Police Rule Out Mechanical Failure After Toyota Slams Into YMCASHEBOYGAN FALLS, Wis. --For the first time, newly released security camera video shows a Toyota Camry slamming into a Sheboygan Falls YMCA on March 29.The driver, 76-year-old Myrna Marseille, claimed the recently recalled car took off on its own, but police said they are now confident they know the real cause. They have all but ruled out a mechanical failure in the crash. The proof, they say, is in the video.Marseille was seriously injured and told 12 News at the time that the car took off on it's own."The car shot forward and hit the wall," Marseille said.Marseille's car had recently been repaired as part of the Toyota recall."We immediately recognized, especially the make and model of this vehicle, that this could have implications," said Chief Steven Riffel of the Sheboygan Falls Police Department.But police now say the crash was likely caused by operator error, not a faulty accelerator pedal."She was adamant at the beginning that she applied the brake," said Riffel. "Obviously by the video and the information we have from our inspections, is not what occurred."When police looked at the video, they could make out brake lights, but not until after the impact.A crash investigation unit from the State Patrol and a team from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found nothing mechanically wrong with the car.When asked if police were able to completely rule out a random acceleration, Riffel replied, "It's a constant speed. It does not stop, it does now slow. It jumps a curb."A final report from the NHTSA could take months, but police are comfortable saying this was a case of operator error.Marseille, could not be reached for comment.Police said they have not decided if Marseille will face charges for the crash.
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