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SAN DIEGO - Toyota USA is directing all its dealers to inspect their new, used and loaner vehicles in response to a Santee-area car crash that killed a California Highway Patrol officer and three members of his family, apparently after an improperly installed floor mat caused the vehicle's accelerator to become stuck.
In a prepared statement released Monday, the carmaker announced that all Lexus and Toyota dealers would immediately examine their fleets "to assure that any floor mat, whether factory or aftermarket, is correct for the vehicle and properly installed and secured."
Preliminary evidence suggests that the wrong model of all-weather rubber mat was in place on the driver's side of a 2009 Lexus ES 350 being driven by CHP Officer Mark Saylor at the time of the Aug. 28 accident on state Route 125.
The crash killed Saylor and his wife, Cleofe, both 45; their 13-year-old daughter, Mahala; and Cleofe Saylor's brother, 38-year-old Chris Lastrella.
About 6:30 that evening, a 911 dispatcher received an emergency call from back-seat passenger Lastrella, who reported that the sedan's accelerator was stuck.
Moments later, the Lexus, a loaner vehicle from an El Cajon dealership, careened through the T-intersection at the end of state Route 125 at Mission Gorge Road at high speed, struck a Ford Explorer, plowed through a picket fence, went over an embankment and came to rest in the bed of the San Diego River.
The car then burst into flames, burning the occupants beyond recognition.
In 2007, Toyota, which manufactures the Lexus line of vehicles, conducted a safety recall on all-weather floor mats for late-model Camry and ES 350 models, due to the potential that the accessories could interfere with the cars' accelerator pedals if improperly used, according to the automaker.
"Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. takes public safety very seriously and will fully cooperate with any investigation," the company stated.
SAN DIEGO - Toyota USA is directing all its dealers to inspect their new, used and loaner vehicles in response to a Santee-area car crash that killed a California Highway Patrol officer and three members of his family, apparently after an improperly installed floor mat caused the vehicle's accelerator to become stuck.
In a prepared statement released Monday, the carmaker announced that all Lexus and Toyota dealers would immediately examine their fleets "to assure that any floor mat, whether factory or aftermarket, is correct for the vehicle and properly installed and secured."
Preliminary evidence suggests that the wrong model of all-weather rubber mat was in place on the driver's side of a 2009 Lexus ES 350 being driven by CHP Officer Mark Saylor at the time of the Aug. 28 accident on state Route 125.
The crash killed Saylor and his wife, Cleofe, both 45; their 13-year-old daughter, Mahala; and Cleofe Saylor's brother, 38-year-old Chris Lastrella.
About 6:30 that evening, a 911 dispatcher received an emergency call from back-seat passenger Lastrella, who reported that the sedan's accelerator was stuck.
Moments later, the Lexus, a loaner vehicle from an El Cajon dealership, careened through the T-intersection at the end of state Route 125 at Mission Gorge Road at high speed, struck a Ford Explorer, plowed through a picket fence, went over an embankment and came to rest in the bed of the San Diego River.
The car then burst into flames, burning the occupants beyond recognition.
In 2007, Toyota, which manufactures the Lexus line of vehicles, conducted a safety recall on all-weather floor mats for late-model Camry and ES 350 models, due to the potential that the accessories could interfere with the cars' accelerator pedals if improperly used, according to the automaker.
"Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. takes public safety very seriously and will fully cooperate with any investigation," the company stated.
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