# 1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
> NHTSA complaint `281973` · 2001-03-14 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MERCURY
- **Model:** MYSTIQUE
- **Year:** 1999
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
## 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.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*