NHTSA Complaint #10323717 — 1995 LEXUS ES300

IN APRIL 2008, DRIVER WAS DRIVING HOME IN A 95 LEXUS ES300 AND WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE GARAGE. AS SHE PULLED UP TOWARDS THE GARAGE WHILE WAITING FOR THE GARAGE TO OPEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. IT CONTINUED RACING FORWARD AND HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. DRIVER TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THAT SEEMED TO HAVE NO EFFECT AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RPM. DRIVER THEN TRIED TO GET THE GEAR FROM DRIVE INTO PARK, UNFORTUNATELY, IT ENGAGED IN REVERSE AND THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL BACKWARDS AND INTO THE STREET. AS IT REVERSING OUT OF CONTROL AFTER HITTING THE FIRST PARKED VEHICLE IT SEVERELY DAMAGED A MAIN COLUMN OF THE HOUSE ON ITS WAY OUT AND HIT ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN THE STREET. AFTER WHICH IT CAME TO A STOP. THIS INCIDENT WAS REPORTED THIS TO THE AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY (GEICO) AND HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY (RESIDENTIAL MUTUAL). GEICO RULED THAT BOTH OF THE VEHICLES WE OWNED AT THE TIME THE LEXUS ES300 AND THE PARKED VAN IN THE GARAGE THAT WAS HIT WERE A TOTAL LOSS. IN ADDITION, THE NEIGHBOR'S CAR WAS ALSO BADLY DAMAGED BUT THE EXACT DISPOSITION OF THAT VEHICLE IS NOT KNOWN. THE POLICE WAS CALLED BUT THEY DID NOT CREATE A REPORT BECAUSE THE WAY THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A POLICE MATTER. *TR