"At 15th and Grangeville I couldn't get the brakes to stop. And I was just pressing really hard on the brakes, as hard as I could press with both feet. I was pressing as hard as I could. I was going about 55-60, and I, it just didn't do any good. I went right on through the intersection and hit the Cal-Trans truck right on the driver's side."
The minivan caught fire on impact. Lynda, her husband and her 16-year-old grandson were helped out of the burning vehicle by passersby. Her grandson was not hurt. Lynda suffered a variety of cuts, bruises, and broken bones in her feet. She's had surgery and it may be months before she can walk.
She's a CPA. Her husband, David Beardsley, a retired bus driver, is home from the hospital. He suffered cuts and bruises from the impact of the air bag. He said he remembers telling Linda to slow down when he saw the stop sign.
"She said, I have both feet on the brakes and this thing's not going to stop. All I could see is we were heading toward that truck. We're not gonna stop. We're gonna hit that truck," said Beardsley.
Damage to the Cal-Trans truck was minimal. The Highway Patrol has not completed a report on this accident. Lynda blames it on the brakes. "I believe the brakes failed. That's my opinion."
Lynda bought the vehicle new, two years ago in Hanford. She says it's been serviced regularly and only has 14-thousand miles on it. We examined the vehicle at the tow yard, and the brake pedal wouldn't move. In a written response, a Toyota spokesperson told us. "It would be premature for us to comment until we get more details about the accident and have a chance to inspect the vehicle. I am not aware of any Sienna brake problems."
Lynda is aware that her claims will be questioned. But says, her injuries should prove, she tried to stop. "I don't see how I could have broken both of my feet without them being on the brake. I think my feet speak for themselves."
The accident occurred on Saturday while the family was on their way to the 7th Day Adventist Church. It had rained the night before, but because the CHP accident report is not available we don't know if that was a factor.
No alerts or recalls of Toyota Sienna's because of braking problems have been issued. The Toyota spokesperson says the company will inspect the vehicle to try and figure out if the brakes were the problem.
