Kev946 Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 I don't know the person that crashed, but hopefully he doesn't mind my posting the excerpt from a thread on MLOC. Sep 24th MLOC Well, my elise dream is over. I'm sure you've all seen the pictures by now - that once lovely 111S under the Audi A8 was mine. I was still in the car when that picture was taken. I've admitted blame, no point denying anything here. Traffic was moving at a fairly slow pace (I honestly couldn't say how much, but I'd guess around 30 - 40ish) when all of a sudden everything stopped. I braked hard but obviously saw it all too late and smashed into the back of the audi. There was a bloody big bang and the next thing I know there's an A8 on top of me. I didn't have the roof on at the time. The windowscreen caved in and ended up resting on the steering wheel but the passenger compartment was otherwise untouched. After a few frenzied moments spent trying to get out I realised I was pretty much stuck - the audi's wheels were resting on my doors. I really panicked when I realised I was sat underneath an exhaust and a fuel tank but the people on the scene really helped to calm me down. I was a touch uncomfortable as well as there was some trim wedged in the seat behind me - I assumed that it was something off the back of the audi but it later turned out to be most of my bonnet. Looking back, it was probably a good thing I was in such a low car, as a taller car would have needed to absorb much more energy. I'm pretty sure that this little blue sports car saved my life. The fire crew jacked up the audi just enough to open the door of my car and I crawled out with just the odd scratch and a sore neck. And a very battered pride. The car was a complete mess, but amazingly one of the fire crew managed to start it drive it up onto the verge. I want to thank all the emergency services for helping me out here and all the people on the scene who help me to remain calm. I'd also like to apologise for anyone that got held up in the resulting traffic jam. I'd also really like to thank Jon (bittenbythebug) and the rest of your party for organising coming to collect me and get me back to the midlands, and especially Gordon (fizz) for giving me a lift back home to my tearful wife. I'd only met these people that morning (I'm not sure I even spoke to Gordon) yet they turned around and came back to rescue me. I cannot thank you enough, you're a credit to this forum and all Lotus owners. So, thats it. I'm sure there'll be an amount of slagging off for this, and I guess I deserve most of it. For what it's worth I would like to say that I wasn't driving quickly or beyond my limits. I just didn't see everyone braking soon enough. I'm devestated about the car and even more so for the stress I'm putting my heavily pregant wife through, but I'm alive and well so I can only consider myself lucky. It's been a fun year (I'd owned it a year to the day, having just renewed my insurance the day before). I've met a good few people on here and been on some good drives but I guess this is the end for me. I might log in once in a while to see what's going on but it's taking my all my effort just to write this, so don't be too surprised if you don't hear from me for a while. MLOC: Thanks for the memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmmackfc Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Lucky man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 That is spectacular! did this happen at an organised meet? Is that why there's another one behind him? I'm amazed that he got out of that ok but thank god he did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H5 Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Sad news, glad he came through unscathed. Accidents happen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev946 Posted November 6, 2007 Author Share Posted November 6, 2007 That is spectacular! did this happen at an organised meet? Is that why there's another one behind him? I'm amazed that he got out of that ok but thank god he did! Apparently he was on his way back from a Hethel Lotus Factory Open Day.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Was he driving blind folded? If he was doing 30 mph then he must of not even hit the brakes to get that far under the audi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl114 Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 glad he's ok as it could have been a lot worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zzzz... Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 MORAL of the story ... I am buying one of those A8's and I am never buying a low slung plastic kit car ...with an engine pushing forward into the cabin during a crash... Extremely lucky man, I think that took care of all his seven lives... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev946 Posted November 6, 2007 Author Share Posted November 6, 2007 MORAL of the story ... I am buying one of those A8's and I am never buying a low slung plastic kit car ...with an engine pushing forward into the cabin during a crash... Extremely lucky man, I think that took care of all his seven lives... Think of it this way. Because he went underneath, the car did not have to absorb anywhere near the impact, so this could have been alot worse in a normal car. Normally the light weight car comes off far worse. At least the guy and his wife are OK.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beavis Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Like something off robot wars, is the elise about to flip the Audi off the road? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinbad Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 MORAL of the story ... I am buying one of those A8's and I am never buying a low slung plastic kit car ...with an engine pushing forward into the cabin during a crash... Extremely lucky man, I think that took care of all his seven lives... Think of it this way. Because he went underneath, the car did not have to absorb anywhere near the impact, so this could have been alot worse in a normal car. Normally the light weight car comes off far worse. At least the guy and his wife are OK.. Does it really matter that the car didnt have to absorb more impact? If he was in say another big car..say a 5 series and had hit the audi he wouldn't have felt too much either, especially at 30mph, maybe abit of whiplash at the most. Him getting out alive is the main thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev946 Posted November 6, 2007 Author Share Posted November 6, 2007 MORAL of the story ... I am buying one of those A8's and I am never buying a low slung plastic kit car ...with an engine pushing forward into the cabin during a crash... Extremely lucky man, I think that took care of all his seven lives... Think of it this way. Because he went underneath, the car did not have to absorb anywhere near the impact, so this could have been alot worse in a normal car. Normally the light weight car comes off far worse. At least the guy and his wife are OK.. Does it really matter that the car didnt have to absorb more impact? If he was in say another big car..say a 5 series and had hit the audi he wouldn't have felt too much either, especially at 30mph, maybe abit of whiplash at the most. Him getting out alive is the main thing. Yes it does. Small cars often come off a lot worse was my point. Imagine what could have happened if he had been in a light weight car but not so low, say a Smart.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GC350z Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 The Smart would crumple if you kicked it. That other show whatevergear crashed one into concrete. You'll find it on youtube. This guy was lucky. Could of been a different outcome altogether had he turned to avoid it or not braked. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ir_fuel Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Yes it does. Small cars often come off a lot worse was my point. Imagine what could have happened if he had been in a light weight car but not so low, say a Smart.. Thats nonsense. Its not because the car is bigger that it is per-se safer. Check some crash test reports for that. And i d rather have a car that crashes into another one, than have a car which gets underneath another one. Chances of survival with 2 ton on tour roof .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev946 Posted November 8, 2007 Author Share Posted November 8, 2007 Yes it does. Small cars often come off a lot worse was my point. Imagine what could have happened if he had been in a light weight car but not so low, say a Smart.. Thats nonsense. Its not because the car is bigger that it is per-se safer. Check some crash test reports for that. So in an HGV is no safer than a small car? In an accident I know what I'd rather be in. Our 2 main cars are a 2.6 tonne Range Rover and a 900kg Exige. I know which I would rather be in in an accident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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