100 mph and a cell phone

John Shirley wrote:

 > Sometime before 02 Feb 2004, Hank Barta stated:
 >
  >> Am I the only one concerned about this account of the 20 year
  >> old girl who had 1) brakes failing and 2) accelerator sticking
  >> causing her to drive at over 100 mph for 45 minutes. She
  >> couldn't get through to 911 so she called her girlfriend!!!
  >>
  >> Why not just turn the car off? I suppose with the wheel in one
  >> hand and the cell phone in the other, she could not reach the
  >> key.
  >>
  >> I hope to never get in front of someone like that when I;m
  >> riding.
  >>
  >> And I wonder what the real story was.
  >>
  >> <sigh>
  >>
 >
 > Yeah, it was on local news here (Denver) last night. Evidently, she
 > claimed that:
 >
 > -- The brakes failed.
 > -- She couldn't disengage the clutch.
 > -- She couldn't get the transmission out of gear.
 > -- Ignition wouldn't turn off.
 > -- Parking brake didn't work.
 >
 > Sounds pretty darned unlikely to me.

Silly, she panicked. Typical of female drivers.
That's why we don't allow chicks on motorcycles.
And that's why we don't allow chicks to post
in this newsgroop.

Hope this helps!

piddy -- raises bunnies and chicks for food on the farm.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone 

On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 23:07:12 -0600, John Shirley
<esthermofetSPAM DeleteThis @SUCKScomcast.net> wrote:

 >Sometime before 02 Feb 2004, Hank Barta stated:
 >
  >> Am I the only one concerned about this account of the 20 year old
  >> girl who had 1) brakes failing and 2) accelerator sticking causing
  >> her to drive at over 100 mph for 45 minutes. She couldn't get through
  >> to 911 so she called her girlfriend!!!
  >>
  >> Why not just turn the car off? I suppose with the wheel in one hand
  >> and the cell phone in the other, she could not reach the key.
  >>
  >> I hope to never get in front of someone like that when I;m riding.
  >>
  >> And I wonder what the real story was.
  >>
  >> <sigh>
  >>
 >
 >Yeah, it was on local news here (Denver) last night. Evidently, she claimed
 >that:
 >
 > -- The brakes failed.
 > -- She couldn't disengage the clutch.
 > -- She couldn't get the transmission out of gear.
 > -- Ignition wouldn't turn off.
 > -- Parking brake didn't work.
 >
 >Sounds pretty darned unlikely to me.


Could have been a kia. I've read some horror stories about their
electrical systems <!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone 

piddie wrote:
 > John Shirley wrote:
  >>
  >> -- The brakes failed.
  >> -- She couldn't disengage the clutch.
  >> -- She couldn't get the transmission out of gear.
  >> -- Ignition wouldn't turn off.
  >> -- Parking brake didn't work.
  >> Sounds pretty darned unlikely to me.
 >
 > Silly, she panicked. Typical of female drivers.
 > That's why we don't allow chicks on motorcycles.
 > And that's why we don't allow chicks to post
 > in this newsgroop.
 > Hope this helps!

Heh heh.
Mag<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone 

Hank Barta wrote:

 > Am I the only one concerned about this account of the 20 year old
 > girl who had 1) brakes failing and 2) accelerator sticking causing
 > her to drive at over 100 mph for 45 minutes. She couldn't get through
 > to 911 so she called her girlfriend!!!
 >
 > Why not just turn the car off? I suppose with the wheel in one hand
 > and the cell phone in the other, she could not reach the key.
 >
 > I hope to never get in front of someone like that when I;m riding.
 >
 > And I wonder what the real story was.
 >
 > <sigh>
Hank Barta wrote:
 > Am I the only one concerned about this account of the 20 year old
 > girl who had 1) brakes failing and 2) accelerator sticking causing
 > her to drive at over 100 mph for 45 minutes. She couldn't get through
 > to 911 so she called her girlfriend!!!
 >
 > Why not just turn the car off? I suppose with the wheel in one hand
 > and the cell phone in the other, she could not reach the key.
 >
 > I hope to never get in front of someone like that when I;m riding.
 >
 > And I wonder what the real story was.
 >
 > <sigh>
I wonder why none of the news reports bothered to name Ms. Eck as the
stupidest person alive. If there is any truth to this story at all. Maybe
this is just another good case for requiring people to understand how a
machine works before providing a license to operate said machine.

My best guess as to what *may* have happened goes like this:

1 - She's driving along and 'floors' it to try and pass a truck. The
throttle sticks. (Even I've had that happen)

2 - With the throttle plate wide open, primary vacuum drops to 1 atmosphere
causing the power assist on the brakes to 'fail'. Or at least the brake
pedal would feel harder than what she was accustomed to. At this point Ms.
Eck gives up on the brakes as a means of survival (stupid).

3 - She tries stepping on the clutch and hears the engine rev higher - maybe
even sees the tach peg itself. She then assumes that the clutch is broken
also and gives up on this idea as a means of survival (stupid).

4 - Next attempt, shift to neutral. See #3.

5 - Ok, call friend on cell phone. This would not be my choice if I had a
sticky throttle, but what the hell. Friend says to turn off the key. She
turn off the key, with the car still in gear and the clutch engaged and
sees that the car continues to roll down the highway. She must be pretty
stupid here and wind up turning the ignition back on, restarting the engine
and continuing the joy-ride. Or maybe the *friend* warned her not to turn
the key as to not lock the steering?

The way I see it, there is absolutely no way possible that all of these
things could have failed at once. I'm not an expert in '97 Sunbirds, but I
kinda doubt that the clutch pedal gives an input to the ECM requesting a
clutch disengage circuit be enabled, same goes for the shifter.

<sheesh>

--
TomO
'01 VStar 1100 Classic
'52 Ford 8N
'63 Galaxie 500<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone 

John Shirley <esthermofetSPAM DeleteThis @SUCKScomcast.net> posted in
rec.motorcycles:

 > Sometime before 02 Feb 2004, Hank Barta stated:
 >
  >> Am I the only one concerned about this account of the 20 year
  >> old girl who had 1) brakes failing and 2) accelerator
  >> sticking causing her to drive at over 100 mph for 45 minutes.
  >> She couldn't get through to 911 so she called her
  >> girlfriend!!!
  >>
 > Yeah, it was on local news here (Denver) last night. Evidently,
 > she claimed that:
 >
 > -- The brakes failed.
 > -- She couldn't disengage the clutch.
 > -- She couldn't get the transmission out of gear.
 > -- Ignition wouldn't turn off.
 > -- Parking brake didn't work.
 >
 > Sounds pretty darned unlikely to me.

On-line sources just have her putting on the hazards and going. She
probably added the other bits later as people kept asking her
"stupid" questions.

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,110216,00.html" target="_blank">http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,110216,00.html</a>

And I must say, it's good to see that LEOs are being trained these
days by watching bad '70s television.


--
Michael J. Freeman Cincinnati, OH
'85 VF700S (The Leper) mike_freeman DeleteThis @SPMBLOKmac.com
"Insanity runs in the family; it practically gallops"
Ellison, H. Thompson, D. Parker, Prince, SRV, Led Zep<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone 

 > And I wonder what the real story was.

Probably has something to do with oxygen supply to her head being stopped
for too long many years ago.

More proof that intelligence tests should be part of a driving exam. If
you get in a car you should know how it works, she obviously didnt have a
clue.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone 

On Tue, 03 Feb 2004 12:04:21 GMT, "Margaret M."
<maggiemod.DeleteThis@REMOVE.houston.rr.com> wrote:

 >piddie wrote:
  >> John Shirley wrote:
   >>>
   >>> -- The brakes failed.
   >>> -- She couldn't disengage the clutch.
   >>> -- She couldn't get the transmission out of gear.
   >>> -- Ignition wouldn't turn off.
   >>> -- Parking brake didn't work.
   >>> Sounds pretty darned unlikely to me.
  >>
  >> Silly, she panicked. Typical of female drivers.
  >> That's why we don't allow chicks on motorcycles.
  >> And that's why we don't allow chicks to post
  >> in this newsgroop.
  >> Hope this helps!
 >
 >Heh heh.
 >Mag

Wuddya think Mag. He must have a mouse in his pocket because I sure
don't know who this "we" is otherwise. Sheesh.

--

John
Apple Valley, MN
'02 FZ1
'73 RD350<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone 

piddie <avateaforme.DeleteThis@dine83kdk.net> wrote:

 > John Shirley wrote:
 >
  > > Sometime before 02 Feb 2004, Hank Barta stated:
  > >
   > >> Am I the only one concerned about this account of the 20 year
   > >> old girl who had 1) brakes failing and 2) accelerator sticking
   > >> causing her to drive at over 100 mph for 45 minutes. She
   > >> couldn't get through to 911 so she called her girlfriend!!!
   > >>
   > >> Why not just turn the car off? I suppose with the wheel in one
   > >> hand and the cell phone in the other, she could not reach the
   > >> key.
   > >>
   > >> I hope to never get in front of someone like that when I;m
   > >> riding.
   > >>
   > >> And I wonder what the real story was.
   > >>
   > >> <sigh>
   > >>
  > >
  > > Yeah, it was on local news here (Denver) last night. Evidently, she
  > > claimed that:
  > >
  > > -- The brakes failed.
  > > -- She couldn't disengage the clutch.
  > > -- She couldn't get the transmission out of gear.
  > > -- Ignition wouldn't turn off.
  > > -- Parking brake didn't work.
  > >
  > > Sounds pretty darned unlikely to me.
 >
 > Silly, she panicked. Typical of female drivers.
 > That's why we don't allow chicks on motorcycles.
 > And that's why we don't allow chicks to post
 > in this newsgroop.
 >
 > Hope this helps!
 >
 > piddy -- raises bunnies and chicks for food on the farm.


EXCELLENT!

Charles

--
Charles Soto - Austin, TX *** 1999 GSF1200S, DoD No. "uno"

("Meepmeep" is "rr," as in "roadrunner.")<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone 

On 3 Feb 2004 15:31:12 GMT, "M. J. Freeman"
<mjf_newsreader.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:

 >On-line sources just have her putting on the hazards and going. She
 >probably added the other bits later as people kept asking her
 >"stupid" questions.
 >
 >http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,110216,00.html
 >
 >And I must say, it's good to see that LEOs are being trained these
 >days by watching bad '70s television.


I may have had my doubts before but now it is absolute. Americans have
got to be the stupidest people in the world. Or at least the media
must think we are with the cheesy explanations given for how JJ's top
"accidentally" came off or how this dingbat couldn't stop her car
because it was "like it had a mind of its own".

I bet you the ECM on that vehicle prolly does have more brainpower
than Ms. Eck.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone 

Demetrius XXIV and the Gladiatores <nero.TakeThisOut@casaputana.it> wrote in message news:<lenv10d0f1jp7j8ouhr63dtgb5s95ks8rr.TakeThisOut@4ax.com>...
 > On 3 Feb 2004 15:31:12 GMT, "M. J. Freeman"
 > <mjf_newsreader.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:
 >
  > >On-line sources just have her putting on the hazards and going. She
  > >probably added the other bits later as people kept asking her
  > >"stupid" questions.
  > >
  > >http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,110216,00.html
  > >
  > >And I must say, it's good to see that LEOs are being trained these
  > >days by watching bad '70s television.
 >
 >
 > I may have had my doubts before but now it is absolute. Americans have
 > got to be the stupidest people in the world. Or at least the media
 > must think we are with the cheesy explanations given for how JJ's top
 > "accidentally" came off or how this dingbat couldn't stop her car
 > because it was "like it had a mind of its own".
 >
 > I bet you the ECM on that vehicle prolly does have more brainpower
 > than Ms. Eck.

Well if it wouldn't stop because it was "like it had a mind of its own",
then obviously the poor Ms. Eck needs a good lawyer.

Think of the mental anguish it must have caused her.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone 

"Hank Barta" <hbarta RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:OFFTb.170443$nt4.760089@attbi_s51...
 > Am I the only one concerned about this account of the 20 year old
 > girl who had 1) brakes failing and 2) accelerator sticking causing
 > her to drive at over 100 mph for 45 minutes. She couldn't get through
 > to 911 so she called her girlfriend!!!
 >
 > Why not just turn the car off? I suppose with the wheel in one hand
 > and the cell phone in the other, she could not reach the key.
 >
 > I hope to never get in front of someone like that when I;m riding.
 >
 > And I wonder what the real story was.
 >
 > <sigh>

There was a story like this a few years back. Everyone touted that girl and
her rescuer, as heroes. Then the questions started coming... Questions like,
why did the car's engine not race after the police car slowed it to a stop?
Why did all of the problems magically dissapear, to the point that mechanics
couldn't see any evidence of a problem as soon as the car was brought to a
stop? Why wouldn't the key turn, or the shift lever move to neutral, or the
brakes overcome the engine? Then, evidence of "buyer's remorse" started
popping up and it seemed apparent that her stunt was an attempt to get the
factory to buy her car back, after the dealer had refused to take it back.

Before any of this could be properly investigated, she loaned the car to a
friend, who totalled the car in a low-speed single-car accident. So, the
insurance company bought back her car, in the end.
--
Stephen
Home Page: stephmon.com
Satellite Hunting: sathunt.com<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone 

Sometime before 03 Feb 2004, entropy_magnet stated:

 > On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 23:07:12 -0600, John Shirley
 > <esthermofetSPAM DeleteThis @SUCKScomcast.net> wrote:
 >
  >>Sometime before 02 Feb 2004, Hank Barta stated:
  >>
   >>> Am I the only one concerned about this account of the 20 year old
   >>> girl who had 1) brakes failing and 2) accelerator sticking
   >>> causing her to drive at over 100 mph for 45 minutes. She couldn't
   >>> get through to 911 so she called her girlfriend!!!
   >>>
   >>> Why not just turn the car off? I suppose with the wheel in one
   >>> hand and the cell phone in the other, she could not reach the
   >>> key.
   >>>
   >>> I hope to never get in front of someone like that when I;m
   >>> riding.
   >>>
   >>> And I wonder what the real story was.
   >>>
   >>> <sigh>
   >>>
  >>
  >>Yeah, it was on local news here (Denver) last night. Evidently, she
  >>claimed that:
  >>
  >> -- The brakes failed.
  >> -- She couldn't disengage the clutch.
  >> -- She couldn't get the transmission out of gear.
  >> -- Ignition wouldn't turn off.
  >> -- Parking brake didn't work.
  >>
  >>Sounds pretty darned unlikely to me.
 >
 >
 > Could have been a kia. I've read some horror stories about their
 > electrical systems
 >

No dice--t'was a Pontiac Sunfire with a five speed manual. Or something
very similar.

--
John Shirley
Remove SPAM SUCKS to E-mail<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone 

In article <8sbv10h0e96pb5imrnv2g8rr3501dqfk5n DeleteThis @4ax.com>,
spamtrap DeleteThis @telocity.com says...
 > On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 23:07:12 -0600, John Shirley
 > <esthermofetSPAM DeleteThis @SUCKScomcast.net> wrote:
 >
  > >Sometime before 02 Feb 2004, Hank Barta stated:
  > >
   > >> Am I the only one concerned about this account of the 20 year old
   > >> girl who had 1) brakes failing and 2) accelerator sticking causing
   > >> her to drive at over 100 mph for 45 minutes. She couldn't get through
   > >> to 911 so she called her girlfriend!!!
   > >>
   > >> Why not just turn the car off? I suppose with the wheel in one hand
   > >> and the cell phone in the other, she could not reach the key.
   > >>
   > >> I hope to never get in front of someone like that when I;m riding.
   > >>
   > >> And I wonder what the real story was.
   > >>
   > >> <sigh>
   > >>
  > >
  > >Yeah, it was on local news here (Denver) last night. Evidently, she claimed
  > >that:
  > >
  > > -- The brakes failed.
  > > -- She couldn't disengage the clutch.
  > > -- She couldn't get the transmission out of gear.
  > > -- Ignition wouldn't turn off.
  > > -- Parking brake didn't work.
  > >
  > >Sounds pretty darned unlikely to me.
 >
 >
 > Could have been a kia. I've read some horror stories about their
 > electrical systems

But they won't do 100mph.

--
Cam
'89 RZ 350<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 100 mph and a cell phone