Michael Hastings' Inferno

[Minstrel]

have you considered the possibility that his right foot was not on the brake, and that forward momentum force caused the brake pedal to continue moving forward while the vehicle itself came to a sudden stop, thus turning on the brake lights, upon impact? I would certainly think that a momentum force sufficient to extract and launch and engine and transmission from a vehicle would surely be enough to push a brake pedal forward at impact.

Also, note that the switch to activate the brake lights is on the shaft of the brake pedal, so the brake pedal can be depressed, turning the lights on, while at the same time no braking force is applied, for example in the case of a severed, broken, or disconnected brake line not activating the actual brake calipers.

There are also methods whereby a car can be accelerated without actually activating the accelerator pedal.


Just some things to think about, things that may be interconnected.

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I accept the explanations you've posed as other possibilities.

I think, though, that - were either of these to be genuinely considered, one would want to answer 'why' (neither of) these mechanisms did not activate the brake lights when the car hit the ground (after launching at the hump in the intersection of North Highlands Ave. & Melrose Ave.), went out of control, a correction maneuver was employed, and the wheel/s encountering the median curb.

As you say, though - it's worth consideration.
Thanks.