Every auto hobbyist-restorer's nightmare...

[mechmike0034]

From the AP wire this morning:

SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - A driver apparently ran a stop sign at an intersection near Ann Arbor and collided with a classic car carrying a family of five, killing two adults and a child, authorities said.

Two other children in the 1929 Duesenberg convertible were injured Saturday evening in Superior Township, the Washtenaw County sheriff's office said. All five victims were thrown from the vehicle, which did not have seat belts.

The driver of the Duesenberg recently helped complete a three-year restoration project for its owner, the Detroit Free Press said. The car was worth an estimated $1.5 million.

Dead at the scene of the crash were driver Bradley M. Patton, 35; his wife, Kristin Patton, 35; and their son, Nathan, 8, authorities said; injured were Emily, 7; and Taylor, 9.

A 2001 Volvo was turning southbound when it collided with the Duesenberg, which was headed eastbound. The 25-year-old Ann Arbor man who was driving the Volvo was unhurt. He was arrested and later released pending possible charges.

Talk about your world-class f**kup...

Edit - link to article with more info: http://www.freep.com/news/metro/crash1e_20050801.htm

[DarkFury]

I guess airbags and seatbelts save lives....

But driving a 1.5 million dollar car... just ain't worth it... too risky (both financially and to your health).

[nhbilly]

Dang!

[bachviet]

Damn that sucks.

[Kevster]

There are few things more satisfying, after painstakingly working on it for years, than taking it out a classic car for a nice afternoon drive. My Dad's cars all have updated equipment on them including disc brakes, power steering, air conditioning, and lap belts (shoulder belts are much more difficult to retrofit). He loves to take them out for a spin too - they are truly lovely to drive.

Mechmike's absolutely right though - that is an hobbyist/restorer/enthusiast's worst nightmare.

[DarkFury]

:
Mechmike's absolutely right though - that is an hobbyist/restorer/enthusiast's worst nightmare.

I'd say that death would be just about anyone's and possibly everyone's nightmare...

But then again.. I guess the owner of the car didn't die... so ... yeah, that would double suck.

[yippiekiyeh]

I'd say that death would be just about anyone's and possibly everyone's nightmare...

Death sure would ruin everyone's day.

[Kevster]

I'd say that death would be just about anyone's and possibly everyone's nightmare...

But then again.. I guess the owner of the car didn't die... so ... yeah, that would double suck.

I hope you are just being facetious here. Death is indeed the absolute here, but I am referring to the situation that caused their deaths, not the fact they they died. One of the biggest worries for enthusiasts/hot rodders is not that they might have a problem, but about other people on the road. Normally you go out of your way to take care of your baby and to enjoy taking it out for a spin. Lots of people like the look at our cars when we drive them, but when they are driving and take their attention off the wheel to try and get a good look, that is when it can possibly turn deadly. My Dad saw it happen right in front of him with one of his friends' cars before and I have read about it numerous times in hot rodding magazines. In this case, the builder wanted to take that lovely Duesenberg (I have seen one like this too at Harrah's car collection in Reno) out for a final spin with the family before he has to deliver it and what happens? A stupid driver blows a stop sign and slams right into them hard enough to make a big heavy car like that roll multiple times. What makes this the worst of all is that 3 people of a family are now dead and two yound girls are orphans because of someone else's negligence.

[DarkFury]

I hope you are just being facetious here. Death is indeed the absolute here, but I am referring to the situation that caused their deaths, not the fact they they died.

Oh.. ok, so you weren't really talkin' about the loss of a 1.5 million dollar car as the "nightmare".

I just emphasized the suck on both accounts.