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US woman survives runaway vehicle scare

An Iowa woman has been caught-up in a police chase in Missouri as local state troopers tried to help the woman stop her 2011 Kia Sorento that allegedly had had its accelerator become stuck while travelling at more than 160km/h.


Lori Ubelstad, reportedly aged 47, told police that after initial attempts to stop the car failed, including calling her husband for help, she dialed 911.

Two troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrived just in time to see - and record - the action unfold on Interstate 35, with one trooper following the stray Kia Sorento while the other focused on clearing a path in front of the vehicle.

Troopers followed the Koren SUV for more than 30 minutes over a distance of about 95km before the vehicle came to a stop in Iowa, near the Iowa-Missouri border. Reports say the engine was still running and police were not sure what caused the car to finally stop.

 

According to police, the Sorento’s brakes were burnt out, the gearbox had failed and Ubelstad was unable to remove the car’s key as the vehicle employs a push button start ignition system.

Much of the event was reminiscent of a local 2009 event that saw police involved when 22-year-old Chase Weir claimed he couldn’t deactivate the cruise control of his 2002 Ford Explorer while traveling on Victoria’s Eastern Freeway.

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