Toyota's Witness: Accelerator Pedal Was Pushed In Fatal Crash
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Toyota called its first witness in a federal lawsuit filed by two Minnesota families.
Attorneys for Koua Fong Lee and the Trice-Adams family rested their case after two weeks of testimony.
"It was very difficult for the families to relive it," Bob Hillard, the plaintiffs' attorney, said.
Hillard spent the last two weeks laying out a case of how a defect with Lee's Camry led to a deadly crash in 2006.
Expert witnesses explained how the accelerator of his 1996 Camry stuck moments before the crash.
Hillard also brought in witnesses who testified about acceleration issues with their older model Toyota vehicles that were not included in the massive recall.
But the lawsuit isn't just a case of automobile malfunction. It also addresses the damage caused to both families.
Victims from both the Lee and Trice-Adams families gave emotional testimony Tuesday.
"It's just as important as the defect itself," Hillard said. "Should they determine there's a defect, then they have to determine, OK, what happened as a result of it? So we have to go have evidence to support that."
But for Toyota, the crux of this case is driver error.
An expert witness testified that a bend in the metal of the accelerator pedal shows it was pushed down during the crash. Toyota argues that Lee mistook the brake for the accelerator.
The jury is expected to get the case early next week, bringing finality to a crash that happened eight years ago.
"The consequences of what happened are life long and they reverberate a lot," Hillard said.
Lee spent more than two years in jail after his Camry crashed into and killed two members of the Trice-Adams family. A third, paralyzed victim died at a later date.
Lee was released after the automaker's massive recall due to sudden acceleration problems.
Toyota did not want to comment in person but released a statement that read:
"We sympathize with the families affected by this unfortunate accident in 2006. Toyota is committed to providing its customers with safe and reliable vehicles, including the 1996 Camry driven by Mr. Lee. We are confident the evidence will show that his vehicle was well-designed and not the cause of this crash."