The runaway Prius story is just full of FAIL.
The driver didn't know he could put the car in neutral with a flick of his wrist, or push and hold the starter button to kill the engine.
The police officer which talked to him over the loudspeaker told him to use the emergency brakes--did the police officer know to suggest neutral or killing the engine?
There is no excuse for a sticky throttle pedal. But there is also no excuse for not knowing how to control your vehicle. It is lucky that in this case, somehow the ignorance didn't cause injury or death.
