I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS SE W/ 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND CRUISE CONTROL PLUS OTHER OPTIONS. ON DATE LISTED, I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON A 4 LANE HWY APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CAR WAS IN 5TH GEAR W/ THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. UPON TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND BEGIN BRAKING, NEITHER EVENT HAPPENED. I TRIED 3X TO GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO TURN OFF BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD. IT FAILED ALL THREE TIMES. BY THEN, I WAS RAPIDLY APPROACHING A GROUP OF CARS IN BOTH NORTHBOUND LANES OF GA HWY 365 COMPLETELY STANDING STILL WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE. IN RESPONSE TO A RUNAWAY CAR, I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE OFF THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD; HOWEVER, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME DID THE SAME. I STRUCK HER CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE WITH THE LEFT SIDE OF MY 2002 FORD FOCUS SE. MY PASSENGER REACHED OVER & TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO OFF. I WAS ABLE THEN TO BRAKE THE CAR TO A STOP A FEW FEET FROM A CONCRETE CULVERT. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL OF MY CAR WAS FOLDED APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DOWN ON THE GROUND. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. NEITHER CAR WAS DRIVEABLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS CAR HAS FAILED ON TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. FURTHER, THE BRAKE WEAR INDICATOR HAD BEGUN SQUELING RECENTLY. THE CAR HAD 13040 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT WAS PURCHASED ONE YEAR EARLIER. WILLARD FERGUSON