Thank god for the R8's brilliant LED headlights. Without them, you wouldn't have such a clear look at what happens when an impatient driver, fog and a largely immovable embankment come together to produce this minor catastrophe.
According to the couple that arrived on the scene first, the truck passed them at a high rate of speed just a few minutes earlier. "I'm not surprised this happened the way that moron was driving," said the woman in the least compassionate way possible.
Bear in mind, the truck was originally headed in the other direction, so it managed to pirouette off the hillside before landing in this position. No one was hurt we were told.
As you can see, the R8's headlights throw down a bright, wide swath of light that the local sheriff surely would have appreciated had we stuck around for the investigation. Instead, we sneaked by the fallen Toyota and continued through the thick fog at a speed that would assure we wouldn't meet the same fate.
Our apologies for the blurry photos. Dan insisted that we hurry by and not take too many photos to avoid looking like soulless snobs relishing in the misfortune of others.
arm51 says:
05:21 AM, 09/ 2/09
It's amazing how some people drive with nonchalance in bad road and weather conditions.
stephen987 says:
05:36 AM, 09/ 2/09
I'm amazed you didn't stay.
93aero says:
06:30 AM, 09/ 2/09
im not so secertly hoping that this guy is an edmunds user, so he can tell us his B.A.C. i dont see this happening to anyone not under the influence of something, and props to toyota on the safety
dna550 says:
07:41 AM, 09/ 2/09
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about this road trip. Literally lol
sgude says:
08:13 AM, 09/ 2/09
Maybe it has something to do with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or it could have been driving under the influence of arrogance. This is an affliction seen primarily with young men, their trucks usually fitted with huge knobby tires and their thoughts that these knobby tires plus their Ironman Stewart-like skills means conditions don't matter for them.
Not saying this Toyota and its driver fit that bill, but...
brn says:
08:28 AM, 09/ 2/09
Probably got blinded by someone's "brilliant LED headlights".
acbayard says:
08:29 AM, 09/ 2/09
Everyone who has lived in the country has seen males on pickups. You know... the town idiot who drives the pickup like he is in a rally car driver.
cz75 says:
09:57 AM, 09/ 2/09
If you lived someplace with a real winter, you could watch more hilarity like this, especially when SUV drivers need to brake on black ice or when they're on your bumper because you're driving like you have a brain and no death wish.
DLu says:
11:05 AM, 09/ 2/09
last winter i saw 6 or 7 SUVs in the ditches on a short drive up to NH from Boston. it was sad.
was the top photo with high beams?
rubber-necking is one of my biggest pet peeves. not only is it disrespectful (didn't people's mothers teach them not to stare?), there's no reason for all lanes of traffic to stop for miles because some are curious. people in Boston seem to especially relish in others' misery (not just on the road either). i gun my engine right past the accident because so many people are still ogling even when they have already passed the scene, allowing me all the room to make up a little speed.
b_boy_007 says:
04:18 PM, 09/ 2/09
The headlights are quite impressive I must say. Wide, far, bright, uniform and very natural looking light.
cwc1 says:
05:11 PM, 09/ 2/09
Yep, rubber-necking is bad here too (DFW), and unfortunately, seems to be a universal phenomenon.
bbechtel16 says:
06:38 PM, 09/ 4/09
"Everyone who has lived in the country has seen males on pickups. You know... the town idiot who drives the pickup like he is in a rally car driver."
What kinda pisses me off is that he never managed to wreck that 4.0 5-speed Ranger. I rode with him...once.
jm1212 says:
02:50 PM, 09/ 5/09
you just kept going and didnt see if anyone was hurt? stupid.
thundera says:
07:24 AM, 09/ 8/09
Looks like a late model Tundra from the fog lights and the way the leaf springs are mounted. Hope the guy was OK - good thing all Tundra's since '07 come standard with side and curtain airbags. Too bad the guy didn't have the fog lights on - maybe he would've seen the road better...