Wrongful Death Suit Claims Prius ‘Sudden Unintended Acceleration’ Led to Crash
The widow of a man who died after the Prius they owned crashed into another car has filed a wrongful death suit against Toyota.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles federal court, alleges that sudden intended acceleration of the 2006 Prius caused the fatal accident.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports that John Donoghue, 68 and his wife, Jacquelyn, 67, were heading home late in the morning on Dec. 14. Jacquelyn was driving when the gas pedal allegedly suddenly accelerated and then crashed into another car. Although they were wearing seat belts, the husband died and the wife suffered head trauma, a fractured shoulder, a broken jaw and a collapsed lung.
The suit alleges that the collision was caused by a fault electronic throttle system. Specifically, it is alleged that the vehicle was not equipped with a brake-to-idle override.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least five people have died when accelerators became trapped by floor mats. The federal agency has not confirmed any injuries or deaths connected with the sticky gas pedal problem.
We will continue monitoring the investigation into the Toyota sudden-acceleration problem.
If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident involving sudden acceleration of a Toyota, Lexus or Pontiac auto, contact the sudden-acceleration recall attorneys at St. Louis-based Carey & Danis by filling out our online contact form or calling 800-721-2519 toll free.
