Feds To Probe Cape Toyota Crash
Woman Says RAV4 Lunged On Own Into Building
POSTED: 5:47 pm EST March 10, 2010
UPDATED: 6:19 pm EST March 10, 2010
BOSTON -- Federal investigators are headed to Massachusetts after a woman said her 2010 Toyota RAV4 accelerated on its own before slamming into a medical building in Yarmouth on Tuesday.Ann Wilkins, 70, of Harwich, suffered minor injuries when her RAV4 crashed into the building.She was initially cited for failing to use care in stopping, but her family told police that Wilkins was trying to park when the car accelerated into the building.Team 5 Investigates was not able to reach Wilkins for comment on Wednesday, but learned she has a clean driving record.Wilkins' 2010 RAV4 was recalled in January for sticky gas pedals. Her family said the vehicle was recently serviced.Team 5 Investigates analyzed complaints about 2010 RAV4s on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and found more than half of the complaints involved incidents of sudden acceleration.One driver said his 2010 RAV4 will accelerate rapidly, decelerate and then run smoothly. Another driver said he was going 60 mph when the vehicle accelerated to 85 mph. And another driver reported running into the side of a house after his RAV4 suddenly accelerated in October 2009.Specialists from NHSTA are expected to examine the vehicle at Yarmouth police headquarters sometime in the next few days.About 8 million Toyotas have been recently recalled after incidents of sudden acceleration, some of which resulted in fatal crashes.
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