Bankrupt Runaway Prius Driver Faked "Unintended Acceleration?" Hoax Reports (merged)
03-12-10, 02:42 PM
#39
BIG SURPRISE: Prius Scare was a hoax. Examining the media frenzy.
http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/12/toy...fumento_2.html
Basically, the guy is in deep dept, and Toyota is one of the people he owed money to.
"On the very day Toyota was making a high-profile defense of its cars, one of them was speeding out of control," said CBS News--and a vast number of other media outlets worldwide. The driver of a 2008 Toyota Prius, James Sikes, called 911 to say his accelerator was stuck, he was zooming faster than 90 miles per hour and absolutely couldn't slow down.
It got far more dramatic, though. The California Highway Patrol responded and "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." During over 20 harrowing minutes, according to NBC's report, Sikes "did everything he could to try to slow down that Prius." Others said, "Radio traffic indicated the driver was unable to turn off the engine or shift the car into neutral."
In fact, almost none of this was true. Virtually every aspect of Sikes's story as told to reporters makes no sense. His claim that he'd tried to yank up the accelerator could be falsified, with his help, in half a minute. And now we even have an explanation for why he'd pull such a stunt, beyond the all-American desire to have 15 minutes of fame (recall the "Balloon Boy Hoax" from October) and the aching need to be perceived as a victim.
The lack of skepticism from the beginning was stunning. I combed through haystacks of articles without producing such needles as the words "alleges" or "claims." When Sikes said he brought his car to a Toyota ( TM - news - people ) dealer two weeks earlier, recall notice in hand, and they just turned him away, the media bought that, too. In Sikes We Trust. Then the pundits deluged us with a tsunami of an anti-Toyota sanctimony .
Where to begin?
Well, the patrol car didn't slow down the Prius; the bumpers never touched. The officers used a loudspeaker to tell Sikes to use the brakes and emergency brake together. He did; the car slowed to about 55 mph. Sikes turned off the engine and coasted to a halt. He stopped the car on his own..... {MORE**
It got far more dramatic, though. The California Highway Patrol responded and "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." During over 20 harrowing minutes, according to NBC's report, Sikes "did everything he could to try to slow down that Prius." Others said, "Radio traffic indicated the driver was unable to turn off the engine or shift the car into neutral."
In fact, almost none of this was true. Virtually every aspect of Sikes's story as told to reporters makes no sense. His claim that he'd tried to yank up the accelerator could be falsified, with his help, in half a minute. And now we even have an explanation for why he'd pull such a stunt, beyond the all-American desire to have 15 minutes of fame (recall the "Balloon Boy Hoax" from October) and the aching need to be perceived as a victim.
The lack of skepticism from the beginning was stunning. I combed through haystacks of articles without producing such needles as the words "alleges" or "claims." When Sikes said he brought his car to a Toyota ( TM - news - people ) dealer two weeks earlier, recall notice in hand, and they just turned him away, the media bought that, too. In Sikes We Trust. Then the pundits deluged us with a tsunami of an anti-Toyota sanctimony .
Where to begin?
Well, the patrol car didn't slow down the Prius; the bumpers never touched. The officers used a loudspeaker to tell Sikes to use the brakes and emergency brake together. He did; the car slowed to about 55 mph. Sikes turned off the engine and coasted to a halt. He stopped the car on his own..... {MORE**
Basically, the guy is in deep dept, and Toyota is one of the people he owed money to.
03-12-10, 03:56 PM
#40
Thanks dadoody, now that Forbes has that article, titled, "Toyota Hybrid Horror Hoax", it is getting picked up by more national news sources. http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/12/toy...l-fumento.html
Edmunds has a post: http://blogs.insideline.com/straight...f-control.html
Right now, typing on Google News, the word "Prius" is first followed by "Prius hoax" as the most popular search option.
Edmunds has a post: http://blogs.insideline.com/straight...f-control.html
Was This Prius Really "Out of Control?"
By Ed Hellwig | March 9, 2010
Thankfully, the Prius was eventually brought under control without incident, but there are elements of the story that left us scratching our heads. In other words, this is BS.
For one, anybody that has ever driven a Prius knows that it never "jumps" forward no matter how hard you press the pedal. It ability to accelerate is so modest that we find it hard to believe that anyone would be startled by its thrust.
Secondly, this driver not only had time to call the police after it "ran out of control" he managed to drive the car for another 20 minutes until the police showed up. How out of control could the car have been if he was driving on a busy highway for nearly half an hour?
By Ed Hellwig | March 9, 2010
Thankfully, the Prius was eventually brought under control without incident, but there are elements of the story that left us scratching our heads. In other words, this is BS.
For one, anybody that has ever driven a Prius knows that it never "jumps" forward no matter how hard you press the pedal. It ability to accelerate is so modest that we find it hard to believe that anyone would be startled by its thrust.
Secondly, this driver not only had time to call the police after it "ran out of control" he managed to drive the car for another 20 minutes until the police showed up. How out of control could the car have been if he was driving on a busy highway for nearly half an hour?
03-12-10, 04:36 PM
#41
Lexus Champion
I hope CHP will get this guy because of his 20 minutes 911 hoax called, police helicopter, a few of CHP patrol cars and shut down some part of the freeway. He really make CHP look like a bunch of fool.
The Corvette jacket is a sham to Corvette community.
One thing Sikes and Smith have in common.
Both cars (Lexus ES and Prius) were out of control at high speed( 100+ and 90+) for a few minutes,but no harm to the drivers or the car.
Both of them want to get out of their cars payment or behind on the payment.
Both of them had time to make a phone call either 911 or love one.
Both of them on national TV.
Both of them are LIAR.
The Corvette jacket is a sham to Corvette community.
One thing Sikes and Smith have in common.
Both cars (Lexus ES and Prius) were out of control at high speed( 100+ and 90+) for a few minutes,but no harm to the drivers or the car.
Both of them want to get out of their cars payment or behind on the payment.
Both of them had time to make a phone call either 911 or love one.
Both of them on national TV.
Both of them are LIAR.
03-12-10, 05:15 PM
#43
Pole Position
My local nightly news actually reported this tonight.
This is a good step. It's the first time the mainstream media reported both sides of a story, not just the side that makes Toyota look bad.
This is a good step. It's the first time the mainstream media reported both sides of a story, not just the side that makes Toyota look bad.
