Supposedly they went through a light post then the tree stopped it. I'm sure the car was at a very high rate of speed and made of very lightweight materials like carbon fiber. At the speeds we all assume they were going, there was nothing that would protect the occupants. They were most likely knocked out on initial impact and I'm sure the car was on fire before it came to a rest.
I read that debris actually went through windows of nerby buildings also. I'm seeing so many updated articles on my facebook that ppl share or post your always up to date on things like this.
__________________ 1994 Chevy camaro Formerly known as red99bird
Did a little researching on the Porsche gt. I've driven a 911 before (never pushed it) but everyone that knows those cars, knows they love to oversteer. Now take a 700hp carerra gt from the same manufacturer and you can bet that's a recipe for disaster. Yes, its a different chassis but I would assume they used very much the same principles from the coveted 911.
Interesting car crash and a lawsuit that emerged. Lawyer made his name in the 90's for successfully suing Porsche on the 911 turbo, citing the car was waaayyy to hard to control for the novice driver. Subsequently, the 911 turbo took a hiatus from the US market and when it returned, Porsche offered driver courses for the buyers.... http://www.businessweek.com/stories/...hes-into-court
Top Gear review of the carerra gt....see 6:20 mark...the stig even lost it around a corner a few times...the c/gt is very unforgiving at high speeds.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE_WqdKbTvY
I've been doing reading around, it also seems like it could have been a mechanical failure. I remember seeing a video of a lambo crash, was the new model, was doing maybe 40-50 when was clipped from a side street in Brooklyn I believe, the car spilt in half when it hit a pole or building.
This could be a similar scenario. So speed, well excessive speed may not be a factor. Something about the flames around the front of the car and not at the back seem to point to possible steering fluid leak failure. Or, the engines from most porsches of this era have been known to melt their cooling hoses. If it melted coolant dumps out all over the rear tires. The NHTSA is actually investigating this.
Also these cars are not at all easy to drive from all accounts. Leno went for a wild ride years ago at Talladega in one. He was lucky. I know a few people racers included have said it is one of the hardest cars to drive.
I know there was talk of an S2000 within the crime scene tape. Possible street race. Seriously, I don't think Walker and his buddy are that stupid being racers themselves. I watched the security video to see if the S2000 drove by, I didn't see it due to not being clear. But the BMW that drove by with the video asking what car it was, did stop and sprint back to the scene. So I wouldn't be too hard on them just yet. Though no doubt they were rubbernecking....
That hit was at least 125mph, if not closer to 150. I've seen Corvette wrecks at 100 that didn't look 1/2 as bad as that one.
RIP
Don't forget Paul, these things were probably designed to come apart. See this video, yes the lambo was speeding but that is not the point here. Rate of speed for the lambo was probably around 50. Still a dumbass. But far from doing 125.
Notable technology includes a pure carbon fiber monocoque and subframe, dry sump lubrication and inboard suspension. The carbon fiber monocoque and subframe were produced and assembled by ATR Composites Group of Italy.
Carbon fiber can be anywhere from 2-5 times stronger than steel. I can't find much on what happens to it in extreme impacts like this though. I was always under the impression that once its structurally compromised, it splinters the fiber strands. Nonetheless, speed had to be a large factor here. Also, there is no fire damage to the hood paint from what I can tell, minimal at best. The majority of that fire had to be from gasoline with how quickly it grew and how large eyewitnesses said it was.
For anyone still curious about this. Theres currently a special episode of extra on channel 4 in memory of paul and info. The police investigators determined that they were not speeding and were doing the speed limit during that crash and that their now looking into problems to the car that couldve cause the crash.
__________________ 1994 Chevy camaro Formerly known as red99bird
Fuel cell is in the front of the Carrera gt, so flames in the front could be attributed to this...however mechanical failure is definitely plausable.
Just a real shame.
Right but there is no fire damage up there nor is there much structural damage. The lines going to the motor broke and the air/fuel ratio would be more than ideal along with plenty of ignition sources to start the fire. That's why I think most of the fire damage is concentrated where the car split and the flammable interior naturally burnt away.
If Doug's info is right and they were not speeding, then it had to have been mechanical failure. What I'm not clear on is does carbon fiber melt? If it does, the initial damage may have been magnified a hundred times over to what we see in that picture. It seems the fire burned hot and fast. Was there any magnesium on the CGT?
Most of the time I see carbon fiber splinter and shatter, but I dont' often see it burn. If it melts, maybe that is why it seems worse than it is. Also how much damage did the rescuers do to get at them once the fire was out? That is another factor.
I was wondering what first responders might have done to the car as well but who knows. The info may surface. I'll join the tinfoil hat club and say it wouldn't surprise me to see coverup in the full details of the accident. How much damage would be done to the fast and the furious franchise which is worth over $2 billion if a leading star was killed from events portrayed in the movie yada yada? I probably sound pretty cold hearted here but I will truly miss Paul, I quote the movies almost daily. I probably wouldn't be here without the movies.
I was wondering what first responders might have done to the car as well but who knows. The info may surface. I'll join the tinfoil hat club and say it wouldn't surprise me to see coverup in the full details of the accident. How much damage would be done to the fast and the furious franchise which is worth over $2 billion if a leading star was killed from events portrayed in the movie yada yada? I probably sound pretty cold hearted here but I will truly miss Paul, I quote the movies almost daily. I probably wouldn't be here without the movies.
1994 Chevy camaro
