Last week my BIL went with his granddaughter to test drive an older used pickup she was interested in. Supposedly the engine had just been rebuilt. He took it to a shop for a checkover and the mechanic told him to not touch it as it had some 'issues'. He was driving it back at 60 on the freeway when the throttle took over and went to top speed. He switched off the key but it didn't kill the engine. He had both feet on the brake and the fronts locked up while the rears kept pushing. He almost went under the rear of a semi but was able to get it to the shoulder with the brakes smoking like crazy. One he got it stopped, with the rears still spinning, he put it in N, then to P. At that point, the engine finally shut off.

He called the owner who threatened to report it as stolen if he didn't return it immediately. He has AAA so he had it towed back to the guy's house. The guy then threatened to sue him if the pickup was damaged in any way. I think if he tried that, he would be biting off more than he can chew. My BIL was more than PO'd by this time.

I wonder how many other people will test drive this thing before someone gets killed.

Let us know how this turns out.

Was it a Uber Yellow Avalanche?

His BEST course of action would have been to LEAVE the damned thing there on the side of the highway, and when the deputy showed up relate to him exactly what happened.

GTC

Man, that's scary! Good thing the grand kid wasn't driving.

That's exactly what I would have done. My BIL is nicer than me.

Some people are just TOO nice.........

whats the details on the truck? make, year, etc.

Were it not a public road,....rather a location where there were no risk or hazard, that potential man-killer just very well might have caught fire, were I involved.

Your BIL SHOULD report this to his S.O., or Id. DOT .

GTC

I know in the heat of the moment you go with what you know, but I think I would have went for putting it in neutral first.

Not sure how I'd handle getting it back to the owner. If he threatened me with reporting it stolen, I'd call the police immediately and tell them about the situation.

Not to get after your bil bit why didn't he put it in "N" when it wouldn't shut off?

I don't know other than it's about 30 years old. He's in WA and I'm a long way from there.

Diesel by any chance? I've been around some runaway diesels,
not funny.

Gas.

That's crazy! I woulda called dude and when he spazzed out I woulda called the police and told them the story then called my wife to come and get me and that POS would be on the side of the road. I worry about getting my car home if its stranded but not someone else's junk unless they are stranded and need help.

at least he was smart enough to turn off the engine, who knows why that didn't stop it...

don't understand why when this happens, people freak out and just don't try turning off the ignition, or just slipping the trans into neutral...