Greg Gill swerves around other cars into the left side of this image. (Image CBS Local screenshot)
Over the weekend, a Colorado man crashed his vehicle at speeds topping at 100 miles per hour when he couldn’t stop it due to a stuck accelerator pedal.
Greg Gill, CBS Local reports, drove 25 miles on I-70 with the stuck pedal, calling 911 for help along the way Saturday just before noon. Thanks to the patrol cars keeping traffic away from the runaway vehicle, Gill and no one else was injured after he crashed into an officer’s SUV.
“I flew by vehicles and went into the right median and the left median and everything I could do to just get around people without causing any kind of accidents,” Gill said according to CBS Local. “Fortunately there were no accidents; no one was injured at all.”
Watch the report:
In this report from the local NBC affiliate, you can hear emergency responders saying Gill’s brakes were to the floor:
“I’m lucky to be alive and everyone on I-70 an US-40 is lucky to be alive,” Gill said.
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Comments (136)
Stoic one
Aug. 20, 2012 at 4:15pmIf a car I was driving would not turn off, would not shift into neutral, had a ‘locked’ accelerator: the damned thing would be into a guard rail or ditch BEFORE I was ten miles over the seed limit.
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Miami
Aug. 20, 2012 at 5:08pmI agree there are far to many people behind the wheel that have no idea what to do in case of a what if. People who flip the cars after a flat tire / blow out at speed. Or lose control when they hit water puddle in the road.
Driving is a privilege not a right, cars have improved leaps and bounds, to the point where the common street car is more powerful that race cars from years ago and drivers are less prepared than bicycle rider.
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hallkbrdz
Aug. 20, 2012 at 5:27pmWhat – no one out there has the knee-jerk reaction to ban automatic transmissions now?
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IvanK
Aug. 20, 2012 at 5:33pmLook, I understand that people can’t think very well when in super high stress situations but wouldn’t a person think to simply kill the ignition switch? Heck, the guy was on the phone with 911. You would think the 911 operator would suggest dropping the car into neutral and then kill the ignition? Come on people!
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hifi74
Aug. 20, 2012 at 6:24pmKilling the ignition switch will typically lock your steering wheel. Thats a bad idea. throwing the shifter into neutral is your best best. You may blow up the engine but its a far cry better then hitting a wall or other people.
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dave928
Aug. 20, 2012 at 7:38pmTurning off the ignition does NOT lock your steering if you only turn it back one notch. DON’T turn it all the way off as if to take the keys out. Automatic transmissions are NOT made to lock you out of going to Neutral when moving. Most, if not all automatics made now only prevent you from going PAST neutral into reverse. Bottom line is this. You have got to be a little smarter than the piece of equipment you’re operating. Looks like they’re going to have to start teaching mechanics in Drivers Ed class..
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teddrunk
Aug. 20, 2012 at 8:09pmI had that happen on my ’64 Skylark. Turns out it was broken motor mounts, jammed the throttle linkage.
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Miami
Aug. 20, 2012 at 8:34pmWhat one should do in case of a stuck accelerator is. put the car in neutral and kick/stomp on it. If that does not work, kill the engine and restart it. ( digital Fuel Injection ) should reset the computer. Drop it back in gear and find a safe place to pullover.
Turn the motor off as a last resort, it will kill your power steering
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Ishmot2
Aug. 20, 2012 at 8:39pmAre we sure his boyfriend wasn’t in his lap making the driver pin the gas pedal to the floor? He was not going 100 miles and hour when he hit the patrol car, that car would have been destroyed a heck of a lot worse then it was. What a moron!
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inblack
Aug. 20, 2012 at 8:49pmI’m not buying it.
Turn the key off, take it out of gear, apply the brakes – none of that worked?
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COFemale
Aug. 20, 2012 at 8:55pmYou must realize this can happen instantly with no warning and your acceleration goes up very rapidly. This has been an ongoing problem with all vehicles since 1968. I had a 1970 Mustang. I got into the car started it up and suddenly the engine revved up instantly. I tried to pull the accelerator up nothing happened. Luckily I was parked and had the emergency break on. When nothing else worked I turned the car off. Scared me to death. I waited 20 minutes before I turned the car back on.
The car industry knows this happens on occasion, but not enough to fix the problem. They bank on it not happening and not having to recall millions of vehicles. There is a design flaw and they won’t fix it.
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Miami
Aug. 20, 2012 at 8:59pminblack
What are you not buying?
Taking a car out of gear… what’s driving it?
Like I said killing the motor is a last resort, you will lose power steering and power brakes come to think of it.
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Bowlz
Aug. 20, 2012 at 10:03pmI question if this happened the way this guy said it did. An accelerator getting stuck is one thing, but his brakes not working also?????????? The manufacturer and/or the insurance company will likely hire a forensic engineer to do a cause and origin investigation since it made national news. If he just had work done on it, that shop will become a subrogation target. People have done some goofy things to get out of a car payment or a lease. Hope I’m wrong and glad nobody got hurt
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Snidely
Aug. 20, 2012 at 10:37pmI agree with not turning off the engine. Granted, it should not lock the steering wheel without being in park. But, you would lose power steering and brakes. That could be important in the mountains. Fuel injected cars have rev limiters, so damaging the engine shouldn’t be too much of a concern. I can’t figure out why the dispatcher didn’t tell him to put it in neutral and apply the brakes, though. (Although, he didn’t really look like a car guy.)
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Phil Bickel
Aug. 20, 2012 at 11:37pmThere is no reason a car won’t go into neutral. It happen to me in a brand new rented Ford WindStar in San Diego in 2003. It took me all of 2 seconds to ge the car into neutral and turn it off. Is Ray LaHood going to demand we all park our GM cars now, ( Oh, yeah, GM is owned by the UAW and the govt. ), so no, that won’t happen.
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old white guy
Aug. 21, 2012 at 8:01amstoic. i agree. one would be a poor driver if he did not know how to slip the transmission into neutral. ignitions don’t lock while the engine is running unless there is a serious malfunction. engage the clutch in a manual transmission and put it in neutral, let the engine rev until it quits if necessary. there is no need for anyone to be in danger.
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Smokepole
Aug. 20, 2012 at 4:12pmIf you’re an Obama voter and this happens to you (like Greggie most certainly is) make certain that the car is at top speed and then plow into the nearest bridge abutment.
You will save all surrounding drivers and America!
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jungle J
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:57pmdope has destroyed much of the American mind.
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Kupo
Aug. 20, 2012 at 5:06pmwtf are you babbling about?
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dave928
Aug. 20, 2012 at 7:40pmNot as much dope as it has been the “dumbing down” of America. Making products (cars included) so easy to operate that people forget how to really OPERATE them. Especially when something simple goes wrong.
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JACKTHETOAD
Aug. 20, 2012 at 10:06pmYour and KUPOs two comments should be enshrined somewhere. ROTFLMAO!
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THX-1138
Aug. 21, 2012 at 9:10am@dave928
I write software and 25 years ago, when I was young and foolish(er), an old programmer told me, “If you make software so easy to use that an idiot can use it… They will.”
I’ll never forget it.
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ed0315
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:49pmWho really needs to comment any further than the interview with this “guy”. Are you freaking serious? Guaranteed an Obama voter. Didn’t even try to put the car in neutral? Are you serious? I could just hear him screaming in the car “Oh Jesus!” “Oh Jesus!”……..
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jake-spoon
Aug. 20, 2012 at 5:52pmLawsuit.
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Prochef
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:41pmAsk “Mr Bearnaise” about the toyota problems just as Obama was taking gm.
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AngryDwarf
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:39pmGuy is very lucky. Had this happened on Sunday it would have been vey ugly.
I used to live in Empire, the stretch of I-70 from there to Floyd Hill is not laid out for high speed driving.
I’ll stay on the frontage road.
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Frogginit
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:31pmAnybody who is too stupid to shift to neutral or turn off the ignition shouldn’t be behind the wheel.
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mharry860
Aug. 20, 2012 at 4:07pmThank you!
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Landon410
Aug. 20, 2012 at 4:09pmhaha no kidding, at that point who cares if you burn out the trans by shifting into neutral, you wont kill anyone, or create the possibility of something like that happening, this guy was lucky.
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pavnvet
Aug. 20, 2012 at 4:30pmYou would not likely burn out the trans, but blow the motor because of over revving. Although most vehicle computers today will shut down the motor when it is over revved. Neutral then the emerency brake..that’s why they call it an emergency brake. Duh.
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Patriottoo
Aug. 20, 2012 at 4:35pmAgree with shifting into neutral, but turning off the ignition should be done only after the car had come to a complete stop. People may panic and lock the steering wheel by turning the key too far.
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shakedowncrews
Aug. 20, 2012 at 4:59pmI think, if you would actually listen to the recording, you would hear the 911 dispatch say that he had tried shifting into other gears including reverse and it would not respond.
I’m curious to know if he tried to turn it off…ah the wonders of modern automotive engineering
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MeteoricLimbo
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:28pmCommon sense is gone! duh
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iblvingd
Aug. 20, 2012 at 4:21pmJust what happened to Common Sense? I grew up thinking everyone used common sense? So what happened…is this where the reprogramming of Americans to Useful Idots came into play?
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Tx1patriot
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:13pmI remember when the Toyota scare was going on, the Toyota name was first and prominent on every story.
This was a Pontiac G-6, ie government motors, and I have yet to see it mentioned.
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woodyee
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:30pmAhh, sooo…
Gaybama Motors…I’m quite shocked the Blaze even found the story! This will be there…4TH RECALL this year? I’m not sure…
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pissantno.10
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:36pmwell i guess to be fair they had push button switches and not real sure that is the best way to go for an ingniton system. they use contact blocks on the back of the switch and they will fail or get dirt on the contacts and to be real fair if the guy was useing a after market key say from wally world it may have jammed
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woodyee
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:09pmWhat was the make of the car?
UPDATE?
What was the make/model of the car?!?!
Dang – good reporters are hard to come by nowadays….Who? What? When? Where? How? Why?
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OneTermPresident
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:32pmIt’s a Government Motors Pontiac G Series model. You can see the Pontiac insignia on the grill in the video… The big red arrow.
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Conservative2
Aug. 21, 2012 at 1:20amActually the Pontiac was eliminated by GM as it turned into Government Motors, so this Pontiac G6 was prior to Government motors, still made buy the trusty AFLCIO Union tho………..
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billrow
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:09pmI’ve had stuck acelerators several times especially in my mom’s Mercury station wagon.
Even at 16 years old I knew to just shift into neutral and turn off the key.
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FreedomWitness
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:07pmCome on, something is really wrong with this fairy tale of a story.
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jake-spoon
Aug. 20, 2012 at 6:03pmFloor mat on the accelerator.Loose nut behind the wheel.I’m cynical,I believe it’s about getting paid.
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floridareader
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:05pmThat is why I love standard gear shift cars. You are in control, not the car computer. Thank God the nobody is injured.
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hawkeyez
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:00pmTurn the ignition off.
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OneTermPresident
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:20pmMy thoughts exactly… 25 miles without thinking of it…? YIKES.
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KevINtampa
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:54pmSigh.
If you are in an out of control vehicle, before dialing 911 make sure you have done the following:
1. Mash the break.
2. Activate the parking brake.
3. Take the car out of gear.
a. If still accelerates in neutral or park, put it in 1st gear.
b. Sequentially lower the gears if you have the option. If you’re using the overdrive belt disengage it. Put it in 3rd. Put it in 2nd. Put it in 1st. If you haven’t blow the tranny and you’re still accelerating put it back in neutral and leave it there.
4. Turn the key off.
5. If your fuse box is accessible, some are located on the driver side right by the knee and easily accessible, flip it open and rip’em all out.
6. Call 9-1-1 and tell them to send an ambulance to where you are ditching.
7. Don’t be afraid to side brush any side railings or dividers. Get the car against the rail and turn into it for as long and as hard as you can.
8. Don’t put the lives of others below your own, do the best you can to get off the road.
9. Pray.
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pissantno.10
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:06pmsheezz how you expect me to rember all dat . i suppose put den dar christmas lights on too blink blink
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Smokepole
Aug. 20, 2012 at 4:03pmOverdrive belt…really?
Wait, get back to the burgers… They’re burning!
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tajloc
Aug. 20, 2012 at 5:52pmEmergency lights duh
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oicu814me2
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:53pmEven if you hold the gas to the floor, if you swerve hard left to right you car will reduce speed. this will take a bit of driving skill. All cars will go in to neutral when driving. If all else fails turn the key 1/2 way off and hit the brake. Dont turn it all the way off because you can steer. I know its allways easy to be a back seat driver but come on he drove for miles with time to think about it.
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docgreen
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:59pmIf he did that, their wouldn’t be a story! I think its more in the lines of Govt Black Boxes in all cars!
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Master.Debater
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:44pmDoes Progressive offer idiot insurance?
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QuincySmith
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:49pmI have it on good authority they insure dingy hairy read~!
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pissantno.10
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:43pmwell it was a police suv sucked the poor guy into it still the suvs fault
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oicu814me2
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:56pmfrom the damage i see to the car, If he hit the suv at 100 miles and hour then the suv must have been going 95 miles an hour in the same direction.
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docgreen
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:57pmWhy not turn the key off? Why is it you have time to dial 911 when your cars out of control? I see more Govt. regulations and Black Boxes for every car in the Near Future!
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Detroit paperboy
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:41pmWell we know it wasn’t a Chevy volt……………
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Master.Debater
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:46pmIf it was, it would have burst into flames while it was racing out of control.
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pissantno.10
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:40pmwoops sorry it was and suv and we all know they have a mind of there own
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deeberj
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:39pmThis never happened before cars had computers.
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pissantno.10
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:38pmdummy turn off the key, or put it in neutral . zoom zoom will stop, flaming lib another product of our fine education system
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billrow
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:11pm@justanotheropinion: You might want to read up on glass houses braniac.
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pissantno.10
Aug. 20, 2012 at 3:13pmaw thanks coming from you its an honor. you get the other 14
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:37pmRATS!! Another flash video. I won’t get to watch this one on the iPad, either. Couldn’t the fellow just put the vehicle in neutral or turn off the ignition?
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afishfarted
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:45pmbelieve it or not, turning the ignition off can’t be done–depending on the manufacturer. I’ve seen instances when the driver did try to either put it in neutral and / or turn the ignition off. Couldn’t do it. It was like the sucker was possessed. The computer wouldn’t respond to those commands.
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:47pmNever mind. I went to the CBS-Denver site and red the comments (poor reporting if I have to read the comments o find answers). The guy allegedly could not shift the car and allegedly could not switch it off. They said the police checked the ignition and it would not turn. DUH, maybe after it crashed, it won’t turn? They said the accelerator was stuck due to a mechanical failure.
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Eric_The_Red_State
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:35pmHow stupid can you be to not turn off the KEY or put it in NEUTRAL or BRAKE —
25 miles stupid I guess.
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deeberj
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:40pmTurning off the key causes some cars to not be able to be steered. The steering wheel locks up if you turn it a certain amount.
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Slick Willie
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:41pmLOL…you beat me to it!! How simple a solution for this problem, but I guess under stress the brain doesn’t function very well!!!
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progressiveslayer
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:44pmMaybe he thought a government approved warning should have flashed instructing him how to proceed.
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Master.Debater
Aug. 20, 2012 at 2:34pmHey buddy! That “N” next to “D” stands for Neutral. Try it next time before you kill somebody.
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forthepeople
Aug. 20, 2012 at 5:06pm‘ turing the key off does not always work ‘ yeah maybe , but why not try it might work ?
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Mikev5
Aug. 20, 2012 at 6:27pmNot only that but did you notice he was wearing flip flops I bet that was the problem the flip flop got stuck in the pedal
This guy is a moron at best but he will never admit his stupidity
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