The driver of that 2005 Prius, a 56-year-old housekeeper whose name has not been released, originally said that while leaving her employer’s driveway in Harrison, N.Y., her car sped up, crossed a street and hit a wall.. However, the data from the car's onboard computer showed that the the car’s accelerator was fully engaged, and that the brakes were not engaged at the time of the crash.
The data raises the possibility that the incident was purely driver error. While Toyota has recalled several vehicles over a mechanical issue with their accelerator pedals, the Prius was not part of that recall. It was, however, part of a recall from late year year over floor mats that can interfere with its accelerator pedal.
Unfortunately, the recorder on the Prius involved captured data only after the air bags deployed, Toyota said. Thus, it is unclear if the driver depressed the brake after the car accelerated, then took her foot off just prior to the crash.
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) was fairly certain in its report, saying:
"Information retrieved from the vehicle's onboard computer systems indicated there was no application of the brakes, and the throttle was fully open."Police Capt. Anthony Marraccini, acting chief, called the statement "irresponsible and premature," because the investigation is not complete. He said:
"There are pages of additional data that should be evaluated. We are meeting with Toyota to evaluate that data."Meanwhile, Toyota took a middle of the road approach, saying it would defer to the NHTSA and police. Police hope to finish their probe by Monday.
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