I didnt think they could go that fast

[kryg]

(CNN) -- The driver of a Toyota Prius says he was taken on a wild ride Monday after the car's accelerator became stuck, reaching speeds in excess of 90 mph on a winding, hilly portion of a southern California interstate.

It took the California Highway Patrol to bring the car safely to a stop.

The driver, Jim Sikes, said he was traveling east on Interstate 8 outside of the San Diego area when he attempted to pass a slower vehicle.

"I pushed the gas pedal to pass a car, and it just did something kind of funny ... and it just stuck there," he said at a news conference outside a Highway Patrol office. "As I was going, I was trying the brakes ... and it just kept speeding up."

Sikes said he called 911 for help, and dispatchers talked him through instructions on how he might be able to stop the car. But nothing worked.

At one point, Sikes said he reached down to try to pull the accelerator up, but it "stayed right where it was."

Alerted by emergency dispatchers, a California Highway Patrol officer was able to catch up to Sikes' Prius and used the patrol car's public address system to instruct Sikes to apply the brakes and the emergency brake at the same time.

The tactic worked, and the car slowed to about 50 mph. Sikes said he was able to shut off the car, and it rolled to a stop. The responding officer, Todd Neibert, positioned his patrol car in front of the Prius as a precaution to prevent it from moving again.

Toyota recently issued widespread recalls due to problems related to the accelerator pedal in several of its auto models. One theory behind the sticky accelerators is the vehicles' floor mats.

But Sikes said "my mat was perfect. There was nothing wrong with my mat."

Sikes said he took his 2008 Prius into a local Toyota dealership about two weeks ago for service and gave workers there his recall notice. He said he was told his car wasn't on the recall list.

"I'll be back there tomorrow," he said Monday, visibly shaken up.

CHP spokesman Brian Pennings said the ordeal lasted just over 20 minutes.

"We are extremely thankful that there was a safe end to this," Pennings said.

A Toyota spokesman issued a statement Monday night saying the automaker had been notified of the incident.

"Toyota has dispatched a field technical specialist to San Diego to investigate the report and offer assistance," the statement said.

[Nephew]

I know on most cars while driving you can still move the shifter to neutral while driving with out have to apply the brakes even. Is that not possible in newer cars?

[kryg]

I would think you can shift while driving still

[h4x0r1337]

probably possible, but people arne't all that smart in panic moments... *shrug*

[croat]

Newer cars dont have the same options as the ones in the past - and remember that everything is computer controlled on this thing.

Also of course it can go this fast - its still a gas engine vehicle.

[Nephew]

Newer cars dont have the same options as the ones in the past - and remember that everything is computer controlled on this thing.

I realize that, but a steering wheel is still mechanical, not electronic, same with the the gas/brake pedals and transmission. It's still metal on metal just because it's more reliable. The last thing you want while trying to steer is have the software crash and have no control over the car.

I remember reading how a car manufacture was trying to experiment with using a joy stick to replace the steering wheel AND the gas/brake pedals. Tilt it forward accelerate, pull it back it slows down and obviously tilt it left or right to turn, but it was all based on electronics was proven to be unreliable for that reason.

[croat]

False.

The steering wheel is still mechanical however the accelerator is not - it has a physical part however its controlled via the ECU (computer) and does not have a manual/physical cable from the pedal to the throttle body like conventional cars have. Also transmissions are making their way the same - and in this case where there are assisted electronic motors as part of the drive train .... it has to be electronically controlled only.

[Nephew]

I stand corrected

[croat]

Yea - accelerator/braking/cruise/etc are all controlled by the computer in the Prius hence why they are having these problems.

This is the THS inverter that controls the Prius (post 2010 models)

[ry]

my next vehicle:

[croat]

Heh .... wont pass crash safety tests

[kryg]

with a top speed of 20mph I dont think it has to

[Josh]

if he was really that worried about the fast paced driving, he should have first yanked on the emergency brake, and if that failed, you say fuk it and throw the bitch in reverse.

[croat]

with a top speed of 20mph I dont think it has to

Till the SUV turns you into a cube!

[kryg]

I think the transmission shifting is also computer controlled you can request it shift into Neutral or reverse but your at he mercy of SKYnet if it will or not.