This is getting ridiculous - Man kills wife with "faulty"Prius.

Wow, that's gotta suck. (There's an understatement)

As harsh as it is to say, I would also bet on pedal error for this incident. It has all the hallmarks: older driver, parking lot/driveway, sudden acceleration when the proper response is to brake.

 

I read this and thought the same thing. Either that or maybe he wasjust tired of being nagged.

 

This man could make a killing by selling this car. The line of potential buyers should be quite long!

 

Rent it.

Tom

 

Hey, maybe Toyota could produce these as a separate trim level. And if ex-wives/husbands qualified too ... sky's the limit.

But, on topic, as others have said, this is a classic case of driver error, though the "investigation" may actually come up with something. It's all to similar to the problem Ford had with cars which "didn't go into park," for which the NHTSA-approved fix was a sticker on the dash, if I recall correctly. It was deemed to be a driver-error combined with lessened feedback on whether the gear shift had settled in park.

 

This is getting to be a joke! I actually laughed out loud when I read this!

 

Oh no!

I know a couple of years back, MONOPOLY came out with a Prius as a game token. What's next? A CLUE game with a garage? It was Kernel Mustard, in The Garage, with The Prius?

I'm sorry, I know anything resulting in a real world injury or death is a serious matter but I just can't believe the daily negative publicity and events that seem to surround Toyota right now. As Jeremy Clarkson might say, "It's negative PR on a Biblically Bad Scale.". I'm waiting for a rainfall of Frogs to hit only Toyota dealerships.

 

Great idea ! I have a few friends that are having marital issues. They may be interested.

 

She had probably replaced the dead batteries in his hearing aid.

Bob Wilson

 

lol

 

now that there's a brilliant idea!

 

IMO the solution is not extra testing for older drivers.

It's extra testing for all drivers.

 

Politburro

That makes sense to me. I suspect that people like me are more likely to have a physical difficulty, but younger people are more likely to abuse alcohol or other controlled substances.

There is some expense to steps which will prevent problems but the cost of collisions is worth avoiding. And, lets face it, driving is a responsibility which some can't handle.

There is a whole world of alternative transportation which needs attention. It won't get that if cars are all we think about.

 

Reminds me of Fried Green Tomatoes ... something like ... 'I can't understand how you hit her 4 times by accident.'

 

From the article
"At Grimsby Crown Court today Judge David Tremberg discharged the jury of five women and seven men to await further reports and inspections of the car."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1256903/Toyota-Prius-driver-knocked-killed-wife-blames-faulty-car.html#ixzz0ho1IIxUi


Assuming the judge has the authority to do this under local procedure, I say he did exactly the right thing. I suspect it will be driver error, but who knows?

Notice in this case the claim of unintended accelleration, some time in late 2008, way predates the recent Toyota mass hysteria. So the guy himself isn't piling on Toyota, though the press may be.

 

At first I thought this was a joke, but it seems real. Note, this is why some don't understand the media. I'm sure toyota didn't do much of an eval of this car, and the media had a enough of a story to not hit that angle. The headline of old guy kills his wife by hitting the accelerator instead of the brake had enough interest. Judge is doing the right thing, the press is doing the natural thing. This isn't piling on, but you notice the story more. Its still unintended acceleration, and it still is likely driver error but now there is enough of a doubt for the judge to investigate. How could a reporter not report that?

 

5 Step Alternative to a California Divorce

1. Increase life insurance on spouse* to the maximum level.
2. Start the prius.
3. 'Dear, while I wait in the car can you get out and see if the left headlight is working.'
4. Be sure to document the unintentional acceleration defect in the police report.
5. Name your next Prius after your deceased spouse.

*Note: If requested by your spouse, avoid checking the front headlight yourself. This divorce alternative works with either spouse.