MY WIFE LEFT WORK AND EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS, HAD TO PUMP BRAKES TO STOP. A FEW HUNDRED FEET LATER SHE CAME TO AN INTERSECTION AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, WHICH DID NOT WORK. SHE ROLLED INTO THE INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TO AVOID BEING T - BONED SHE ACCELERATED AND RAN OFF AN AJACENT ROADWAY STRIKING TREES. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED, AND SHE AND MY TWO SONS HAD TO BE EXTRICATED FROM THE VEHICLE, SUFFERING ONLY MINOR INJURIES. HER ACTIONS TO PROTECT HERSELF AND MY CHILDREN RESULTED IN THE COLLISION, AVOIDING A RIVER WITH HIGH RAPID RUNNING WATER. *AK