This is easy. GII Prius have been issued a recall for loose carpeted floormats. Toyota found the floormats in Sikes car were not clipped in. So he can simply claim that caused the problem. It's a known problem, acknowledged by Toyota. Now, if he (Sikes) actually -got- the recall (I got mine) and if Toyota can prove he got it (for example, he phoned the dealer and tried to make an appointment to have the mats secured) then Sikes should be held responsible. If they can't prove he got the recall notification, then my uneducated legal opinion is Toyota could be held responsible. Though in my educated and real world opinion, if the floormats were left unsecured in the face of all the hoopla about them, then Sikes IS responsible for whatever problems they cause.
Except in the call, he claimed to try and reach down and grab the pedal with his hand. Would this not have gotten it free from the carpet?
The above assumes that he actually had unintended acceleration. A known fraud artist does not have a lot of credibility.
speeding reckless driving fleeing and eluding failing to respond to emergency vehicle false 911 call stupidity greed... take your pick, they all fit
So... the CHP has closed their investigation... And they didn't want to cite the fraudster... Hmmmmm... man... I couldn't talk my way out of any ticket giving badge owner ever in my entire life... Not any ticket... for anything... WOW...
Even if Toyota doesn't care to press charges, why won't the federal authorities or police prosecute Mr. Sikes? The evidence is overwhelming, and I'll bet they can dig up even more evidence (such as witnesses driving the highway at the same time). After all, Richard Heene "the balloon boy" was prosecuted and pleaded guilty to numerous felonies and is serving time and a hefty monetary fine. If he isn't prosecuted, then that's an open invitation for more bozos to pull off the same stunts and get instant media attention, and possibly endanger the public. If I were running the CHP, I would be extremely pissed off that they were suckered into the whole thing, taken on a high speed ride for no good reason.
Wait a minute... ... ... I though you guys were into love and peace. Light a reefer, take a deep breath, and count slowly to ten. Feel better now?
Yeah, I much better now.......... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
On the Prius side of things we know how we feel about him. How bad do you think Corvette owners feel? I hope the Membership Committee of his Corvette Club voted to terminate his membership.