Vehicle exploded at NY/Canada border crossing

[Jimmy Higgins]

There was a witness report that said the vehicle was being driven recklessly at a speed over 100 mph.

That isn't the easiest location to even get up to that speed.

 

[ZiprHead]

There was a witness report that said the vehicle was being driven recklessly at a speed over 100 mph.

That isn't the easiest location to even get up to that speed.

Idiots always find a way.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Saw a clip of security footage, showing the car flying by, easily ten feet in the air, looked to be traveling 110-140 mph.
Holy shit.

Reminds me of a TLDTTotS quote:

Dennis Hutch had stepped up into the top seat when its founder had died of a lethal overdose of brick wall, taken while under the influence of a Ferrari and a bottle of tequila.

Except that it was a Bentley.

Right now it looks more like r/IdiotsInCars than anything more sinister.

I rather suspect drugs are involved. (Including alcohol.)

 

[bilby]

Idiots always find a way.

QFT

 

[Worldtraveller]

Also, if the reports are true of the make/model of car, that thing is ridiculously overpowered and can get to insane speeds in a very short period of time.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

When the hell is that wall on the Canadian border going up???

As soon as the Canadians realize how badly they need it.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Also, if the reports are true of the make/model of car, that thing is ridiculously overpowered and can get to insane speeds in a very short period of time.

That said, there is taking the foot off the pedal. Anything is possible, but stuck open throttle would be my uneducated guess. Extreme intoxication the second guess.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

When the hell is that wall on the Canadian border going up???

As soon as the Canadians realize how badly they need it.

There is a 100+ ft deep gorge between the two nations at this location. Trying to swim across will get you undoubtedly killed. A wall here would be overkill.

 

[Rhea]

Also, if the reports are true of the make/model of car, that thing is ridiculously overpowered and can get to insane speeds in a very short period of time.

That said, there is taking the foot off the pedal. Anything is possible, but stuck open throttle would be my uneducated guess. Extreme intoxication the second guess.

Cruise control will make any accident appear much much faster than expected. Because most people in trouble on the road are hitting the brakes. But people on cruise control who fall asleep, for example, appear to be accelerating and going incredibly fast because we expected them to be slowing down.

 

[ZiprHead]

Also, if the reports are true of the make/model of car, that thing is ridiculously overpowered and can get to insane speeds in a very short period of time.

IIRC, twin turbo 650 horsepower V12. Insanely gorgeous interior. Bentley Continental is one of my favorite cars.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Also, if the reports are true of the make/model of car, that thing is ridiculously overpowered and can get to insane speeds in a very short period of time.

That said, there is taking the foot off the pedal. Anything is possible, but stuck open throttle would be my uneducated guess. Extreme intoxication the second guess.

Cruise control will make any accident appear much much faster than expected. Because most people in trouble on the road are hitting the brakes. But people on cruise control who fall asleep, for example, appear to be accelerating and going incredibly fast because we expected them to be slowing down.

You wouldn't have a car on cruise control there, this isn't a highway or even the Robert Moses Pkwy. The streets are effectively local "city" streets. If this was from the other side, the highway ends right there, so a car on cruise control as it pops out would make more sense (though it would role over at those speeds before it got to the end of the ramp). They were located at the casino which is right by the Rainbow Bridge, what five or ten blocks? So even falling asleep makes no sense. Simply not enough time at the wheel. One could go real fast with luck, but there are lights you have to get through, which is why I default to mechanical issue with the throttle.

 

[TV and credit cards]

Also, if the reports are true of the make/model of car, that thing is ridiculously overpowered and can get to insane speeds in a very short period of time.

That said, there is taking the foot off the pedal. Anything is possible, but stuck open throttle would be my uneducated guess. Extreme intoxication the second guess.

Cruise control will make any accident appear much much faster than expected. Because most people in trouble on the road are hitting the brakes. But people on cruise control who fall asleep, for example, appear to be accelerating and going incredibly fast because we expected them to be slowing down.

You wouldn't have a car on cruise control there, this isn't a highway or even the Robert Moses Pkwy. The streets are effectively local "city" streets. If this was from the other side, the highway ends right there, so a car on cruise control as it pops out would make more sense (though it would role over at those speeds before it got to the end of the ramp). They were located at the casino which is right by the Rainbow Bridge, what five or ten blocks? So even falling asleep makes no sense. Simply not enough time at the wheel. One could go real fast with luck, but there are lights you have to get through, which is why I default to mechanical issue with the throttle.

I don't think there is much "mechanical" about the throttle. I'm not familiar with this engine but I think most throttles are electronically controlled.

 

[ZiprHead]

Unless there is some sort of a "black box" on this car, I suspect we'll never really find out what happened.

 

[TomC]

Idiots always find a way.

I rather suspect drugs are involved. (Including alcohol.)

Wouldn't surprise me to find out the car was stolen.
Lots of spectacular car wrecks are caused by people who aren't accustomed to following rules and don't much care about the outcome.
Tom

 

[Bomb#20]

When the hell is that wall on the Canadian border going up???

As soon as the Canadians realize how badly they need it.

There is a 100+ ft deep gorge between the two nations at this location. Trying to swim across will get you undoubtedly killed. A wall here would be overkill.

Hey, every little bit helps; and there's no downside, since they're going to make America pay for it.

 

[bilby]

Also, if the reports are true of the make/model of car, that thing is ridiculously overpowered and can get to insane speeds in a very short period of time.

That said, there is taking the foot off the pedal. Anything is possible, but stuck open throttle would be my uneducated guess. Extreme intoxication the second guess.

It's surprisingly common for people to hit the gas as hard as they can, when faced with an unexpected event - all the time believing that their foot is on the brake, and that they need to push harder because the car doesn't seem to be slowing at all.

 

[TV and credit cards]

Unless there is some sort of a "black box" on this car, I suspect we'll never really find out what happened.

I do believe the car's computer will have recorded the last xx minutes of driver input. But did it survive? I don't think they are built like an aircraft recorder.

Update: Event Data Recorder.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Also, if the reports are true of the make/model of car, that thing is ridiculously overpowered and can get to insane speeds in a very short period of time.

That said, there is taking the foot off the pedal. Anything is possible, but stuck open throttle would be my uneducated guess. Extreme intoxication the second guess.

It's surprisingly common for people to hit the gas as hard as they can, when faced with an unexpected event - all the time believing that their foot is on the brake, and that they need to push harder because the car doesn't seem to be slowing at all.

I wouldn't say it was common, but it happens. The trouble is, the video doesn't seem to show that there was anything that warranted a reaction.


The video is brief, but the car is going that speed right away once on camera and at no point does it appear to veer or apply the brakes. It could simply be driver error. Most accidents are. But having been there several times, feels like something else caused the problem.

 

[Elixir]

Also, if the reports are true of the make/model of car, that thing is ridiculously overpowered and can get to insane speeds in a very short period of time.

That said, there is taking the foot off the pedal. Anything is possible, but stuck open throttle would be my uneducated guess. Extreme intoxication the second guess.

It's surprisingly common for people to hit the gas as hard as they can, when faced with an unexpected event - all the time believing that their foot is on the brake, and that they need to push harder because the car doesn't seem to be slowing at all.

I wouldn't say it was common, but it happens. The trouble is, the video doesn't seem to show that there was anything that warranted a reaction.


The video is brief, but the car is going that speed right away once on camera and at no point does it appear to veer or apply the brakes. It could simply be driver error. Most accidents are. But having been there several times, feels like something else caused the problem.

Rage? Couple fighting, one gets suicidally angry?

 

[thebeave]

And all this time I thought the Rainbow Bridge was intended for a dying pet, but I guess it applies to people too?