Sudden Unintended Acceleration (Part 1 of 2)

I am rarely surprised by events which unfold on a daily basis. Living in a country like ours, which is raped without pause by my misdirected black brothers, you somehow become numb and at times devoid of emotion. It helps in maintaining a sane countenance, but ever so often you are struck by something which initiates a jaw dropping moment. 

BBC World

A few mornings ago, I was going about my merry way, driving along one of our traffic-choked roads. My morning station, BBC World, was on my poor excuse for a car radio and a program had just begun about a car recall story. The correspondent gave a brief background of how the car company started and basically outlined how it grew to become the one of the world’s largest car makers. He intimated that everything was going the company’s way and then disaster struck. What I heard next affected me for the rest of the day – and still does. A 911 call was played. 

In southern California, in August of 2009, a desperate and frightened driver called 911 (the emergency services in the USA). According to the report, this was the conversation.

Operator : 911 emergency, what are you reporting?

Driver : Our accelerator is stuck, we are in trouble, we can’t – there is just no brakes.

Operator : ‘I’m sorry (sounding puzzled)?

Driver : We are approaching an intersection – hold on – brake – brake …………..

The screams came next, followed closely by the horrific sounds of a collision, as the car slammed into the car(s) at the intersection.

It was suggested that the car was hurtling down the road at over 160 km/hr, under its own directive. In August 2009, the world was informed in dramatic, life dissolving fashion, about Sudden Unintended Acceleration. The 4 occupants of the car are no longer with us – they died in the accident.

Part 2 tomorrow. 

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer