Legal news for New Hampshire automobile accident attorneys – Feds will look into a 2009 crash involving a Toyota Highlander that killed four for possible connections to acceleration problems.
Widow of man killed in Toyota-involved wreck wants deeper investigation into crash’s cause.
Concord, NH (www.NewYorkInjuryNews.com) – Federal investigators are planning to investigate an October 2009 crash to determine whether it was caused by a Toyota acceleration problem, as reported by the New Hampshire Union Leader.
Police reports on the Columbus Day crash stated 63-year-old Stephen Lagakos, a biostatistics professor at Harvard, was driving his 2002 Toyota Highlander north on Route 202 when he went into the breakdown lane to pass another vehicle. Lagakos then reportedly veered into the southbound lane and crashed into an oncoming Chevy Malibu, driven by Stephen Krause of Keene.
Police Chief Scott Guinard recalled the crash as the worst he had seen.
Lagakos, his wife Regina, his mother Helen and Malibu driver Krause died.
While police conducted an extensive investigation, the cause of the crash remained unclear.
Krause’s widow reportedly prodded federal officials to take another look at the crash, arguing something must have been missed. She even pointed to reports that Toyota vehicles were accelerating without explanation.
Two weeks ago, officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA) www.nhtsa.dot.gov, told Krause they were sending a team of engineers to inspect the Toyota Highlander Lagakos was driving.
Toyota reported it was working with federal officials, but did not discuss to what extent.
The organization said in a statement, “Toyota sympathizes with the individuals and families involved in any accident involving our vehicles.”
Legal News Reporter: Tara Monks – Legal news for New Hampshire automobile accident lawyers.