NHTSA Complaint #10704117 — 2009 SUBARU FORESTER

I STARTED THE CAR FROM A PARKED POSITION ON A FAIRLY LEVEL DRIVEWAY(SLIGHT UPGRADE), IN ORDER TO BRING IT INTO MY GARAGE--APPROXIMATE DISTANCE 20 FEET. STARTED ENGINE AND WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL WHICH IS REQUIRED, I ENGAGED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE ENGINE ROARED, RPMS SOARED, AND WITH MY FOOT STILL FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR RAN THROUGH THE GARAGE, CRASHED INTO MY ATV, WHICH WAS PARKED PARALLEL TO BACK WALL OF GARAGE. THE CAR HIT THE ATV WITH SUCH FORCE, THAT THE REAR WHEEL OF THE ATV WAS PROPELLED OVER A 6" POURED CONCRETE FOOTER AND THE THROUGH REAR WALL OF MY ATTACHED FRAMED AND DRYWALLED GARAGE(GROUND LEVEL). WHEN THE SECOND REAR WHEEL OF THE ATV BECAME PINNED AGAINST THE SAME FOOTER AND WOULD NOT LEAP IT, APPARENTLY BECAUSE OF THE REAR WALL DEBRIS FIELD, I WAS ABLE TO THROW THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND TURN IGNITION TO OFF POSITION. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I IMMEDIATELY LEFT THE VEHICLE AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO CHECK FLOOR MAT POSITIONING--- NOT A PROBLEM. RESULTS OF THE CRASH SO FAR IS THAT I HAVE A CRUMPLED FRONT END OF THE FORESTER AND THE HOOD WON'T CLOSE FIRMLY. I HAVE AN ATV THAT MAY HAVE A BENT REAR AXLE, RUINED WHEEL(S), DENTED PLASTIC PARTS, AND POSSIBLY THE FRAME OF THE ATV. THERE IS A PLOW ATTACHMENT WHICH WILL ALSO NEED TO BE CHECKED ON THE ATV. THE GARAGE REAR WALL HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT, AND NOW SITS ABOUT THREE FEET INTO THE BACKYARD. ALL THESE ITEMS ARE CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT BY INSURANCE ADJUSTERS AND CONTRACTORS, SO I AM UNABLE TO GIVE FINAL COST OF DAMAGES. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE AND DOG WERE NOT NEAR THE ATV OR BEHIND THE EXTERIOR WALL WHEN THIS HAPPENED, OTHERWISE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURIES, I'M SURE. I CALLED THE NHTSA TOLL-FREE # YESTERDAY, LEFT MESSAGE, BUT DID NOT HEAR BACK. THUS, THIS REPORT IS 1 DAY LATER. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR