Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Date: Feb. 25, 2007
Victim: Anne Ezal
Location: Pismo Beach, Calif.
Model: 2005 Toyota Camry
Details: Bulent Ezal had just pulled into a bluff-top parking lot above Pismo Beach shortly after 1 p.m. on a blustery Sunday, heading to lunch at Pelican Point Restaurant. He and his wife of 46 years, Anne, had driven to the ocean from Bakersfield the previous day for a weekend of taking in the views over the Pacific, the Pismo Beach Police report recounted.
But as Ezal steered toward an open parking space, the 2006 Camry "went out of control and accelerated uncontrollably," the retired engineer would recall later to police questioning him about the terrifying incident.
The car crashed through two barriers and plunged 75 feet into the surf, killing Anne and leaving the sedan in a crumpled mass amid the rocky shoals, according to the police report and bystanders' pictures.
Rescue workers cut Bulent Ezal out from behind the steering wheel of the car and retrieved 71-year-old Anne Ezal's lifeless body, lifting it up the steep slope with ropes and pulleys. The laborious effort was captured by bystanders' photos, which are now part of a lawsuit filed by Bulent Ezal and his son against Toyota.
Pismo Beach Police attributed the accident to "driver error." The 2005 Camry has not been recalled.
-- Stuart Pfeifer, Carol J. Williams and Robert Faturechi
Victim: Anne Ezal
Location: Pismo Beach, Calif.
Model: 2005 Toyota Camry
Details: Bulent Ezal had just pulled into a bluff-top parking lot above Pismo Beach shortly after 1 p.m. on a blustery Sunday, heading to lunch at Pelican Point Restaurant. He and his wife of 46 years, Anne, had driven to the ocean from Bakersfield the previous day for a weekend of taking in the views over the Pacific, the Pismo Beach Police report recounted.
But as Ezal steered toward an open parking space, the 2006 Camry "went out of control and accelerated uncontrollably," the retired engineer would recall later to police questioning him about the terrifying incident.
The car crashed through two barriers and plunged 75 feet into the surf, killing Anne and leaving the sedan in a crumpled mass amid the rocky shoals, according to the police report and bystanders' pictures.
Rescue workers cut Bulent Ezal out from behind the steering wheel of the car and retrieved 71-year-old Anne Ezal's lifeless body, lifting it up the steep slope with ropes and pulleys. The laborious effort was captured by bystanders' photos, which are now part of a lawsuit filed by Bulent Ezal and his son against Toyota.
Pismo Beach Police attributed the accident to "driver error." The 2005 Camry has not been recalled.
-- Stuart Pfeifer, Carol J. Williams and Robert Faturechi