'96 Toyota to be inspected in fatal Minn. crash

St. Paul, Minn. (AP)

March 19, 2010 5:55 PM

Toyota crash — This June 10, 2006 photo shows a 1996 Camry driven by Koua Fong Lee that crashed into the back of an Oldsmobile Ciera in St. Paul, Minn. Lee said he could not stop the car. The Camry is older than those including in the recalls by Toyota for unintended acceleration problems. The crash killed three people and injured two others, all in the Oldsmobile.
AP Photo/St. Paul Pioneer Press, Thomas Whisenand

A Minnesota prosecutor has hired a mechanical engineer to inspect the 1996 Toyota that crashed into another car in St. Paul, killing three people.

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner said Friday her office also has asked that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration participate in the inspection.

Koua Fong Lee was driving the '96 Camry that crashed into the back of another car in 2006. Lee is serving an eight-year sentence and is trying to get his case reopened because of new revelations of safety problems with Toyotas.

Gaertner says the car is not part of the recent Toyota recall. But she says if there is evidence of sudden acceleration, her office wants to know about it.

Attorneys for Lee and the victims plan to meet with prosecutors Monday.

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