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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Monday, October 26, 2009 11:07 PM CDT
Vehicle was without driver for 4 blocks before impact
Woman struck by car
in Chicago hospital; no tickets issued to driver

By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com

MATTOON — The car that struck a woman walking on 19th Street last week was driverless for nearly four blocks, according to a Mattoon Police Department accident report.

On the night of Oct. 19, Ashley White, 17, of 1630 1/2 Broadway, told police that she jumped out the door of a Honda Passport that she was driving when it went out of control at the Book Nook near 19th Street and Broadway Avenue.

White said she jumped out of the vehicle into the grass but the car continued north before striking Maggie S. Stoke, 45, at the corner of Richmond Avenue and 19th Street. Stoke was taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana and is now undergoing treatment for her injuries at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago.

The investigation indicates a stuck accelerator pedal caused White to lose control of the vehicle shortly before 8:35 p.m. A floor mat lodged the pedal against the floor and the teenager jumped out of the vehicle, leaving the driver’s door open as the vehicle continued north on 19th Street.

“This is a unique accident,” Mattoon Deputy Police Chief Adam Weinstock said. “The circumstances, as they unfolded, are not something you see on a routine basis.”

Weinstock said an officer with extensive accident reconstruction training was assigned to the investigation.

White was westbound on Charleston Avenue when she experienced the problem with the accelerator and turned into the parking lot behind Little Mexico and the Book Nook, according to the police report.

The car veered north on 19th for several hundred feet past intersections with Broadway, Western and Prairie.

According to the police report, the car eventually drifted west across 19th Street and went onto the sidewalk toward Stoke, who lives a short distance from the accident scene.

Stoke was struck by the vehicle, which also knocked down a crosswalk post, fire hydrant and display sign before striking the corner of the Immaculate Conception Parish Center building. Evidence indicates the vehicle was traveling at 30 mph with no skidding or braking marks at the scene.

White was not injured and ran to her residence on Broadway Avenue where she told her father of the incident. They then approached police to explain what happened.

No tickets have been issued to the young driver. The accident report stated there was no evidence of alcohol or drug use by White. She tested negative for alcohol on a police procedure requested by her family.

In addition, there was evidence of grass embedded in White’s clothing when she was interviewed by a police officer.

Eyewitnesses at the scene told police there was no evidence of someone leaving the vehicle after it struck Stoke and then the building.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

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Billie Brant wrote on Oct 27, 2009 9:38 AM:

" Just a few days ago I listened to an audio tape of a 911 call on TV of a similar situation. The caller was saying the accelerator was stuck and the speed was increasing. The panic in the voice and the voices in the background was chilling. Then there was nothing. All were killed. If I remember correctly the caller was a police officer.

The same thing had happened as reported in this article. The floor mat had shifted and came in contact with the accelerator. Please folks, check your floor mats. "

InsaneWayne wrote on Oct 27, 2009 11:29 AM:

" The real solution is to use the brain God gave you and turn off the key. "

Rohn Gordon wrote on Oct 27, 2009 12:56 PM:

" I must admit that this is not any where close to what I figured had happened.
Turn key off would make more sense than jumping.
Billie I can not understand a grown up, or a cop that is trained in rapid response to emergencies would not have been able to think of the key. I have had accelerators stick before, no biggy. "

check is in the mail wrote on Oct 27, 2009 1:40 PM:

" I remember the first and only time this happened to me. I was scared to death. Everything came out well, and when I explained to my parents THAT'S when I learned to turn off the key. Kids have to be told this, though, because you sure don't think of it when you are in a bind like this for the first time. A stuck accelerator is scary stuff. "

Jim1969 wrote on Oct 27, 2009 2:17 PM:

" Only one problem with turning off the key in a situation like this. If the car is in gear it will have the same effect as forcing it into park. The least of the problem would be damage to the transmission and engine (and who cares about that in an emergency). The real problem is that the cars wheels will lock up making the vehicle uncontrollable.

The correct answer is to place the vehicle in neutral and then turn off the engine. While you won't have power brakes or steering you will still have them and be able to control the car to a safe stop. "

Billie Brant wrote on Oct 27, 2009 2:32 PM:

" Yeah I thought of the key thing too. These folks were traveling on a freeway at a pretty high rate of speed. Not being there I don't really know the whys or the why nots.It's a tragedy anyway you look at it. "

das wrote on Oct 27, 2009 4:48 PM:

" To be honest, I would not have known to turn the key. I would have freaked out and probably did the same thing this girl did. When you are not taught something like "turn the key" when this happens, then when it does happen you're lost. Also, in the state of emergency, many people forget what they're actually supposed to do to fix the emergency. It states like this, the body takes over and many people just go blank. "

bobbie wrote on Oct 27, 2009 5:00 PM:

" InsaneWayne wrote on Oct 27, 2009 11:29 AM:

" The real solution is to use the brain God gave you and turn off the key. "

I bet u were using real solution like that at the age of 17 "

pj1983 wrote on Oct 27, 2009 6:46 PM:

" even if putting the car in neutral and/or turning the car off wouldn't have entered the driver's mind, what in the worl made them think that jumping out was a viable option?! "

johndeerelover wrote on Oct 27, 2009 7:40 PM:

" Is that the way it happened? Or do they not want to be responsible for what happened? Jumped out or not she should have got a ticket..its still her car she didn't have under control and it almost killed someone. NOone wants to be responsible for things anymore. "

Rohn Gordon wrote on Oct 27, 2009 8:15 PM:

" Jim you are wrong, turning the key off is nothing like throwing it into park. It will "only" coast to a stop. Will not hurt motor or transmission, unless maybe with a manual. "

jrhendren wrote on Oct 27, 2009 11:18 PM:

" NEVER JUST TURN YOUR ENGINE OFF!!!!
Turning the key off makes it so you have no control, as in most vehicles the steering locks. The car can easily slide into other traffic making things even worse.

"If your accelerator sticks, the last thing you want to do is shut off the engine. If you do, you will, in the vast majority of vehicles, lose the benefit of the power steering assist as well the power brake assist....If your gas pedal sticks for whatever reason, the quickest, safest and simplest thing to do is disconnect power to the drive wheels by shifting to neutral.

In many cars, you do not even have to press the shift button to do so, and neutral is just one notch away from drive. Yes the engine will rev high, but you can at least safely pull over to stop and then try to shut down the engine." - Transportation Board "

medic57 wrote on Oct 28, 2009 4:17 AM:

" There are several realls for wrong floormats at this time. The wrong ones ride up over the gas pedal. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:56 AM:

" In many cars, you do not even have to press the shift button to do so, and neutral is just one notch away from drive. Yes the engine will rev high, but you can at least safely pull over to stop and then try to shut down the engine." - Transportation Board

Better a blown engine than a potentially fatal crash. Good advice, jr. "

lindsaymvs wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:57 AM:

" None of you no what was going threw her head when it all happened. She was scared and jumped out. Everything can be replaced. SO LEAVE HER ALONE..... "

Rohn Gordon wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:49 AM:

" lindsaymvs Tell the every thing can be replaced to the woman that was hits family, especially if she dies.
Jr the steering "will not" lock. The car must be in park in order for the steering lock mechanism to work. "

The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 12:28 PM:

" None of you no what was going threw her head when it all happened. She was scared and jumped out. Everything can be replaced. SO LEAVE HER ALONE..... "
---
And the relatives and friends chime in, right on cue.
"Everything can be replaced?" I don't "no" about that. "

CrowWoman wrote on Oct 28, 2009 1:07 PM:

" "Everything can be replaced," posted lindsaymvs.

Such a thoughtless statement--what about the health of the person who was hit by the car?

Maybe the Driver's Ed classes should teach more about unexpected, emergency situations such as this--the accelerator sticking isn't all that uncommon, really. Certainly parents should talk to their young drivers about what to do. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 1:09 PM:

" medic57 wrote on Oct 28, 2009 4:17 AM:

" There are several realls for wrong floormats at this time. The wrong ones ride up over the gas pedal. "

Good point, medic.

I see where Toyota recalled 3.8 million cars for this very reason. All of my cars have hooks in the front floor board to avoid this problem. Might be a good idea for all manufactures to install them in all cars. "

reynoldsblowhard wrote on Oct 28, 2009 2:54 PM:

" Um... brake pedal? It'll take a bit longer to stop the car, but it WILL stop even with the engine accelerating and the transmission in drive. Jeez... "

MHS56 wrote on Oct 28, 2009 3:11 PM:

" Everything can be replaced!! Are you nuts? How about the ladies injuries??? Auto makers should take note of how Toyota (Solara)has their mats secured to the floor so they won't move around or bunch up under the accelerator!!! Simple hold downs at rear of mats. "

STINKY wrote on Oct 28, 2009 5:54 PM:

" I'm amazed that the driver had the wherewithal to jump out before trying other options in order to avoid peril. "

devilishangel61401 wrote on Oct 28, 2009 6:31 PM:

" " None of you no what was going threw her head when it all happened. She was scared and jumped out. Everything can be replaced. SO LEAVE HER ALONE..... "

This is just Outragous!! I can understand the young lady being scared, but I have to ask you this: Can the lady who was hit by this runaway vehicle get back the time she looses while she recovers, can she get back the money she is no doubt loosing by not being able to work, and lastly "can be replaced at whose expense???" Is this young lady or her family going to pay for the damages that were caused?? Is the car manufatucuer going to pay for the damages to the property that were caused?? I understand this was an accident but to have a casual attitude like "oh it can all be replaced so its not a big deal" is just wrong!

I did see a while back that Toyota was recalling thousands of cars with floor mats that were not properly anchored down which could cause the accelerator to get stuck. My first reaction would have been to hit the brakes and keep hitting the brakes and try to turn away from everything and everyone, not jump out of the car and flee the scene "

jrhendren wrote on Oct 29, 2009 12:11 AM:

" Rohn Gordon wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:49 AM:
" lindsaymvs Tell the every thing can be replaced to the woman that was hits family, especially if she dies.
Jr the steering "will not" lock. The car must be in park in order for the steering lock mechanism to work. "

Wrong it does not have to be in park for it to lock. Especially on older models. "

jrhendren wrote on Oct 29, 2009 12:14 AM:

" reynoldsblowhard wrote on Oct 28, 2009 2:54 PM:
" Um... brake pedal? It'll take a bit longer to stop the car, but it WILL stop even with the engine accelerating and the transmission in drive. Jeez... "

Not always. You ever seen someone smoking the tires but the car starts to inch. Depending on the brakes and how worn they are. Not to mention if you stop with the brake and accidentally release then you could end up in a worse situation from the sudden jerk of the vehicle. "

hector19 wrote on Oct 29, 2009 7:21 AM:

" We was taught a few things when I was in drivers ed about situations like this . It did happen to me at 18 I just bumped it in nuetral and turned the car off . I think she was insane to jump from the car that is like something out of a movie or tv . But thats where a lot of kids get their education anymore . "

brownie wrote on Oct 29, 2009 8:33 AM:

" I would like to know where this grass is that this girl supposedly landed on? If she jumped out at book nook and 19th she would have fell out in the middle of the road,very fishy!! "

reynoldsblowhard wrote on Oct 29, 2009 10:12 AM:

" jr -- yes and no. If a car's doing a burnout, it's rear brakes (assuming it's RWD) are disengaged, obviously. Remember the campaign against Audi back in the 80's? It was proven over and over again that this "unintended acceleration" with full brake input just wasn't possible. People were stepping in the gas when they thought they were on the brake.

There's no way that a Honda Passport's motor is going to overpower it's brakes. Surely we can agree on that! "

exbricklayer wrote on Oct 29, 2009 12:28 PM:

" WOW!!!!!

You Monday morning quarterbacks are ABSOLUTE GENIUSES!!!!! "

mom of twins wrote on Oct 29, 2009 11:54 PM:

" It seems that this was an awful accident. Being a seasoned driver, I would have put the car in Neutral then try to turn off the key. This is something that all of us need to know if this were to happen to any of us. To the poor family of the victim, I am so sorry. To the poor girl that was the driver, I am so sorry for her. She is a young driver and probably just paniced. I am praying that Maggie recovers from this freak accident. And I am praying that Ashley also recovers from the mental anguish that I am sure that she is suffering. Just remember people, this was a freak accident and two families are suffering. "

reynoldsblowhard wrote on Oct 30, 2009 8:06 AM:

" bricklayer -- you make a valid point; the counter-point, I guess, is that so few of us would consider JUMPING OUT of a moving vehicle as a viable option in a case like this. The propensity for damage to self, property, or another person far outweighs the benefits, as we have seen here.

Still, I am sure these finer points were the last things in this young lady's mind as this was happening. "

Rohn Gordon wrote on Oct 30, 2009 12:22 PM:

" jr bring a car by and show me it locks when not in park. You won't and I "know" why. "

Rohn Gordon wrote on Oct 30, 2009 12:24 PM:

" jr You ever notice that you always argue with someone?? And 80% of the time or more its you that starts it or are wrong. "