Runaway Toyota Prius incident in California now under federal investigation

Toyota said its nspectors are also trying to determine what caused the 2008 Prius to surge uncontrollably as it was being driven by owner James Sikes, age 61.

The high-speed incident, which involved a dramatic pursuit by a highway patrol car, has raised new questions about the automaker’s damaging string of recent recalls and whether Toyota has done enough to address consumer complaints about unintended acceleration that have damaged its reputation and sales.

The Prius was taken to a Toyota dealership in El Cajon, California, where Toyota investigators were examining the car, Toyota spokeswoman Celeste Migliore said.

A CHP spokesman in San Diego said the cause of the runaway car incident remains under investigation. “We do not have any initial findings at this point,” she said.

A Toyota spokesman said the carmaker believe the steps it had taken should address the problems with reported unintended acceleration if repairs were completed properly.