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2005 LEXUS LS430 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

crash2 injured · 877633 · 2011-09-04

Vehicle

Make
LEXUS
Model
LS430
Year
2005
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Corporation
Component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Speed
30 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
2
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD, TWO MILES FROM MY HOUSE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE CAR SUDDENLY AND DRASTICALLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I REMEMBER VIVIDLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT FAILED TO DECELERATE THE CAR AT ALL. AFRAID AS I WAS, I CEASED TO STEP ON THE BRAKE OR THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING AND KEPT GAINING MOMENTUM. AT THAT POINT, I WAS TRYING TO AVOID HITTING THE CARS IN FRONT AND INCOMING CARS FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION OF THE ROAD. I DROVE FOR ABOUT A HALF MILE ON AND OFF THE RIGHT SIDE CURBSIDE, AS CLIPPING MAILBOXES ALONG THE WAY. AT THAT POINT I REALIZED THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP, DECELERATE, NOR CONTROL THE CAR. IN ATTEMPT THE AVOID DRIVING INTO THE MAIN ROAD THAT LED INTO A BUSY FOUR-WAY INTERSECTION, I PANICKED AND REMOVED MY SEAT BELT IN ATTEMPT TO EVACUATE THE CAR. THE CAR DOOR, HOWEVER WOULD NOT OPEN. I WAS IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND ALARMED AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND AS IT DROVE INTO A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A TREE. FOLLOWING THE SEVERE IMPACT, I ENTIRELY LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT I SPENT 10 HOURS IN THE OPERATION ROOM, AND I HAD TO STAY FOR CARE IN THE HOSPITAL AND SKILL FACILITY FOR TWO AND HALF MONTHS. FROM THE ACCIDENT MY ARM WAS INJURED AND AFTER 8 MONTHS, AND IT STILL IMMOBILE. I'M STILL GOING THROUGH SERIES OF PHYSICAL THERAPY ON A WEEKLY BASIS. UPDATED IVOQ 09/14/11 *TR

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10423235
Machine
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