-14

Vehicle

Make
MERCURY
Model
MYSTIQUE
Year
1999
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

CAR WAS PARKED IN MOTEL PARKING LOT. I ENTERED CAR AT 6:55AM TO MOVE CAR BY OUR ROOM TO PICKUP BAGS. I HAD MY FOOT ON BRAKE, STARTED ENGINE AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CAR JUMPED REARWARD AT A HIGH SPEED. I HAD NOT PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR HIT A TELEPHONE POLE (ABOUT 8 FEET BEHIND WERE THE CAR WAS PARKED). MY BODY WENT REARWARD WHEN THE CAR HIT THE POLE. AT THIS TIME, I HAD MY HAND ON THE SHIFTER (FLOORMOUNT) AND IT PULLED THE CAR INTO FORWARD GEAR. THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AND SLAMMED INTO A BRICK COLUMN DIRECTLY INFRONT OF WERE I WAS PARKED. I TRIED TO TURN OFF IGNITION AND HIT THE BRAKE BUT I COULDN'T EFFECT THE FORWARD MOTION. I SAW THE CAR HIT THE POLE AND MY FOREHEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TOLD AT THE HOSPITAL THAT YOU NEED TO BE GOING 35MPH OR FASTER FOR THEM TO DEPLOY. DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ACCIDENTS BEFORE. I KNOW THAT I DID NOT PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR WHEN I ENGAGED REVERSE. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR REVVING HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I WAS ACCELERATING WHEN THE CAR WAS GOING FORWARD.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
742427
Machine
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