NHTSA Complaint #10498482 — 2008 HONDA ACCORD

SUBJECT: SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AT ABOUT 9:25 PM, ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 2013 I WAS PARKED IN THE NORTH PARKING LOT OF THE VIENNA METRO STATION, IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, AWAITING ARRIVAL OF MY WIFE. I HAD PARKED IN THE FIRST PARKING SPACE, ACROSS FROM THE WAITING AREA IN FRONT OF THE METRO STATION ENTRANCE. WHEN I SAW MY WIFE EMERGE FROM THE ENTRANCE OF THE METRO STATION, I STARTED MY CAR AND SHIFTED TO DRIVE. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD, ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEED AND OUT OF CONTROL. I REMEMBER REACTING BY APPLYING THE BRAKES WITH ALL MY MIGHT AND ENGAGING THE HAND BRAKE WITHOUT MUCH EFFECT.THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD ABOUT 100 FEET AND HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER WHICH SMASHED THE FRONT AND ENGINE AND TOTALED THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS OR PEDESTRIANS IN THE VICINITY OTHERWISE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. WHEN I REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS, I HAD BEEN TRANSPORTED TO THE FAIRFAX HOSPITAL AND HAD SUFFERED SEVERE TRAUMA TO THE NECK, THROAT, LARYNX AND MOUTH AREA AND WAS BLEEDING FROM A CUT ON THE CHIN. TWO DAYS OF INTENSE EXAMINATION AT THE HOSPITAL AND SEVERAL FOLLOW-UP MEDICAL EXAMS FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PHYSICAL OR MEDICAL CONDITION THAT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. IT MUST BE NOTED THAT I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY CITATION FOR THE ACCIDENT FROM THE FAIRFAX POLICE. *TR