U.S. Says Driver Error Possible in NY Prius Crash

WASHINGTON - March 18, 2010: Reuters is reporting that U.S. safety officials believe driver error may be behind the crash in New York of a Toyota Prius that has been investigated as a possible case of unintended acceleration. Federal investigators made the report available today, Thursday.

According to the report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that an analysis of the 2005 hybrid's "black box" data recorder found no braking just before it hit a stone wall in the Westchester County town of Harrison on March 9. They also said that the throttle was "wide open." Based on this nvestigators suspect that the gas pedal was used instead of the brake.

Meanwhile, the lcal police have not yet issued their report and felt that they couldn't comment on the NTSHA report yet.