U.S. Safety Regulators have joined hands with Toyota inspectors to investigate the case of a Toyota Prius that accelerated out of control on a California freeway on 8th March. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said two investigators from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration were dispatched to San Diego so as to join a team from the California Highway Patrol for inspecting the case.

Toyota has also sent inspectors to inspect what went wrong in the 2008 Prius that sped uncontrollably to over 90 mph when it was being driven by owner James Sikes, 61.

Toyota has been at the brunt of harsh criticisms lately owing to its string of recalls that have damaged its reputation and sales. The incident happened at a time when much is being debated over whether Toyota has done everything in its capacity to address consumer complaints about unintended acceleration.

Sikes was passing another car on the highway when it suddenly accelerated out of control, the highway patrol said. For the next 20 minutes, Sikes sped 30 miles along the freeway. Sikes called for help on 911 emergency service as even the brakes stopped working. A trooper was dispatched to his aid who suggested him to use the emergency and regular brakes and to turn off the car’s engine. The Prius was taken to a Toyota dealership in El Cajon, California, where Toyota officials are examining the car. Sikes said he had received a recall notice from Toyota earlier, but when he took the car to a Toyota dealership he was told that his car was not on the list.

A highway patrol spokesperson has reported that nothing conclusive has been found on the case yet. Toyota has previously recalled more than 8 million cars worldwide for mechanical problems that can cause the accelerator to stick and for the risk that floor mats could trap an accelerator causing unintended acceleration.

Monday’s incident attracted widespread media coverage. Toyota officials claim that the unintended acceleration problem can be completely solved with the measures taken by the company.