My Thoughts: James Sikes

James Sikes is not convincing in the tale of his horrific ordeal that could have easily ended his life. I would immediately expect to see fear–regardless of when this interview was taken. Fear from a potentially life-threatening situation doesn’t resolve quickly, if ever. As humans, we have strong emotionally memories, even years later. Some last a lifetime. When we recollect a fearful situation, our faces remember it, too, and strangely for Sikes, his face has no memory.

Read moreWhen I watch Sikes speak, these are my thoughts:

1. The first thing Sikes says is, “Somehow it got stuck….I…I…I don’t know….I don’t know…” at which point he shrugs his shoulders in doubt. Why is he doubtful here?
2. Furthermore, while eye contact is almost never (99% of the time) a clue to deception, here his aversion to look at people is notable. It’s unusual behavior and not your typical “lack of eye contact or looking in a different direction as we think”. You can feel there is an aversion to look at others, a feeling like he just can’t do it. It doesn’t make sense.
3. Sikes clearly looks insecure, and I don’t think he is an insecure man. Why is he so insecure at a moment where the world is distrusting of Toyotas and would likely be on his side more than ever? If you are honest, this is a big oomph in your sails! This is a red flag for me.
4. Most people who experienced this terror would be certain about two things: the vehicle went crazy (out of control, nuts, had a mind of its own/something similar) and that it was scary (unnerving, frightening/something similar). Period. It’s really the two key elements I would expect to hear Sikes talk about for certain, and yet we don’t hear this at all. These are absent. Why?
5. I am flagged by the fact I do not see confidence about the facts, but I also don’t see any emotions: fear, horror, sadness, or any feeling one would experience when one is potentially facing death. Ninety miles an hour in a car with no ability to stop it is life-threatening no matter how you look at it. That evokes strong emotions. Period.
6. Sikes finishes the statement above with, “…somehow the pedal was stuck”. This flags me. How did he know the pedal was stuck? Cars can suddenly accelerate without a stuck gas pedal.

   I was in a runaway vehicle before and when you get out, you don’t have a clue what happened. You just know the damn car wouldn’t STOP! For me, the engine revved up undeniably. It stood out to me as a notable element. Sikes doesn’t talk about this at all. His details are sparse. If you pushed on the gas pedal, you wouldn’t notice the revving because it would be expected.

7. How come he assumes the pedal was stuck and doesn’t question anything else like the electronics? Or the brakes? Why doesn’t he leave it open to consideration? Most people who want to know the truth want to explore all potentials. One could argue that he just used the “stuck pedal” as a description, but I find it odd he doesn’t question any other potential.
8. Sikes continues, “It wasn’t sticking on anything that was visible.” Who can drive above 50 or faster, and take time to look at their feet and the gas pedal and still navigate the highway traffic? Anyone? Is this physically even possible? The thoughts scare me.
9. Look at the tensed-eyebrow expression Sikes makes at 0:19. You can see him thinking as he speaks. He is stressing here. The lack of fear with the stress is concerning. Ironically, when you listen to his 911 call which is odd in and of itself, he seems to express fear, yet in person, its strangely missing.
10. Sikes says, “I pulled to a point where I can feel it still (smirk) in my shoulder, but it was just stuck. That’s the only way I can explain it.”

    He pulled on the gas pedal? Is this physically possible??

    When Sykes says this, he shrugs his shoulder. Do you see it? He is also shaking his head no the whole time as he says it and he keeps expressing stress in his eyebrows. Why on earth would he feel a positive emotion here when talking about pain he endured due to a freak malfunction of a car that almost cost him his life?

What is sad to me is that I am sure there are a lot of valid complaints of runaway vehicles out there that are legitimate, and this will just cause people to doubt the truth when they see it now. That’s frustrating. So many people looked at me when it happened to me a long time ago, and only now are they coming around and being honest enough to say, “Wow, that is what might have happened to you!”