NHTSA Complaint #10494772 — 2012 DODGE DART

MY ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS BASED ON ENGINEERING EXPERTISE NOT EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE, SUGGESTS THAT, RATHER THAN RESPONDING TO DRIVER CONTROLLED BY-WIRE" INSTRUCTIONS TO BRAKE PREPARATORY TO A HARD RIGHT TURN INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE TOOK CONTROL OF THE THROTTLE, BRAKE, AND (DRIVE-BY-WIRE ?) CLUTCH PROPELLING ITSELF 20 METERS FURTHER DOWN-ROAD TO THE RIVER SHORELINE. PERHAPS READING THE BRAKE COMMAND AS AN ACCELERATION INSTRUCTION (OR ???) THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD AND DROVE ITSELF OFF THE ROAD, TUMBLING 2 METRES ONTO A BEACH, THEN FROM THE BEACH ONTO THE RIVER ICE WHICH EXTENDS OUT TOWARDS MID-RIVER. IT CONTINUED ACROSS THAT ICE ONLY TO END ITS FORWARD PROGRESS AT THE ICE/WATER BOUNDARY WHERE IT PLUNGED INTO OPEN WATER WITHIN 100 METERS OF HOME. THESE EVENTS EFFECTIVELY ENDING A JOURNEY HOME WITH DEATH. THE OTTAWA CORONER REPORTS NO INDICATION (SUCH AS BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS / MEDICAL EVENTS) TO INDICATE THE DRIVER CONTRIBUTED TO THIS OUTCOME IN ANY WAY. IF THE DRIVER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE THEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS EVENT LIES WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ALONE. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT (1) MY SON IS A PROFESSIONAL AZ LICENSED DRIVER (2) HAVING FISHED IT OFTEN, IS INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE ROAD/FERRY BOUNDARY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO OUR HOME (3) WERE MECHANICALLY OPERATED STEERING ALL THAT REMAINED UNDER HIS CONTROL HE WOULD HAVE HAD THREE CHOICES: RIGHT INTO THE RIVER; STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO THE RIVER, OR LEFT ONTO A BEACH FORMED BY THE DEPOSITION OF RIVER SILT OVER TIME (THE CAR WENT LEFT OFF THE ROAD) (4) THE RECORD LEFT BY HIS BODY SHOWS ARM AND FIST POSTURE THAT SUGGEST DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS LITERALLY FORCED HIS HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL. STRAPPED AND PINNED TO THEIR SEATS BY THE VEHICLES SAFETY SYSTEMS, MY WIFE AND SON WERE HELPLESS ONLOOKERS AS THE VEHICLE DELIVERED THEM TO THEIR DEATH. BLACK BOX ANALYSIS TO FOLLOW. *TR