Tundra Runs into Dealership
 

I posted this in a local forum but I really think it was convenient timing on the trucks part.

2theadvocate.com | News | Man?s truck strikes BR Toyota dealership — Baton Rouge, LA


Man’s truck strikes BR Toyota dealership
By KATIE KENNEDY
Advocate staff writer
Published: Jan 31, 2010


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A man who attempted to return his recalled Toyota pickup truck to All Star Toyota on Airline Highway on Saturday crashed into the dealership building when his allegedly faulty accelerator stuck, the Baton Rouge Police Department reported.

The crash caused extensive damage to the truck involved, but no major injuries were reported, said Lt. Todd G. Lee Sr., chief of administrative services for the Police Department.

Mikel Valviva sought to return his truck to the dealership at 9150 Airline Highway, saying he no longer wanted it because of the recall on the accelerator, Lee said.

The dealership’s manager, Joe Costanza, offered to repair Valviva’s truck and loan him a car in the meantime, Lee said.

Matt McKay, owner of the All Star Automotive Group, said Costanza explained to Valviva on three separate occasions on Saturday that the dealership could not refund his money for the truck.

McKay said the process during the recall requires dealerships to provide a loaner car while the recalled vehicle is repaired.

Valviva refused the offers and tried to leave the dealership, but his gas pedal stuck, Lee said. The truck accelerated forward, striking the building, Lee said.

EMS personnel treated Valviva and his passenger for minor injuries on scene, Lee said.

McKay said a cosmetic column on the building received only minor damage.

Costanza confirmed Valviva’s truck is one of the models included in the recall, Lee said.

The investigating officer found no evidence the incident was intentional, Lee said.

“He didn’t have enough evidence to say that definitively,” Lee said.

McKay said he had “no comment” when asked if he believed the incident was accidental.

This is the first report of an accident caused by a faulty accelerator on a Toyota in the Greater Baton Rouge area, Lee said.

McKay said Valviva bought the truck in March 2009, and he had “no previous complaints or issues with the gas pedal.”

Attempts by The Advocate to reach Valviva on Saturday afternoon were unsuccessful.

Toyota Motor Co. said Tuesday it was suspending the sale of eight models and recalling more than 2 million cars because the gas pedals could become harder to press, slower to spring back or stuck.

Sean Kane, director of Safety Research and Strategies, a consumer group that conducts research into motor vehicle safety issues, said his firm has identified 2,274 incidents of sudden unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles leading to at least 275 crashes and 18 deaths since 1999, the Associated Press reported.

WOW, Toyota continues to go downhill with News like that.

They will rebound! After all, Ford had gas tanks in the Crown Victoria, Pinto, and Torino's that exploded into flames , in rear end collisions!

Ford and GM uses the same gas pedals as toyota. I wonder when Toyota will try and divert the attention and bring this up.

You right about Ford!! Plus the Explorers flipping over in the highway.

:roflpuke2:
really helps their image

omg lol

I bet it was intentional.

yep, i call BS. guy just didn't want his truck anymore and is trying to feast off of toyota's troubles.

Yeah Toyota bounced back after their failings in the early 80's, they should be able to overcome this as well. They make good motors and cars, but evidently whoever designed these pedals is due for a lynching.

Think he'll get it repaired at that dealership?:bowrofl:

lol, hilarious! but yeah, it does seem fishy. so he brings in the truck to get rid of it, but they refuse, so he gets in and right there and then the accelerator conveniently gets stuck and he crashes the truck into the same dealership that turned him down. way too many coincidences happening at the right place and the right time. more likely he found this is the best way to 1. get rid of the truck he doesn't want anymore, 2. take revenge on the dealership that turned him down by smashing their walls, 3. have a very convenient excuse for the accident considering all the troubles and bad press toyota is getting for those stuck pedals.

A well thought out plan if you ask me.

Now that was funny, I am not worried about them getting a bad rep they will recover. But man that is funny.

He probably was trying to get out of his ridiculously expensive loan, why else try to return a car that never had a problem until a recall was announced? Crashing it into the dealership was a nice touch though, "oops, my gas pedal stuck."