The families of the four who were killed when their Lexus car had gone out of control due to a defect with the accelerator had earlier sued Toyota for damages, and a dealer of the carmaker has announced that it has reached a settlement which sees them pay out US$10 million to the families involved.

The accident killed California Highway Patrol officer Mark Saylor and three of his family members, and happened when a Lexus ES, which had been lent to them by Lexus dealership Bob Baker Lexus, had a defect with the accelerator which sent the car out of control, and led to massive recalls of millions of Toyota and Lexus cars worldwide.

Toyota released a statement initially trying to keep the details private, saying that the involved parties "reached a private, amicable settlement through mutual respect and cooperation without the involvement of the courts", and criticised the dealer for revealing the sum of the payout.

"Our deepest sympathies remain with the friends and family of Mark, Cleofe and Mahala Saylor and Cleofe's brother Chris Lastrella", Toyota said in the statement. "However, as in the past, Toyota will continue to defend itself vigorously against the misleading allegations Bob Baker Lexus is making against Toyota. Toyota is not, however, in a position to address the additional negligence claims the families have against Bob Baker Lexus that are independent of Toyota."