Toyota Replies to New York Prius Driver Error Crash

Following the investigation of the crash which occurred on March 9 in New York and the announcement that the incident had nothing to do with the car's alleged unintended acceleration, but rather with a driver error, Japanese carmaker Toyota issued a statement in which it emphasizes the caution with which such reports must be approached.

“Toyota sympathizes with the individuals and families involved in any accident involving our vehicles," the statement reads. "We also remain committed to investigating reported incidents of unintended acceleration in our vehicles quickly, as in Harrison, New York, and we will continue to work in close partnership with law enforcement agencies and federal regulators with jurisdiction over accident scenes whenever requested."

“As always, it is important to remember that many of the complaints in the NHTSA database, for any manufacturer, lack sufficient detail that could help identify the cause of an accident or, in some cases, even the specific vehicle involved."

As you remember, on March 9, a 56-year-old woman was driving a 2005 Prius out of a driveway in Harrison. She ended up hitting a stone wall across the street, after the car sped to 35 mph.

The acting chief of the Harrison Police Department, Capt. Anthony Marraccini, says there was no indication of the woman applying the brakes while the car was speeding and he is confident the accident was caused by a driver error. He even went on to say he would trust the lives of his own family in Toyota's cars.

"Quite honestly, I would have no reservations about putting my own family in a Prius," Marraccini was quoted as saying by Reuters.