The wide-eyed breathless mainstream media acceptance of Jim Sikes' claim that his Toyota Prius accelerated unintentionally on a San Diego County freeway a week ago is evaporating...and all it took was a look at the facts (something we've been doing for.....oh, a week), and the release of a memo detailing the inspection of Sikes' Prius, which, in a nutshell says what he says happened...couldn't have.
The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) broke the story first on Saturday...quoting "three people familiar with the investigation" who say investigators found a particular pattern of wear on the brakes inconsistent with Sikes' story.
CBS followed up Sunday, reporting on a memo that says investigators "can't replicate the problems Sikes said he encountered." ABC News said essentially the same thing.
But if you want the full story, it's new media all the way. Jalopnik not only is reporting about the memo, it's published the entire thing....and its headline doesn't pull any punches either.
