Did Bankrupt Runaway Prius Driver Fake "Unintended Acceleration?"

[MountainDon]

Interesting development.  I really wonder what's going on here. What's kosher and wahat's not.

From Jalopnik

James Sikes, the San Diego runaway Toyota Prius driver, filed for bankruptcy in 2008 and now has over $700,000 in debt. According to one anonymous tipster, we're also told he hasn't been making payments on his Prius. UPDATE!

We received an email earlier today from an anonymous tipster who claims James (Jim) Sikes, the driver of the runaway Toyota Prius, was in financial trouble and even behind by five months on his payments for the Prius. If that's true, it's potential motivation for wanting to find an out — any out — on paying for the vehicle.

We did some public records searches (thanks to the help of Gawker's John Cook) and found Sikes and his wife Patty found themselves, like many in the California real estate business, on the bursting side of the real estate bubble last year. The two declared bankruptcy in June of 2008 and have a combined liability of over $700,000 dollars in debt.

Among the list of creditors holding secured claims is none other than Toyota Financial Services for a lease on a 2008 Toyota Prius with 7,200 miles on the odometer. Total value of the lease at the time of bankruptcy was $20,494."

Links to the 911 tape of the incident, plus links to some Toyota info included at the Jalopnik link.


I do not doubt that Toyota has a problem with some of its vehicles, but perhaps this guy is latching onto the furor as a way to partially get out of his troubles. 

[Redoverfarm]

Wv takes sympathy on the Toyota owners.

[ScottA]

 

[sparks]

  ......ditto Scott

PS...I wonder when the Nascar Toyata drivers will 'blame it on the throttle'


Gonna start a new thread...I've something to say about this.


sparks

[glenn kangiser]

I agree with you, Don.  Probably ulterior motives.  Glad you are getting into conspiracy theories.  Welcome to the club.

[pagan]

It does pop up a few red flags.

[Fred_47460]

I've got a 2006 Prius....never any problem so far. But I wonder if I'd let anyone know if I DID have a run away situation......looks like the press will give you an anal exam and post the results on the national headlines. Not to defend this particular person whom I don't know....but I do believe the fellow has been tried and found guilty by public perception of the background the news media has drummed up.

I have lost ALL trust and respect for the main stream news media. Their extremely biased coverage leaves me no room to feel otherwise. So when I see them go after someone....whether the person they go after is guilty or not....I still take the presses "reporting" with a large grain of salt (Salt Block)!!

[glenn kangiser]

Yeah-- I read an article today where the press is wanting a bailout because people quit buying their crap and they are all going broke.

Maybe if they would quit parroting and puppeting the government lies they would get their credibility back, but now I think it is too late.

[pagan]

Fred,

I'd be taking a long hard look at Toyota, as they have an interest in disproving any accelerator claims. It wouldn't surprise me to discover Toyota investigators looked into this guys past and then "leaked" the information to the media outlets in an effort to destroy the reputation of a possible claimant.

[rick91351]

Not to defend this guy at all but....  How many times has it especially with electronics become imposable to replicate a problem when you take something to the shop?  It most times it has to fail on its own.  If it fails then it is easy to fix....but if it ain't broke.    

On the railroad the old roundhouse guys would tell us with steam it took twenty seconds to find the problem and two weeks to fix it.  With diesel-electric locomotives it now takes two weeks to find the problem and twenty seconds to fix it.  

Myself I think Toyota is still grasping at straws. I fault Toyota for blaming the issue first on the floor mats rather than saying, "Hey world we may have a problem here.  If this occurs pull the selector in to neutral, apply brakes using the emergency brake for assistance if necessary, slowly and carefully pull to the side of the road.  When stopped shut the key off and call for assistance."

 

     

[pagan]

In a presentation from July 6, 2009, Toyota Safety Group listed wins for Toyota. One win that saved Toyota over $100 million was a successful lobbying effort to limit the federal recall for sudden acceleration to 55,000 vehicles. Toyota knew they had a problem and rather than correct this problem, they chose to lobby government officials to make it go away.