Houston children injured when Texas driver hits gas pedal in error

In the wake of all the reports of unintended acceleration accidents that have surfaced since Toyota’s massive recall for floor mat pedal entrapment and sticky throttles claim, it is easy to blame the vehicle when something goes wrong.  However, human error is still a predominant cause of auto accidents, as evidenced in a recent crash involving a driver who pressed the gas pedal by mistake.

It happened at a Houston area Pizza Hut when a 73 year old woman parked in a handicap parking space in front of the restaurant pushed down on her accelerator pedal instead of her brake pedal.  This caused her vehicle to surge forward, seriously injuring two children.

One 9 year old boy was trapped under the woman’s car, and had to be freed by EMS workers.  He was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he is being treated for his injuries, including a collapsed young.

The other child, an 11 year old girl, was inside the restaurant when the crash happened.  She received cuts on her face from broken glass and was taken to the hospital in a private vehicle.  The driver of the vehicle was not injured in collision, and was given a medical evaluation at the scene.

It is unknown at this time if it was simple driver error or if some other factor or factors was or were involved in this crash.  Drivers can push the wrong pedal for a variety of reasons, but when it happens and causes serious injury, the driver must be held accountable and the victims fairly compensated.