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Koua Fong Lee Freed in MN, Toyota Nightmare Over

Back in March, I wrote Free Koua Fong Lee From His Toyota Camry Nightmare. Mr. Lee, a recent Hmong immigrant, was driving his family home from church in 2006 when his Toyota Camry sped up a ramp and hit another car. Three people died and two were injured. Mr. Lee insisted he did everything he could to avoid the accident and hit the brakes. He was convicted and sentenced to 8 years in prison.

While in prison, Toyota revealed the problems with its gas pedals. The Innocence Project of Minnesota took up his case, and the prosecutor agreed to revisit it.

Today, a judge freed Mr. Lee from prison, ordering a new trial. The prosecutor said there isn't going to be one, ""I think it's time to bring this very sad situation to a close." [More...]

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Free Koua Fong Lee From His Toyota Camry Nightmare

Last month I wrote about a recent Hmong immigrant in Minnesota serving an eight year sentence for a fatal accident. He may have been wrongfully convicted because of a faulty gas pedal in his Toyota Camry.

Koua Fong Lee was driving home from church with his wife and children when their 1996 Toyota Camry suddenly sped to 90 mph and crashed, killing three people.

The Innocence Project of Minnesota has now joined the case, which the prosecutor has agreed to revisit. Driver error was never proven.

A Facebook page has been created to garner attention to the case and support Mr. Lee's bid for a new trial. Right now it has 1,680 members. Check it out and become a fan, let's see how high we can get the numbers.

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Did Toyota Cause a Wrongul Conviction in Minnesota?

Could this man be doing 8 years in prisonin Minnesota for a fatal accident because of a Toyota faulty gas pedal? (hat tip to Scribe.)

The convicted man is a recent Hmong immigrant. He insisted he did everything he could to avoid the accident and hit the brakes.

Lee, a recent Hmong immigrant with only about a year of driving experience, was driving his pregnant wife, 4-year-old daughter, father and brother home from church the afternoon of June 10, 2006, when their Camry zoomed up an Interstate 94 exit ramp in St. Paul. Police said it was traveling between 70 and 90 mph when it rear-ended an Oldsmobile stopped at a red light.

Good for the prosecutor who said he's willing to take another look at the case.

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