Dodge Ram driver seeks answers after crash in Clinton Township

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigating rolling reports

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is taking a look into Dodge Ram pickup trucks after owners reported concerns that the trucks are rolling on their own while in park.

This is the second investigation into the company's electronic shifters, and one Metro Detroit family believes it has one of the troubled vehicles.

Ann Kaniuk, 19, was driving to get a bagel one morning in September when she and her mother noticed her leased 2015 Dodge Ram was rolling.

"It was kind of a colder morning, so I remote started it, and all of a sudden, as I walk about 3-4 feet away, I see the reflection of the headlights in the store coming closer," Kaniuk said. "I turned around (and) my face just dropped. It reminded me of something you see in a movie."

The truck slammed into a closed hair salon without a driver.

Kaniuk is convinced the truck was in park when it moved.

"It had to be in park in order to get the key out," she said.

Kaniuk received a reckless-driving ticket for the incident, even though a witness saw the whole thing.

"She was outside of the car when the accident happened, and the truck was driving by itself," the witness said.

Kaniuk's family had Chrysler inspect the truck, and the conclusion in a letter was that there's no evidence that anything is wrong with the truck.

Kaniuk's mother said the NHTSA investigation gives her some new hope.

"We destroyed this building," she said. "My daughter's driving around in a truck they told her to put a parking brake on for this modern day technology. This is not acceptable."

Using the parking brake is the best answer, according to Chrysler and the NHTSA.

Kaniuk said she will be reporting the incident to NHTSA in the hope of having it looked at again.

Chrysler said Wednesday that the facts Kaniuk lays out are not the same as the rollaway problem in other vehicles the NHTSA is investigating.

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About the Authors:

Rod Meloni is an Emmy Award-winning Business Editor on Local 4 News and a Certified Financial Planner™ Professional.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.