Henrico County Manager Virgil Hazelett says earlier this month, a police investigator was driving a Toyota Camry from Henrico's police fleet when the car suddenly accelerated.
We know faulty gas pedals on these cars are a problem across the country, but not after they've supposedly been fixed.
"There is so much mystery involving Toyotas", says Hazelett.
And the mystery behind its reported mechanical failures has this county manager scratching his head. Why? Henrico police's fleet of cars include seven Camrys primarily used by investigators. Hazelett says the all the Camrys on the fleet were recalled, taken in for repairs on March 2nd, returned on March 3rd and a few days later, a police officer drove one of the cars and it rapidly accelerated.
We asked "Isn't that bizarre"? Hazelett replied, "It's difficult to understand".
Hazelett says Henrico County acquired the cars over the past several years and has never had a problem with the cars until after this repair was made.
Since then, all seven cars have been out of commission and parked in the county's depot.
"We have to get through this like everyone else to determine what the problem", says Hazelett.
He says it's under investigation.
"I'm not sure if I personally or professionally accept the fact that these are true incidents. Certainly there are incidents. We know that, but we don't know what causes them and that's what has to be straightened out", says Hazelett.
CBS 6 checked with the Richmond Police Department to see if they have any Toyotas on their fleet, and they said no.
As for why Henrico has foreign cars on their fleet. Hazelett says purchases are based on the cost of the car and what they're used for, plus some Toyotas are made in America.
We know faulty gas pedals on these cars are a problem across the country, but not after they've supposedly been fixed.
"There is so much mystery involving Toyotas", says Hazelett.
And the mystery behind its reported mechanical failures has this county manager scratching his head. Why? Henrico police's fleet of cars include seven Camrys primarily used by investigators. Hazelett says the all the Camrys on the fleet were recalled, taken in for repairs on March 2nd, returned on March 3rd and a few days later, a police officer drove one of the cars and it rapidly accelerated.
We asked "Isn't that bizarre"? Hazelett replied, "It's difficult to understand".
Hazelett says Henrico County acquired the cars over the past several years and has never had a problem with the cars until after this repair was made.
Since then, all seven cars have been out of commission and parked in the county's depot.
"We have to get through this like everyone else to determine what the problem", says Hazelett.
He says it's under investigation.
"I'm not sure if I personally or professionally accept the fact that these are true incidents. Certainly there are incidents. We know that, but we don't know what causes them and that's what has to be straightened out", says Hazelett.
CBS 6 checked with the Richmond Police Department to see if they have any Toyotas on their fleet, and they said no.
As for why Henrico has foreign cars on their fleet. Hazelett says purchases are based on the cost of the car and what they're used for, plus some Toyotas are made in America.
