A man serving eight years for vehicular homicide because of a fatal crash involving his 1996 Toyota Camry is hoping for exoneration amid concerns over unintended acceleration in some of Toyota’s vehicles. Koua Fong Lee has always maintained his innocence in the 2006 crash.
Lee told investigators that he pumped the brakes as he exited I-94 in St. Paul, Minnesota, and approached an intersection. But Ramsey County prosecutors claimed Lee had his foot on the gas as he approached cars waiting at a red light.
The car was moving at between 70 and 90 mph when it struck two other vehicles. Javis Adams, 33, and his 10-year-old son, Javis Adams Jr., were killed instantly. Another passenger, 6-year-old Devyn Bolton, was left paraplegic. She testified in a wheelchair at Lee’s trial and later died from her injuries.
Two mechanical engineers examined the car before trial on behalf of the state and the defense. Both concluded the brakes were operating and there were no problems with the acceleration. Although the throttle was found set open at 15 percent, which is unusual, the abnormality was attributed at the time to damage from the crash.
Bottom line, two experts — one for each side — said there was nothing wrong with the car.
A jury convicted Lee of criminal vehicular homicide and he was sentenced to eight years in prison. But he continues to maintain his innocence.
This situation should serve as a warning to anyone involved in an accident where technical judgment calls can make the difference between exoneration or years behind bars for the defendant. In these situations, you best be sure your lawyer has the training and experience to understand the critical technical details of the case, and then be able to explain them to a jury.