March 08, 2010
CA police help slow runaway Toyota Prius to stop
The Associated PressThe California Highway Patrol says an officer helped slow a runaway Toyota Prius from 94 mph to a safe stop after the accelerator got stuck.
The CHP says driver James Sikes called 911 Monday after he found he could not control his car on Interstate 8 in San Diego County.
A patrol car pulled alongside, and officers told Sikes over a loudspeaker to use the brakes and emergency brake.
After slowing to about 50 mph, Sikes felt safe enough to turn off the engine and coast to a halt.
In a statement, Toyota says it has dispatched a specialist to investigate. Toyota has undertaken a mass recall of many of its vehicles for sudden acceleration problems. It was not clear if Sikes' car was recalled or fixed.