Flip-flop malfunction causes SUV to strike and kill three women

Tragedy struck in New York on August 10, 2011, when a woman driving a Toyota Highlander lost control of her vehicle and struck three pedestrians, killing them. News 10 out of Albany, New York, reports that the driver, LuAnn Burgess, told police that her flip-flop somehow got jammed under the accelerator pedal, which resulted in the vehicle speeding out of control.

The three women killed in the incident were standing outside a church waiting to use the restroom. Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple called the incident "one of the most horrific accident scenes" he's ever witnessed, adding that the flip-flop did not appear to be wedged under the pedal. The sheriff also said that discussions are taking place to determine whether Burgess would be charged with a crime.

VIDEO and SOURCE here:
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/11/f...l-three-women/

 

terrible just terrible. had to be a Toyota too... unintended acceleration here we go again

 

At least she didn't claim that the car took on a life of its own.

 

exactly what i thought

really terrible accident

 

I'm curious how ones flip-flop gets jammed under the accelerator? If you're wearing it properly, I don't see how that's possible at all. I'm going to guess that wasn't the reason and that she's looking for a cover-up for her negligence.

 

it happened to me several times

 

My girlfriend wears flip flops and when we get into her Z, she takes off one because she said its got stuck before...but not in a way to cause acceleration Terrible accident none the less.

 

it is a lot like mats jam - you can use brakes or put car into neutral if you want to slow down.. which is why Cops have Toyota helping out to figure out if the woman pressed brakes at all.

 

sadly, last year, should could have said her pedal broke and she would be let free due to all of the media frenzy.

 

This is why I never drive with flip flops. This happened to me once and I'll never do it again. It was a different situation however and not as dangerous.

I drive a manual car and the clutch travel is a lot further than throttle or brakes. Even if you were to slam the brakes or go full throttle the clutch pedal travels way further than either of those. On the way back up the bottom of my flip flop go caught on the floor and the top of the flip flop was still on the clutch. But because my foot was still pretty much strapped in, my foot was pointed at angle that was uncomfortable to say the least. So my solution was to get my foot out of the flip flop, reach down (dangerous I know) and grab the flip flop. Next chance I got, I took both flip flops off and drove with out them.

 

Especially those Abercombie & Fitch men flip fops. They are huge and you can easy hit both gas/break at the same time or it will get under the break pedal where it stuck them....it happen to me and I have to use my left leg to break. After that time, I drive with bare foot whenever I go out with flip fops.

 

When will people learn, if you want to drive with flip-flops don't. Just take them off and toss them in the back and drive barefoot. Of all places holy to die, a church.

 

Thats why, when i wear flip flops and drive (not often) i stick them in the back seat, and drive barefoot. not worth something like this happening. RIP.

 

So sad. Really sad. And of all places.... a church !?

 

results are in - she didnt brake at all, and there was no mechanical failure.

http://www.wten.com/story/15256558/d...ed-three-women