Does anyone have any information on what may have caused this crash? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TORREY PINES ---- A La Jolla man was killed instantly Friday afternoon when his Ferrari Spider veered into oncoming traffic, colliding into a Mercedes-Benz, police said. Jeffrey Sollender, 42, died following a 2:15 p.m. crash on Torrey Pines Road, near Ardath Road, said George Dickason, an investigator with the San Diego County medical examiner's office. Sollender was driving the Ferrari on northbound Torrey Pines Road at an unknown speed when he lost control at a curb and ended up in the opposite lanes, San Diego police Lt. Marvin Shaw said. The Ferrari was broadsided by a white Mercedes-Benz E430 going in the opposite direction. Sollender was killed instantly, and his passenger, an Illinois man, was hospitalized in serious condition with a head injury. The Mercedes' driver, a woman, and a female passenger were not seriously injured but were hospitalized. Police are continuing the investigation. 12/29/02
Yep, the guy was a fricken idiot. This is one of the best (and safest) places to enjoy some great corners. However, this guy (in his new car he didn't know how to drive) went into the only undivided (by concrete barriers) corner (the first one!) hauling ass only to find the light immediately around the corner was red. He slammed on his brakes while cornering fairly hard at a high rate of speed, lost the ass end, crossed into oncomming traffic, and that was that. If one waits until AFTER the light which is where the concrete barrier starts anyway, you stop being a potential murderer of innocent people, and it's a blast.
i have seen the car in person...driver side was horribly smashed in...very obvious there was no chance of surviving the side hit for the driver that is
Actually stupidity and igornance is what kills...typically it's not the "speed" in and of itself that causes the problem.
I think this is very sad, calling someone an idiot is not called for, this probably was his first Ferrari and unless you have driven them you don't realize how fast they are or you are moving, he probably was just too excited and made a bad decision that ended up killing himself.
Trust me, he was driving like an idiot to accomplish what he did! I drive up and down that road every day. He took a blind corner at what had to be nearly triple digits (well over double the speed limit - I'm certain he KNEW he was hauling ass if it was his first car even) and found the light red (it hardly ever is). I'd bet money he just assumed the light was going to be green like it usually is. There are apartments on the left and a buttload of cars parked on the right (where people cross the street on foot to get to the apts). Anybody who goes nutso on that road before the light where he ate it, is (was) an idiot. "he probably was just too excited and made a bad decision that ended up killing himself." yes, and if not for some luck, the innocent family in the mercedes.
I'm sorry he's dead too...aside from terrorist, it's always a shame to hear of someones unfortunate demise. The greatest tragedy is that he died for no good reason. If it was the result of something mechanical or circumstances beyond his ability to control...then fine, but if it was due to speeding...then yes: he's an idiot. Nobdy has the right to jeopardize other people's lives. I'd be pretty upset if I lost a friend or family member because some Andretti (sp?) wannabe lost it. I'm about to purchase my 355 and have only been into the scene for a couple months: already I've been warned, told and heard about 355's losing the back-ends in turns. He should have known and been more careful. Eh...tragic either way
I have met dozens of owners that drive their 355's hard, no one seems to be losing the rear end in turns. Nor has anyone lost it due to mechanical problems. The 355 only has one minor issue that people care about, the exhaust manifold on early models can deterioate, its not dangerous but I have heard some moaning about that. I have met a few people that have lost control by driving way over their head. It seems when they panic in a turn and lift off the gas, they lose it. Same with Porsche, and other sports cars. It is possible to kill yourself in a Ferrari. Please drive carefully and enjoy your car if you get one. Try for a '99 if can afford it, they are the newest year avail.
sparetireless, It is physics. All tail heavy cars oversteer when you are in a turn and hit the brakes. Even enzo can't stop that. There are fixes to a degree to reduce this. Interestingly, owners of these cars need to be vary aware of chassis lowering and raising they and PO's have done and wheel tire combo changes. These cars are very sensitive to chassis rake changes which at higher speeds can make for uncontrolable twitchy handling. Those are just physical facts of mid-engine Ferraris.
Somthing like this happened near my house on wednesday... accept the guy was on a motorcycle and was going 75 (way too fast for that street) and he hit a guy crossing the street... The guy on the bike flew off and he died... The guy crossing the street wasnt as lucky as the people in the mercadees... It turns out, right after it happened my moms boy friend called her and said he saw it happen and to pray for the two guys laying on the street. Somone else called the police from my moms work. and to top it off the guy on the bike was one of my brothers really good friends....
Sad to hear all this ! Never like it when somebody dies in an car accident. Any pictures from the damaged F355 ? Thanks and god Bless ! Kinnie, www.ferrariparts.tk
Another tragic motoring death. What can be learned here? Perhaps for those that haven't, it's time to learn to drive your sports car.
It's following rationale like this that results in cars being laden with "safety aids". There are no excuses (or prizes) for driving like an arse. Cars are very dangerous machines when in the hands of inexperienced people. But driving seems to be one of those things that we all think we're wonderful at, and so will not be told that we're a prat at it. This guy, it would seem, learnt the hard way and was lucky not to take innocent people out with him. Even had it been a mechanical failure, he was still driving too quickly for the road conditions. And that's the lesson we should all take from it. Never assume anything, pay absolute attention at all times and don't drive faster than you can see, or your own ability allows. And if you don't know where the latter is, take your car on track and learn.
Ferrari should not sell a car to you unless you have attended a mandatory sportscar driving education or have car racing background.
"Ferrari should not sell a car to you unless you have attended a mandatory sportscar driving education or have car racing background." Absolutely. I feel bad that he lost his life, but I feel worse that it was his own fault. I've never explored the limits of my car on public roads. You learn your cars limits in a controlled environment and you never go fast on a road you don't know well.
do you want the job of teaching people to drive the ferrari's they buy as i would not want to sit aside them and teach them they pays there money and buys the car its there choice
Just because somebody has been "trained" under track conditions doesn't mean that they will be a better driver under road conditions. Yes,they might be able to control the car better at speed,but whats to say this will not encourage them to drive faster than the road conditions allow, because they think they can handle it (after allthey've been trained, therefore they are better drivers than the rest of us). The bottom line is,no matter what wheels you're driving,if you take it outside the limits you,and possibly other innocent people are going to sh*t it big style. Unfortunately,because of the phenomenalpower in our F cars this point can be achieved very quickly and very easily. I too feeel sorry for the people involved in this tragic incident but,if you can't handle it,don't do it.
I've lost the rear end of my NSX once when i went in too fast in a corner. At first I tried to correct it, but saw that I might hit a motorcyle, so I let it go into a controlled spin and swung it around and missed the curb by about a foot. I asume when this happens I should hit the gass, rather than let off or hit the breaks??? Right??? But I did lift and hit the breaks to spin it from hitting the motorcyle.....don;t need to kill someone just cause I'm stupid.
