If, in fact, it comes out that the San Diego guy is a Prius 911 liar, I think he and the Heaney parents need to be sent off in an extra large Jiffy Pop ballon and flown away to oh, I don’t know … Iraq. There maybe they could go fight for our freedom of speech and see why it shouldn’t be messed with and how you shouldn’t go shooting your mouth off for nonsense to get attention.
That said, I don’t know about you, but I’m not buying the latest 911 Prius call that happened in San Diego last week. I mean, why didn’t the guy just didn’t throw the car in neutral when the 911 operator asked him to do so, as he was flying down the freeway nonstop? How come nobody has heard of this problem? Why can’t anybody prove it? And why are experts talking hoax? And oh yea, the guy owed like $700,000 in debt; there’s always that.
I’m fired up that this James Sikes guy could stoop to such new lows in such real life-and-death dealings. People’s lives are at stake (families, innocent kids, genuine green do-good’ers) and the Toyota company is in shambles and desperately trying to resolve safety issues for drivers. And to think some San Diego schmuck might be out to get attention—at the expense of busy CHPs—and at the price of everyone’s jittery nerves.
And I don’t even drive a Prius! Up until last week I would have had little to say about Toyota except possibly slamming their standard operating procedures and their not being near as forthcoming as they should have with the public. But, suddenly, this guy’s frantic 911 call, brought into perspective the no-win situation Toyota must be in. Here they are trying to track all driver’s acceleration problems (on top of other engineering errors it now seems), and you’ve got Balloon-Boy-like cries for fame and lawsuit cash putting the brakes on the real matters at hand.
The original Prius 911 call where the family died (hear it if you can bear it) that started the whole nightmare will forever live in my memory. I can’t shake it. I’m haunted by its tragedy. And I may never, ever buy a Toyota now—at least not for many, many years to come I can *safely* say.
This just isn’t a matter to mess with.
And it’s worth noting that I’m talking as a parent and shopper here, who chooses vehicles for many reasons, but top of mind is always how the safety gurus weigh in. Additionally, I’ve probably spent about 10 years of my career writing about automotive brands (Jag, Land Rover, Mazda, Ford and more), and I know what these companies go through, I’ve been PR-alerted to recalls, but I have never seen such horrendous happenings of course as what’s going down at the “ever-reliable” Toyota.
It’s a bad, bad scene. And I think Mr. James Sikes did a bad, bad thing.
If I’m wrong? Awesome. Let everybody think twice out of making money off of a family’s tragedy, as well as others’ real tragedies possibly waiting to happen.
So far the Toyota people (with the Highway Commission) haven’t been able to duplicate what the man says happened. In fact, he says that the gas pedal was stuck down and he was pushing the brakes. As soon as they did that, the engine shut itself off.
So I’m calling hoax right now. Frankly, it baffles me that anyone would go out of their way to do something like this- did he really think that because of the timing Toyota would just pay him to go away, even if it was clear it was a hoax?
Posted by WhitneyD on 03/18 at 08:25 AM
I’m with ya. Who would think to do it? Saw some of the tests you’re talking about. He may see a court date in his future; think Toyota will hang him out to dry. Waiting for some reality show news on him or something; tried out for who knows what. Thanks Whitney. D
Posted by Debbie on 03/18 at 08:39 AM
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Everyday I hope to be a little more like my yellow lab, Teddy. He loves everything, everybody, and is only occasionally stressed by escalators.
