Ferrari accident in Walnut Creek, CA | FerrariChat

Ferrari accident in Walnut Creek, CA

Discussion in 'California & Nevada (Northern)' started by PinoyP, Apr 8, 2008.

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  1. PinoyP

    PinoyP Formula 3

    Aug 7, 2006
    1,023
    Bay Area
    Full Name:
    AL
    #1 PinoyP, Apr 8, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  2. 1ual777

    1ual777 F1 Rookie

    Mar 21, 2006
    2,948
    Orange County, CA
    Was there another car involved that you saw? That is too bad. I hate to see older cars get ruined they just do not make them like that anymore.
     
  3. PinoyP

    PinoyP Formula 3

    Aug 7, 2006
    1,023
    Bay Area
    Full Name:
    AL
    Yes, the green Camry :(
     
  4. MrTheKid

    MrTheKid Formula Junior

    Nov 11, 2007
    311
    CA
    Full Name:
    Jonny Pickens
    holy shot man . . hope driver is okay !!!!
     
  5. blu328gts

    blu328gts Formula 3
    Owner

    May 26, 2004
    1,152
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Full Name:
    //Rick
    Hope the 308 driver is/will be okay...
    It does look to have been a nice 308 :(
     
  6. drew935

    drew935 Formula Junior

    Mar 31, 2007
    319
    Peninsula
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    hope that it's not totaled. The driver look to be good as the front took all the impact from the looks of it.
     
  7. Bavarian Motorist

    Bavarian Motorist Formula Junior

    Apr 10, 2007
    943
    Westchester/NYC
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Looks like one of those fiberglass 308s which always makes everything seem worse than it is. I think the car could survive.
     
  8. M39976

    M39976 Rookie

    Aug 20, 2004
    43
    Grand Haven
    Ferrari driver arrested after Walnut Creek crash
    By Roman Gokhman
    STAFF WRITER

    Article Launched: 04/07/2008 03:50:32 PM PDT


    WALNUT CREEK -- A Ferrari driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol this afternoon after he attempted a left turn and instead drove head-on into a another car that was stopped in traffic.
    The crash occurred at 1:24 p.m. when Thomas Smyth, 43, of Walnut Creek, was driving west on Treat Boulevard and attempted to turn left onto North Main Street, police Lt. Mark Covington said.

    The car instead went into an oncoming lane of traffic, and struck a Toyota Camry, according to Walnut Creek police.

    Both Smyth and the driver of the Camry, who was not named by police, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to local hospitals.

    Contra Costa County firefighters had to cut the hardtop roof of the Ferrari to get Smyth out, Covington said. Police arrested Smyth before he was taken to receive medical attention.
     
  9. alexD

    alexD F1 Rookie

    Oct 1, 2006
    4,670
    sunnyvale
    Full Name:
    alex d
    Drunk at 1:30 in the afternoon on a Monday? Sounds like this guys has bigger problems than a wrecked ferrari and DUI.


    *edit*

    on second thought...
     
  10. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,808
    Cerritos, CA.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Is Thomas Smyth an FChat member?

    And anyone knows where they took the 308?
     
  11. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,379
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    I don't think any fibreglass 308GTS were produced, introduced in 1978 after 1975-76 fibreglass production...

    That car is totalled if it 's insured, no way you'd put it back together at today's parts cost the euro/dollar would kill you.
    That looks like a pretty hard hit.....sorry to see it....

    No comment on the DUI, that's not the time to get the Fcar out...fo' SURE!
     
  12. Back Marker

    Back Marker Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2006
    545
    South
    Full Name:
    Tom
    ??? That looks like a GTS to me ??? They cut the removable roof panel ?

    The GTB does not have louvers in the rear quarter glass area.
     
  13. dakharris

    dakharris Two Time F1 World Champ

    Jun 7, 2001
    29,441
    Sleepy Hollow
    Full Name:
    Cavaliere Senzatesta
    That's obviously a GTS. Is it possible that the reporter had no idea that the roof was already out and invented that little bit of drama? Sad to see another Ferrari laid to rest. Look at the bright side. All of the remaining 308's just got a little bit more rare.
     
  14. js430

    js430 Formula Junior

    Mar 9, 2005
    373
    Seattle
    Full Name:
    Jerry Kahane
    And another upside is that a drunk driver might be taught a lesson before he does real harm.

    Don't really understand all the outpouring of concern for the unknown Ferrari driver and nobody giving two hoots about the Camry occupants. Sad.
     
  15. NYCSpotter

    NYCSpotter Formula 3

    May 28, 2007
    1,859
    New York
    Full Name:
    Damian
  16. thoang

    thoang Formula 3
    Owner

    Apr 12, 2004
    1,990
    SF Bay Area
    Full Name:
    Tuan Hoang
    I hope the Camry driver is OK.
     
  17. David512

    David512 Formula 3

    Dec 15, 2003
    1,654
    Northern California
    The reporter just looked at the car and assumed it must have had the roof cut out, or else the editor (or reporter) wanted to make the story a little more exciting. There's at least one lesson here. One I can think of is that journalists are driven not just to report but to sell, to persuade, or both--even if they do not like to admit it.

    I think all mainstream, generic reporting, no matter what the subject, should be taken with a grain of salt. Reporters are experts in . . . nothing, except maybe reporting, but they rarely know the subject matter, IMO.

    Most people in this forum have seen reporting on subjects they know far better than the journalist and observed that the resulting report is off the mark, either lacking important detail or showing a perspective that reveals a great distance from the subject matter.

    Like one responder said, and I agree, the 308 driver has much bigger problems than a wrecked Ferrari. Also, he could have seriously hurt someone.

    A friend of mine was driving his nice Mercedes too fast and under the influence in Redwood City and could not stop in time to avoid hitting an on-coming car that was making a left. (The other driver claims she never saw him coming.) He hit the car, killed a little girl inside, and hurt a couple other passengers. That was February 17 of 2006, and he goes on trial this June 23. He will probably do serious prison time, and the victim family is suing him for him everything he owns. We all think he will be found guilty (duh), and by the time he gets out, he'll be well past age 50 and have no money. The family will be affected the rest of their lives, and taking my friend's wealth will do little to relieve their suffering.

    I am reminded that most drunk drivers are usually solitary males (mostly) and then solitary females.

    Drinking and driving is bad news. That's the other lesson. DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE.

    (Guess I am pretty bored here at work to be responding with such verbosity.)

    David
     
  18. bobafett

    bobafett F1 Veteran

    Sep 28, 2002
    9,193
    Good on you to keep bringing it up. Reminding people all over. Meeting for after-work drinks or whatever else and driving away. Just plain f**king stupid. No need to do it. It's the ones who get comfortable with the idea of "oh i've just had one or two over the past hour and change, im ok" who end up doing the most damage.
     
  19. BrianZuk

    BrianZuk F1 Rookie

    Feb 18, 2007
    4,607
    NorCal (Bay Area)
    Full Name:
    BrianZuk
    Wow, know exactly where that is, drive by there all the time. Hope the driver and other victims are ok :( Sad to see.

    -Brian
     
  20. SROC4

    SROC4 Formula 3

    Mar 16, 2005
    1,893
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    Alex
    Hey Dan! Pick me up! Let's get a drink! :D
     
  21. norcal2

    norcal2 F1 Veteran

    "I am reminded that most drunk drivers are usually solitary males (mostly) and then solitary females."
    Perhaps there are more men that drink and drive, but I can attest, that non solitary females do drink and drive, one killed my little brother at 23. Not only was she drunk, she was stoned also, the same goes for all drugs....
     
  22. rslpartners

    rslpartners Karting
    BANNED

    Jun 22, 2006
    59
    S.F. Bay Area
    throw the book at him!
    ferrari driver or not...what an idiot!
     
  23. lowtazz

    lowtazz Rookie

    Apr 9, 2008
    1
    Any one care about the other driver? She is a 80 year old Grandmother of four who loves to be active. Not to mention she was heading to the hospital to volunteer. She now has 5 shattered toes and a cracked knee cap.

    You want to know how much of an Idiot this guy is??? Three weeks ago he was busted for a DUI.
     
  24. SROC4

    SROC4 Formula 3

    Mar 16, 2005
    1,893
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    Alex
    That's crazy! Hope things go well for her...
     
  25. bobafett

    bobafett F1 Veteran

    Sep 28, 2002
    9,193
    He's done for. This will be 30 days, blah blah blah. Definitely jail time of some degree. Deserves it too. They will NOT be kind towards this one...
     

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