Brake's allegedly fail on ES causing midtown crash and injuries
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,922
Likes: 5
From: SouthSide Qns
Brake's allegedly fail on ES causing midtown crash and injuries
This story was in today's paper. Wouldn't have posted it except for the picture that accompanied the story.
Picture is attached (pdf file).
story
If this "eyewitness" account is confirmed, I would think charges are to follow
Two cars and a taxicab crashed Sunday in midtown, leaving a mess of metal and two people in serious condition, cops said.
The 5:26 p.m. accident happened when the driver of a speeding Lexus - whose brakes may have failed - lost control on 34th St. near Madison Ave., cops said.
The driver hit a newspaper box, then flew into incoming traffic, striking a yellow taxi.
The taxi then hit a white Mercedes-Benz, police and witnesses said.
"[The Lexus driver] was flying; he was totally out of control," said witness David Cahalan, 55, of Clearwater, Fla.
The driver of the car told police the car's brakes wouldn't work, police said.
A passerby helped free the couple stuck in the taxi's backseat.
The cab driver and one passenger were in serious condition at Bellevue Hospital and New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell, but the injuries were not considered life-threatening, police said.
The Lexus caught fire, but the driver escaped with minor injuries, police said. Police issued no tickets, although the investigation is ongoing.
The 5:26 p.m. accident happened when the driver of a speeding Lexus - whose brakes may have failed - lost control on 34th St. near Madison Ave., cops said.
The driver hit a newspaper box, then flew into incoming traffic, striking a yellow taxi.
The taxi then hit a white Mercedes-Benz, police and witnesses said.
"[The Lexus driver] was flying; he was totally out of control," said witness David Cahalan, 55, of Clearwater, Fla.
The driver of the car told police the car's brakes wouldn't work, police said.
A passerby helped free the couple stuck in the taxi's backseat.
The cab driver and one passenger were in serious condition at Bellevue Hospital and New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell, but the injuries were not considered life-threatening, police said.
The Lexus caught fire, but the driver escaped with minor injuries, police said. Police issued no tickets, although the investigation is ongoing.
story
If this "eyewitness" account is confirmed, I would think charges are to follow
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Educated Woman Apr 14, 2008 8:14:56 AM Report Offensive Post
How in the world can you be "flying" in midtown at 5:30pm on ANY day? What an idiot. I'm so sick of these drivers who think they own the road and drive like maniacs, putting everyone at risk. If his brakes actually did fail, then my comment isn't towards this particular Lexus driver.
jugosi Apr 14, 2008 8:29:12 AM Report Offensive Post
I was actually there to see the whole accident. I was walking along 34th street (towards broadway) when all of a sudden I see a lexus flying by me at about 45-50mph (he was on the lane next to the sidewalks). Scared the heck out of me. I turn around to see if he was going to slow down at the intersection, but never did. The actual reason why he lost control was because he almost hit a group of about 5 pedestrians waiting to cross 34th street along madison ave. So in avoiding them, he made a sudden turn to the left and began losing control. He then hit the taxi cab. I have never seen an accident like that before. I'm so glad everyone survived. The lexus actually caught on fire and was in flames for a good 2-3 minutes before firetrucks arrived.
Common Sense Apr 14, 2008 9:01:30 AM Report Offensive Post
jugosi> Did you give your account to the cops? If you watched the Lexis from behind, did you see if his brake lights came on? If his brakes failed his brake lights would have indicated that he was at least breaking. I have feeling he wasn't.
jugosi Apr 14, 2008 9:09:59 AM Report Offensive Post
No I did not, I was in a rush to go home. I ran up to the accident to see if anyone needed help and left once the police started to arrive. I cannot confirm that I saw the brake lights go on, but he did have to steer sharply away from the group of pedestrians. From there the car skid for almost the whole lenght of the block until finally hitting the taxi.
nemo1967@aol.com Apr 14, 2008 11:00:38 AM Report Offensive Post
too much car collision....
5 comments so far. Add your comment below!. [Discussion Guidelines]
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Educated Woman Apr 14, 2008 8:14:56 AM Report Offensive Post
How in the world can you be "flying" in midtown at 5:30pm on ANY day? What an idiot. I'm so sick of these drivers who think they own the road and drive like maniacs, putting everyone at risk. If his brakes actually did fail, then my comment isn't towards this particular Lexus driver.
jugosi Apr 14, 2008 8:29:12 AM Report Offensive Post
I was actually there to see the whole accident. I was walking along 34th street (towards broadway) when all of a sudden I see a lexus flying by me at about 45-50mph (he was on the lane next to the sidewalks). Scared the heck out of me. I turn around to see if he was going to slow down at the intersection, but never did. The actual reason why he lost control was because he almost hit a group of about 5 pedestrians waiting to cross 34th street along madison ave. So in avoiding them, he made a sudden turn to the left and began losing control. He then hit the taxi cab. I have never seen an accident like that before. I'm so glad everyone survived. The lexus actually caught on fire and was in flames for a good 2-3 minutes before firetrucks arrived.
Common Sense Apr 14, 2008 9:01:30 AM Report Offensive Post
jugosi> Did you give your account to the cops? If you watched the Lexis from behind, did you see if his brake lights came on? If his brakes failed his brake lights would have indicated that he was at least breaking. I have feeling he wasn't.
jugosi Apr 14, 2008 9:09:59 AM Report Offensive Post
No I did not, I was in a rush to go home. I ran up to the accident to see if anyone needed help and left once the police started to arrive. I cannot confirm that I saw the brake lights go on, but he did have to steer sharply away from the group of pedestrians. From there the car skid for almost the whole lenght of the block until finally hitting the taxi.
nemo1967@aol.com Apr 14, 2008 11:00:38 AM Report Offensive Post
too much car collision....
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 1
From: MD
I wonder if this is a case of the all weather floor mat not being clipped to the carpet, causing it to get tangled up with the gas pedal. There is a recall on this. 
Lexus redesigned the driver's floor mat and owners should have received a notice to swap out the mat. I have done it.
Lexus redesigned the driver's floor mat and owners should have received a notice to swap out the mat. I have done it.
Last edited by MD350; Apr 14, 2008 at 11:47 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,922
Likes: 5
From: SouthSide Qns
I wonder if this is a case of the all weather floor mat not being clipped to the carpet, causing it to get tangled up with the gas pedal. There is a recall on this.
Lexus redesigned the driver's floor mat and owners should have received a notice to swap out the mat. I have done it.
Lexus redesigned the driver's floor mat and owners should have received a notice to swap out the mat. I have done it.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,091
Likes: 114
From: Southeastern PA
I wonder if this is a case of the all weather floor mat not being clipped to the carpet, causing it to get tangled up with the gas pedal. There is a recall on this.
Lexus redesigned the driver's floor mat and owners should have received a notice to swap out the mat. I have done it.
Lexus redesigned the driver's floor mat and owners should have received a notice to swap out the mat. I have done it.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,577
Likes: 233
From: San Francisco, CA
hmm aftermarket rims on that car. lol
anywhoo, if the brakes did fail, it doesnt mean that the car kept acelerating. going 40-50 miles in city is still an offense. also, if my brakes did fail, the first thing i would do would be to slam on the parking brake, which clearly he neglected to do and decided to just steer around town on sidewalks.
dont cars have black boxes for these exact reasons?
anywhoo, if the brakes did fail, it doesnt mean that the car kept acelerating. going 40-50 miles in city is still an offense. also, if my brakes did fail, the first thing i would do would be to slam on the parking brake, which clearly he neglected to do and decided to just steer around town on sidewalks.
dont cars have black boxes for these exact reasons?
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 1
From: MD
Some old news on the issue
The below did result in a recall.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
August 16, 2007; Page B5
WASHINGTON -- The federal government upgraded an investigation into the 2007 Lexus ES 350 sedan after at least 12 people were injured when the vehicle accelerated without warning.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report issued this week that an all-weather floor mat can trap the throttle pedal when the mat isn't properly secured, resulting in unwanted acceleration. The all-weather floor mat has been found in a majority of the vehicles that reported the problem, NHTSA said.
Toyota Motor Corp., which makes the Lexus, told NHTSA it sent a mailing to ES 350 owners in late April to warn them about improper installation of the all-weather floor mat. The mat should be secured with clips and shouldn't be placed over the standard floor mat. Toyota also said it changed the labeling on the floor mat.
NHTSA is now deciding whether Toyota's actions were sufficient. Vehicle investigations can lead to product recalls. There are 98,454 ES 350 sedans on the road.
NHTSA and Toyota have received 40 complaints about unintended acceleration, NHTSA said. Eight crashes have been reported, including one that caused a seven-vehicle pileup. In some cases, drivers traveled several miles at speeds of more than 90 miles per hour before they were able to stop, NHTSA said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
August 16, 2007; Page B5
WASHINGTON -- The federal government upgraded an investigation into the 2007 Lexus ES 350 sedan after at least 12 people were injured when the vehicle accelerated without warning.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report issued this week that an all-weather floor mat can trap the throttle pedal when the mat isn't properly secured, resulting in unwanted acceleration. The all-weather floor mat has been found in a majority of the vehicles that reported the problem, NHTSA said.
Toyota Motor Corp., which makes the Lexus, told NHTSA it sent a mailing to ES 350 owners in late April to warn them about improper installation of the all-weather floor mat. The mat should be secured with clips and shouldn't be placed over the standard floor mat. Toyota also said it changed the labeling on the floor mat.
NHTSA is now deciding whether Toyota's actions were sufficient. Vehicle investigations can lead to product recalls. There are 98,454 ES 350 sedans on the road.
NHTSA and Toyota have received 40 complaints about unintended acceleration, NHTSA said. Eight crashes have been reported, including one that caused a seven-vehicle pileup. In some cases, drivers traveled several miles at speeds of more than 90 miles per hour before they were able to stop, NHTSA said.
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 1
From: MD
I agree, the brakes could have failed. But, if this car had all weather mats, they were not clipped to the carpet, and the owner did not swap his mat out on the recall..I would bet this is what happened.
I am sure the investigation results will be made public in a few days.
I am sure the investigation results will be made public in a few days.
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The witness said he was driving way to fast, almost hit a group of people, then he over adjusted and hit the car.
The DRIVER is claiming is brakes failed, to save face it seems.
Let me go to Sam's club and rack up on popcorn, this thread is going to be a live one, lol
The DRIVER is claiming is brakes failed, to save face it seems.
Let me go to Sam's club and rack up on popcorn, this thread is going to be a live one, lol
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