October 26, 2000

'Haunted' car runs man down

MILTON, Ont. -- It was like a scene out of a Stephen King horror novel -- an abandoned car stunned onlookers by suddenly starting itself up and running down a bystander in an auto auction yard.

The bystander -- Steven Meades, 52, of Shallow Lake, Ont. -- ended up underneath the car, a 1991 standard-transmission Eagle Talon.

Witnesses to the incident lifted the car off Meades and ripped off its battery terminals to kill the engine, said police in this town about 40 kilometers southwest on Toronto.

Meades was taken to hospital with internal injuries and was listed in serious condition yesterday.

Sgt. Frank Phillips said a preliminary check offered no hint of explanation for Tuesday's phantom driver, reminiscent of King's bestseller Christine, a 1983 novel about a possessed car.

"The key was in the 'off' position -- they can't explain it," he said.

The incident began at about 3:40 p.m. Tuesday, when someone hooked a temporary dealership plate onto the back of the car and slammed the trunk.

"The car took off when the trunk slammed," said Phillips.