Witnesses saw flames coming from the front and rear tires of the speeding 2009 Lexus ES 350 before it crashed Aug. 28 in Santee, suggesting “long, constant heavy braking,” said Sgt. Scott Hill, the lead sheriff’s investigator.
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Hill said the evidence shows that there was prolonged “heavy, heavy, hard braking.”
“He did everything he could to stop that car,” he said.
Quite theatrical, sounds like something Hollywood would write.. problem is that the brake material will withstand a very high temperature, and will smoke instead of bursting into flames. Most brake fluid except DOT-6 will boil before the brakes get to the temperature that they would ignite. Also realize that an ES 350 is a 3.5 litre V6… not a V8 and it is not even turbocharged. In addition, the front disks will get considerably hotter than the rear (brake bias).
As just previously posted too… how about neutral. And I add.. how about off? How about trying the test yourself and seeing if it works or not.
Someone also left out one of the statements on the same posting:
A preliminary investigation into the fiery crash that killed a California Highway Patrol officer and three family members indicates it may have been caused by an accelerator trapped by a floor mat, said Sheriff’s Department officials.
If you have run-away acceleration and decide to use the brakes to maintain speed but not stop the vehicle, you can fade them to nothing.. but they will smoke and not ignite… and you may have boiled the brake fluid which means you will have a very spongy feeling brake with almost no resistance.. but not ignition.
