Getting towed

It says he used the e-brake and downshifted to slow down. It sounds like he hadn't down shifted and was just riding the service brakes. He only decided to downshift as a last ditch effort when the brakes failed.
That is called operator error.

We have also had a brake line fail and suddenly - no brakes. It happens every day. Master brake cylinders don't give any warning either.

Yes brakes can "go out". Mine worked fine at one stop sign, at the next one: no front brakes. A rusted brake line popped.

Well, at least no one was injured.

SidecarFlip wrote:
Brakes went out... Probably a lack of preventative maintenance. Brakes don't 'go out' without a reason. Reason is, weren't maintained correctly.

Glad I'm not paying the tow or the remediation if there was any.

Brakes can and DO go out suddenly as with a master cylinder failure, as I have experienced. Brake maintenance had been done, including a change of brake fluid. It can happen.

I thought it strange too. Sylvan Pass is a moderate climb.

Brakes went out... Probably a lack of preventative maintenance. Brakes don't 'go out' without a reason. Reason is, weren't maintained correctly.

Glad I'm not paying the tow or the remediation if there was any.