“We’re seeing the same pattern again today. Initial reports of a problem, followed by dozens of new reports ‘coming to light’ as people seek to blame their earlier accidents on sudden acceleration.
“Again, mysterious car components are at issue, this time, speculation of software or electronics going haywire. But if the problem is software, it is manifesting itself a lot like the Audi sudden acceleration did.
“The Los Angeles Times recently did a story detailing all of the NHTSA reports of Toyota ‘sudden acceleration’ fatalities, and, though the Times did not mention it, the ages of the drivers involved were striking.
“In the 24 cases where driver age was reported or readily inferred, the drivers included those of the ages 60, 61, 63, 66, 68, 71, 72, 72, 77, 79, 83, 85, 89—and I’m leaving out the son whose age wasn’t identified, but whose 94-year-old father died as a passenger.
“These ‘electronic defects’ apparently discriminate against the elderly, just as the sudden acceleration of Audis and GM autos did before them.”
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“Prius owner Jim Sikes made national headlines last week with claims that his car’s accelerator got stuck as he sped up to pass a car while traveling on California’s I-8 highway outside of San Diego, and that he was unable to stop the car.
“‘As I was going, I was trying the brakes … and it just kept speeding up,’ he said.
“Sikes story is at odds with the findings of the investigation, according to Toyota and to a draft congressional memo obtained by CNN.
“‘While a final report is not yet complete, there are strong indications that the driver’s account of the event is inconsistent with the findings of the preliminary analysis,’ Toyota said in a prepared statement.”
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