In what seemed like a freak accident, Charles Martins, 32, a taxi driver, was trapped in his car, driving (0) AT 210 kph for 100 kilometers in rush hour traffic.
‘I took my foot 1 the accelerator but it had jammed, so the car did not slow 2 At first, with my foot on the brake, I was doing a steady 110 kph. I managed to get 3 the police on my phone to ask for help but then I 4 see smoke coming from the brakes. At that point, my speed went right up again and I had to concentrate 5 trying not to crash. I remember thinking I was going to die’.
Martins was followed 6 several police cars and a helicopter as he tried to avoid other traffic. His journey only ended when he crashed into a barrier. Amazingly, he managed to escape unhurt.
However, after extensive tests on the car, 7 mechanical defects were found and Martins was arrested on suspicion 8 dangerous driving.