Federal agency to review Toyota crash (4 died in Columbus Day 09 accident on N.H. road)

[Omaha Steve]

A nearly 160-page accident report, compiled by local officers, could not pinpoint a cause.

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/04/27/federal_agency_to_examine_toyota_in_fatal_crash/

By Erin Ailworth
Globe Staff / April 27, 2010

The Toyota Highlander hung back for miles, rolling north along Route 202 a comfortable distance behind the car in front of it. Suddenly, the Highlander zoomed up into the breakdown lane, then swerved across the road into oncoming traffic, colliding head on with a silver Chevrolet.

“The SUV was going so fast, I don’t think the silver compact car’s driver had time to react,’’ according to a written statement to Peterborough police from Mark Dugas, who was driving nearby.

Four people died in that Columbus Day crash near the Peterborough and Jaffrey town lines in New Hampshire. A nearly 160-page accident report, compiled by local officers, could not pinpoint a cause.

Now, federal officials have their eyes on the case.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has received two consumer complaints about the case, is sending a team to Massachusetts next month to examine the Highlander, which is being kept at a Billerica salvage yard.

A Globe review of the federal traffic agency’s database last month revealed at least seven fatal accidents since 2003 — resulting in 10 deaths — involving New England drivers, Toyota-made cars, and the possibility of unintended acceleration.

FULL 3 page story at link.

[Omaha Steve]

1. Kick

[madokie]

2. Neighbors have one and I worry everytime they drive it anywhere

they were pretty hard core toyota but he did buy a ford ranger a few months ago and loves it and he's told me that they were going to be buying a focus hybrid when they come on the market. Some people are waking up to the fact that our domestic branded autos are really better.