NHTSA Complaint #11051851 — 2001 VOLVO S80

ON NOVEMBER 9TH MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 VOLVO S80 TO CHURCH. SHE PARKED THE CAR BUT IT BEGAN TO MOVE. IT ACCELERATED AND SHE WOUND UP DRIVING INTO A TREE TO AVOID HITTING OTHER CARS. SHE WAS ALSO WORRIED THAT CHILDREN FROM THE SCHOOL MIGHT BE AROUND. THE CAR WAS IN PARK. THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS ON. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER SINCE THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THE CHURCH SECRETARY OBSERVED THE INCIDENT. SHE SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE CAR WHICH WOULD INDICATE THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS ON. WHEN SHE FIRST REACHED THE CAR WITH MY WIFE IN IT SHE NOTED THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK.