Two investigators from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and representatives from Toyota Motor Corps. went to San Diego on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 to examine the details of an incident in which a Prius apparently sped out of control on a California freeway.

The two groups join inquiries already in progress by the California Highway Patrol regarding a Prius driven by James Sikes, 61. The owner received a recall notice for the 2008 model, but was told by his dealership that the car was not on the list of 2004-2009 models suffering from a loose floor mat issue that could cause entrapment of the accelerator pedal.

Monday, March 8, while passing another vehicle on the highway near San Diego, Sikes said the Prius accelerated out of control and remained in that condition for approximately 20 minutes, covering more than 30 miles.

Sikes dialed 911 and a highway patrol officer was dispatched. The officer pulled alongside Sikes and instructed him to use the emergency brakes and regular brakes and to cut the ignition, which Sikes did when the car's speed fell to 50 mph.

"I pushed the gas pedal to pass a car and it did something kind of funny," said Sikes, while speaking to reporters. "It jumped and it just stuck there. As it was going, I was trying the brakes . . . It wasn't stopping."

Since 2007, unintended acceleration in both Toyota and Lexus models have been tied to five deaths, with an additional 47 incidents currently under investigation.