ST. CHARLES, Mo., Aug. 10 (UPI) -- A Missouri woman is dead after jumping out of a car that wouldn't slow down, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Marta Baier was driving with her son, Stephen, in St. Charles, Mo., Monday when the accelerator jammed on her Ford Escape and the two bailed out, the newspaper said.
Stephen, 16, suffered minor injuries but the 53-year-old Baier died after she hit her head on the pavement.
The SUV continued through an intersection and struck a pickup truck. That driver suffered minor injuries.
St. Charles police Capt. Gerry Pollard said people in that situation should not jump out.
He said to first put the vehicle in neutral and pump the brake.
He also warned against turning off the vehicle because most steering wheels will lock.
If that happens, Pollard said to turn the ignition back on but not enough to start the engine, which will unlock the steering wheel.
Ford recalled nearly 500,000 Escapes made between 2002 and 2004 in December for similar problems.
Baier's vehicle was not one of the recalled Escapes.
