Volkswagen’s proving grounds in Ehra-Lessien, north of Wolfsburg, is not just deadly for ducks. The secretive site turned into the scene of a bizarre accident. A driver crashes, survives, only to be killed by a colleague. The second driver is fighting for his life, Flensburg Online reports.
According to the official police report, a 42-year-old Brazilian test driver lost control of his car on the three lane straightaway of Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien site. Sudden rain soaked the high speed test track. Aquaplaning most likely cost 0036the driver the control of his vehicle. He slammed into the right guardrail. Shaken, but alive, he could stop his car on the shoulder of the track.
He was followed by another test driver, a 27-year-old Wolfsburg man. He also lost control of his vehicle and slammed into the car of the colleague, who had just escaped death.
The car of the Brazilian was catapulted 40 meters through the air. The car of the 27-year-old Wolfsburg man flipped over and came to a halt 80 meters from the place of the impact.
This time, it was deadly for the Brazilian. Trapped in his twice smashed car, he died at the scene of the accident. The 27-year-old was brought to a Wolfsburg hospital. He is in critical condition.
A similar freak accident happened 4 years ago. Two VW engineers tested prototypes. They collided. One car went up in flames, the driver died. The other driver, seriously injured, was brought to the same Wolfsburg hospital. In February 2009, a Porsche test driver died on the Autobahn.
Why did he follow him so closely? And if he didn’t follow him so closely, wouldn’t he slow down and be more careful approaching the crash?
Irresponsible driving?
Isn’t there a rule, regulation or whatever that limits the amount of drivers that use the circuit?
Like for example, there can’t be 2 drivers testing at the same time.
Heck, if 2 drivers already died in similar conditions…
One of the ugly reasons why it’s the coolest job in the world.
Very sad to see this happen in a testing ground. what cars were they driving? how fast was he going to end up 80 meters from the P.O.I and push the other car 40 meters. that must of been some speed… aren’t there control camera’s and a control center to notify the rest of the drivers on the coarse?
RIP,
as Pista said, it’s not one of the coolest jobs for nothing…
Very sad. I hope the families are OK.
PeteMoran +1. That really sucks.
Better to burn out than to rust out….
Or, if you prefer, better to die during a high-speed crash on a race-track than to die at your desk late one night, your body bathed in the glow of an Excel spreadsheet for a presentation due at 8 a.m. the next morning.
They can’t be too aggressive in limiting the cars on the track. There are test scheduled to maintain.
Or, if you prefer, better to die during a high-speed crash on a race-track than to die at your desk late one night, your body bathed in the glow of an Excel spreadsheet for a presentation due at 8 a.m. the next morning.
Thanks, Lokkii – that’s on the money. In a time when we’re even putting airbags on motorcycles, it’s nice to hear someone point out that there are worse ways to die than doing something you like to do…
Or as Clarkson said “…to enter through the gates of heaven backwards in a ball of fire.”
In a time when we’re even putting airbags on motorcycles, it’s nice to hear someone point out that there are worse ways to die than doing something you like to do…
It’s not the death part that scares me, it’s the lifetime spent as a traumatically brain injured vegetable that gives me pause.
I second the question, what the heck was the second driver doing?! Was he testing the car for use on the LA freeways by eating, drinking, and surfing the web while going 100 mph?
In this time of economic crisis, all I can say is…
Anyone looking for a job? I beleive theres an opening or two in Wolfsburg someone willing to relocate!
The German police wrote their report in German, darn it, so I couldn’t tell if they described the nature of the test in which the two drivers were engaged. From the facts provided, the test appears to be much like a road race: inherently high-risk.
If this had happened in the US, the skies would be darkened by the helicopters bringing in personal-injury-lawsuit lawyers, eager to sue VW.
The families and loved ones of the recently departed often seem to pay a higher price than those who actually died.
The cautionary tale here is the deadly reality of secondary collisions. Many times it isn’t the first problem which gets you, but the second. If you have an accident or a near miss, the very first thought should be if it is possible someone else is going to have the same problem and land on top of you.
I was in high school and a passenger when the car I was in spun out of control on ice. The driver and I got out of the car to asses the situation. Luckily I caught sight of another car sliding towards us out of my periphery vision and just barely managed to scamper out of the way (on the ice!) before the second vehicle slid into the first. The spot where I had been standing was filled with 1970s big Detroit iron only seconds after I had gotten out of the way.
Always keep your wits about you and your eyes scanning, especially right after you think you have just survived a close call.
In a time when we’re even putting airbags on motorcycles, it’s nice to hear someone point out that there are worse ways to die than doing something you like to do . . .
As a motorcyclist who was nearly taken out by an inattentive driver, I appreciate that people are, at least, experimenting with airbags for bikes and riders. It is a pain, but I put on body armor every time I get on my bike. There is nothing wrong with trying to limit the danger of doing something that is inherently risky. What might be a fender-bender to a couple of cagers can mean death to a motorcyclist.
The German police wrote their report in German, darn it, so I couldn’t tell if they described the nature of the test in which the two drivers were engaged.
50merc: Well, being German, that’s what they usually do. The police report doesn’t reveal more than what was written in the post.
ruckover> QFT. I’m with you buddy.
I took my msf course with full armor in 110F heat index.
My chest & hands have been saved twice by body armor. Won’t ride without it.
Good comment above about the Excel spreadsheet (lol). But I suspect I’ll instead go off a cliff somewhere in my Jeep.
Somebody beat you to it airhen
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/14/arizona.grand.canyon.death/index.html
My guess: must’ve been a blind corner for the second driver not to be able to react in time. Likely he never knew the first accident even took place until he was already on top of the scene. Moreover, the assumption was that there was standing water in the immediate area. It apparently caught the first driver unawares; stands to reason it did the same with No. 2 as well. And once the second car broke loose, the second driver at that point was probably just along for the ride.
Anybody remember the ca. 1992 crash at GM’s Milford PG, where an engineer taking a student-intern around on the high-speed track lost control, spun the car, and impacted a tree with the back of the car?
Student was killed as the rear of the car collapsed back toward the front, driving the rr tire into the student and crushing him (Old GM’s spin here was: “… such a crash profile was never anticipated, as the impact occurred on the only part of the car unable to withstand such force …”.
Point here is, despite driver’s training culminating in a special license for access to the track, the driver-engineer had violated training and safety protocols … could a similar lapse in judgement or concentration, or simply a violaton or rules (or “menschenverstand”) be at work here??
make or break:
According to the official police report, a 42 year old Brazilian test driver lost control of his car on the three lane straightaway of Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien site.
No mention of a blind corner, and it actually specifies a straightaway. I’ll stand by my assertion that the 2nd driver wasn’t paying close enough attention, particularly given the severity of the second crash.
Thanks, Mr. Schmitt, for the clarification on the contents of die Polizei report.
Since this thread got pretty morbid, it may not be so off-track to ask you about Mercedes hearses. I saw a picture of MB hearses in a procession in the UK. They had “glass-house” tops which permitted viewing the coffins. In America hearses are based on the Cadillac DTS or Lincoln Town Car, which will soon be defunct. Maybe this will be a new market for Mercedes. Hmm, a Lexus would also be a nice ride to the cemetery.
50Merc: Once the price curves for coffins (rising)and cars (falling) cross, it will be cheaper for one to be buried in the GM or Chrysler car their choice!