That's terrible. They are both lucky to be alive...even though the driver paid a high price. Be careful out there guys!
I believe I've seen a similar incident happen to a bmw driver, but he was not as fortunate. I've always been nervous about those things.
If the rev counter/speedo locations are intact from the point of impact it doesn't look like speed or aggressive driving were to blame; sleepy? Distracted? Amazing that nobody was killed there...guardrail through the steering column...damn.
The driver is lucky he wasn't completely cut in two. I've never really liked those "guard rails" as they don't seem to stop you the way the concrete barriers do. Those metal rails do some nasty damage. It seems to me they are used more to cut down on cost. I know they are there to help stop the cars, but it seems like they do more damage than good if a car happens to come in contact with it. Anyway, I'm glad to hear they both survived. That was one nasty scene.
I noticed the speedo as well, however, he could have been doing some heavy braking at the time. Hope they have a speedy recovery.
You are right. I have seen this happen, autopsy many years ago in training. Guard rail came through driver's door, cut him in half at the waist. Driver tried to crawl out passenger window. Freaky things can happen in an accident. Have seen car hit utility pole, breaks pole, top of pole comes in through roof of car straight onto driver. Worst I ever saw was driver ejected through chain link fence.
While I don't want to derail the thread regarding the Greek tragedy, this is not the first time I have seen or heard account of a US County waiting for an accident to happen before repairing or replacing guardrail. http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/11771/lawyer-John-Dodig.html
those guardrails scare me as well. I slid into the start of one of those guardrails SIDEWAYS. A SUV hit my rear, got me sideways and then t-boned me. Our collective mass was pointed right at the guardrail with me looking out my drivers side window watching this thing get closer. Luckily the guardrail impact worked less dangerously in my case. As my car sheared off the thick wood posts the metal portion of the guardrail went up and over the car. The CHP officer told me later that he thought this was definately going to be a fatality accident as he pulled up. I had no scratches or injuries - went out and bought the exact same car as the replacement.
Very nice car. I've driven an e39 530i SE... my parents loaned it to me for a few weeks while I was between cars. My first car was totalled when I was hit head-on by a drunk driver. I'm glad you made it through your crash unscathed. All the best, Andrew.
