While driving an 11 yr old girl to school, tried to slow down (from approx 30mph) to approach left turn lane. The left lane had approx 10 cars stopped while waiting to turn into school parking lot. Instead of slowing down when brakes were applied on approach to left lane (3 lanes each side road), the accelerator would not disengage and despite trying both regular brakes and emergency brake, car would not slow down. Accelerator seemed to take on a life of its own. Had to veer to curb side lane (2 lanes over) and ride along curb, turn into inclined area away from children, and when gravity finally slowed car to approx 5 mph, allowed car to jump residential curb, go over grassy inclined area and hit tree to finally stop car. Pulled 11 yr old out of car and got away from car in case of fire/other problems. We were both terrified.
When tow driver tried to remove car and turn engine on, car continued to try to accelerate into tree even with brakes on. Car currently in shop with front end damage.Could have been much worse if we had been on road with higher speed limit,or at next intersection. We missed multiple cars and at least 20 children. Very scary experience.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
While driving an 11 yr old girl to school, tried to slow down (from approx 30mph) to approach left turn lane. The left lane had approx 10 cars stopped while waiting to turn into school parking lot. Instead of slowing down when brakes were applied on approach to left lane (3 lanes each side road), the accelerator would not disengage and despite trying both regular brakes and emergency brake, car would not slow down. Accelerator seemed to take on a life of its own. Had to veer to curb side lane (2 lanes over) and ride along curb, turn into inclined area away from children, and when gravity finally slowed car to approx 5 mph, allowed car to jump residential curb, go over grassy inclined area and hit tree to finally stop car. Pulled 11 yr old out of car and got away from car in case of fire/other problems. We were both terrified.
When tow driver tried to remove car and turn engine on, car continued to try to accelerate into tree even with brakes on. Car currently in shop with front end damage.Could have been much worse if we had been on road with higher speed limit,or at next intersection. We missed multiple cars and at least 20 children. Very scary experience.
- Susan S., Ashburn, VA, US