NHTSA Complaint #10193499 — 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA

WAS DRIVING DOWN AN DECLINE IN THE ROAD AND WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE GENTLY DUE TO STOP LIGHT AT THE ONCOMING INTERSECTION, WHICH I SAW THAT WAS RED, BUT IT CHANGED TO GREEN AND I REAPPLIED THE GAS AT THIS TIME. THEN , I HEARD A GREAT LOUD NOISE AND THIS THING WAS IN MY FACE, AND I COULD NOT SEE . I KNEW THAT I NEEDED TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, BUT I WAS FIGHTING THE AIRBAG TO SEE THE ROAD AND TO PREVENT ME FROM HITTING A CAR IN FRONT, I USED MY RIGHT HAND TO FIGHT THE AIRBAG AND MY LEFT TO STEER THE CAR. AT THIS POINT I WAS THINKING I HAD PASSED THE INTERSECTION WHICH HAD A SMALL AREA FOR FLOWERS OR SIGNS, HAD A 4-6 CURB, BUT WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL TOWARD THE RIGHT TO GET OFF THE ROAD I RAN UPON THE MEDIAN( ACROSS THE CURB WHICH WAS 4-6 INCHES IN HEIGHT, AND THIS DAMAGED THE TIRE RIMS . THEY WERE BEND AND DAMAGED THE TIRES , ALL FOUR WENT FLAT. I STILL MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO SAFETY WITHOUT ANY REAL INJURY TO MYSELF. I AM STILL IN DAZE WITH THIS FREAK OCCURRENCE. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCE D ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM OTHERS., BUT MAINLY I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS. THE CAR HAD BEEN HIT IN THE REAR APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS PRIOR, IN WHICH THE WHOLE TRUNK AREA AND BACK HAD TO BE REPLACED. COULD THIS HAVE BEEN A FACTOR? I REALLY NEED ANSWERS. KEEP IT MIND, I HAVE DRIVEN THIS ROAD FOR 40 YEARS WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND THIS WITH A NEW CAR AND NEW TIRES.*AK