Out-of-Control Prius Stopped by Patrol Car

(CBS/AP)  Last updated at 12:29 a.m. EST

On the very day Toyota was making a high-profile defense of its cars, one of them was speeding out of control.

It was a pretty frightening Monday afternoon for a driver in San Diego. The California Highway Patrol said the driver of a Toyota Prius, James Sikes, called 911 around 1:30 p.m. to say the car's accelerator was stuck and he couldn't slow it down.

The caller was driving eastbound on Interstate 8 near San Diego as this was happening, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy. At one point the car was traveling at 90 mph.

The Highway Patrol responded. To get the runaway car to stop, they actually had to put their patrol car in front of the Prius and step on the brakes. The car eventually stopped near La Posta Bridge, but the whole even lasted for about 20 minutes.

"I pushed the gas pedal to pass a car and it did something kind of funny... it jumped and it just stuck there," the 61-year-old driver said at a news conference. "As it was going, I was trying the brakes...it wasn't stopping, it wasn't doing anything and it just kept speeding up," Sikes said, adding he could smell the brakes burning he was pressing the pedal so hard.

In a statement, Toyota said it has dispatched a field technical specialist to San Diego to investigate the incident.

Toyota has recalled some 8.5 million vehicles worldwide - more than 6 million in the United States - since last fall because of acceleration problems in multiple models and braking issues in the Prius.

Toyota owners have complained of their vehicles speeding out of control despite efforts to slow down, sometimes resulting in deadly crashes. The government has received complaints of 34 deaths linked to sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles since 2000.

One of the crashes claimed the life of a CHP officer last August.

Off-duty CHP Officer Mark Saylor was killed along with his wife, her brother and the couple's daughter after their Lexus' accelerator got stuck in La Mesa.

The Toyota-manufactured loaner vehicle slammed into a sport utility vehicle at about 100 mph, careened off the freeway, hit an embankment, overturned and burst into flames.

More on Toyota's Troubles:

Toyota Fires Away at Acceleration Theory
House Panel Seeks Details on Toyota Recall
New Reports of Post-Recall Toyota Troubles
No Fix? Trouble with Some Repaired Toyotas
Senate Committee Members' Toyota Links
NYT: Troubles Predate Recalled Toyotas
Poll: 49% Say Toyota Hiding Something

[withoutaname]

When you say the gasoline engine only charges the batteries and runs accessories, you are unfortunately mistaken. On all generations of the Toyota Prius to date (this post written in 2010), the gasoline engine is meant to propel the car. It can still also run the alternator and charge the batteries (in addition to other charging sources), but it's principal function is still to move the car, just like a non-hybrid. The difference is that the engine isn't always needed when the electric motors themselves are sufficient on their own at slow speeds, making the engine's principal purpose to be for supplemental propulsion power for stronger acceleration, maintaining highway speeds, and continuing to push the car when the batteries are low.

[interlopert]

Rule of law, freedom of expression/speech/press, human rights, personal liberty are some of the fundamentals of any democratic society and the US is the very symbol of that.

In order to protect our rights and uphold the spirit of the constitution, each and every citizen has a resposibility to make an effort to be well informed about the issues that effect us all.

Similarly, the press/media has the vital responsibilty of providing responsible and accurate information for the public at large.

It is worrisome to see that the media as a whole is moving away from responsible journalism and becoming more inclined towards sensationalism as has been demonstrated by this TOYOTA WITCHHUNT and this ridiculous Prius hoax clearly perpetrated by a con artist(SIKES).

I am deeply disappointed that the MASS MEDIA for it's part has not given enough coverage regarding the hoax(it's all over the internet)particularly since it(MASS MEDIA) so eagerly participated in reporting the purported runaway Prius story.

It's time we demand responsible journalism.

[rzezz]

Watch this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II_03lbr-Jw

[maxie999]

I think it is probably a scam too. The Prius was not one of the Toyota cars that had unintended acceleration, it has a completely different drive-train. This guy has the wits to dial 911, carry on a conversation but somehow just can't gather himself enough to shift the car in neutral when the dispatcher suggests he do it. The CHP officer found nothing wrong with his pedals and he holds a press conference afterwards.

Life must be tough for realtors like Mr. Sikes in San Diego right now but I smell a contrived lawsuit.

[IndiasWorstTechSupport]

Apparently this happened on the freeway 8 west down in Diego? Ever been to Diego and on 8 west? Try driving on it at 94 miles an hour unless you know exactly when bumper2bumper schedule is in effect.

[raydernation]

Thank God for my GMC pickup. As far as these stories being lies, you're hopelessly delusional. These are very much for real. Most people panic in situations like this and don't even think about putting the car in neutral, fear does that, the guy the other day was lucky the CHP got to him quickly to help him stop.

[rzezz]

Hopelessly delusional would be thanking god for a GMC. Facts are, GM ranks number 11 in NHTSA safety complaints. Toyota ranks #17. As far as unintended acceleration complaints of the "big 6:, it goes Toyota, Ford, Chrysler, GM, Honda, Nissan. NONE of the companies are without complaints for unintended acceleration.

[maxie999]

If Ford or GMC were accused of the same thing, like exploding Pintos or flipping Corvairs, they would have just kept denying it like they always have, forcing people to sue them. They would not have tentatively accepted guilt, halted sales and fixed everyone's car like Toyota did. They would have changed the name on the car and trotted out a new ad campaign, then fought any lawsuits and settled with the ones that won, while bemoaning that they are victims of trial lawyers. And the government would have to order a recall, nothing voluntary about it, and they would probably want the owners to pay for repairs.

It is a different approach, Toyota vs. American and I am sure that Toyota learned that nice guys get trashed this go-round. People know it too, which is why they still won't buy American cars.

[goupi514]

Good luck to you guys still sticking to your Toyotas, you're going to need it if you kill someone with your out-of-control car. Be prepared to lose YOUR house in civil court for knowingly driving a defective vehicle which contributed to an accident.

[rzezz]

Well the, what kinda car do you drive? You know, Toyota is ranked 17th in a list of total NHTSA complaints. You can guarantee that your brand has more safety complaints than Toyota.

[goupi514]

There are no known defects with the cars I drive. Yes, there were 3 recalls for my cars, the dealership fixed them on the spot, problem closed, end of story, good bye.
FYI, I own a 2000 Honda Accord Coupe and a 2010 Subaru Forrester. I never checked but I somehow doubt that Toyota is superior to either of them.

[A_Moderate]

Wow this guy is getting more press than anything I have ever seen (3rd Day). Any bets we will see his face tomorrow on the news AGAIN? I have never bought his story! It's fishy and full of holes. It has been shown (even videos on the web) he could have put his car in Neutral at anytime. Did he try pulling out the dongle (key)? Yes his power steering might have gone out but that is okay at these speed and no tight turns. The point is he tried none of these and yet had time to call 911 for a photo shoot. Could something be wrong with his car? YES - but it need to be investigated and not taken at fact (as the news is reporting) that the car was not a fault. Remember balloon boy and the Jack-In-The-Box meat scare - all media manipulated. To prove my point my question is: has anyone officially investigated this independent of Toyota, the Driver, and the CHP???

[sithbane]

I got up this morning to turn on the news, (CNN), and saw this idiot. I don't beleive this guy one bit. I saw his interview and heard all the flaws in his story. Apparently this guy has absolutly no scence of self preservation. From his account, he did nothing to try to stop his car other than hit the brake. The highway should have just cleared the freeway until he hit something and killed himself. I would feel safer driving knowing people like him aren't out on the road with me!!!!

[johndevinejr]

I don't understand. Why didn't this moron shut the engine off? He would still be able to steer the car and brake, both without the use of power assist.

I have tried it in my Toyota. It can be done.