Jalopnik: Crashes

Racer pulls competitor from burning wreck on track

Justin Hyde — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EDT

Earlier this week, we ran a piece asking whether safety at local race tracks and drag strips was up to snuff. One thing many tracks lack: a heroic driver willing to risk himself freeing a competitor trapped in burning wreckage. More »

Arizona Man Gives the Best Description of a Car Crash Ever

Matt Cherette — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 05:22:47 EDT

A Phoenix man became trapped inside his SUV on Thursday after he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll over and strike a utility pole. In the process, the driver rear-ended another vehicle driven by a man named George Lindell, who later described the events to local Fox affiliate KSAZ-TV in this amazing interview that you must watch immediately. After all, "Reality hits you hard, bro." [MyFoxPhoenix; Thanks to Mike Byhoff for the tip] More »

Yes, this yellow Camaro crashed into an identical yellow Camaro

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EDT

I can't believe this actually happened. The folks at Auto Buds can eat their heart out because we have a photograph of the rare example of two identical cars crashing into each other. And it happened in Dallas. You don't say... More »

Watch a drunk driver crash head-on into a cop car

Justin Hyde — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EDT

Saturday was just another day on the job for a sheriff's deputy in Oklahoma and his canine partner — until they were hit head-on by a drunk driver in broad daylight. Everyone survived, but as this video shows, it wasn't just a fender bender. More »

How Car Crash Modeling Technology Could Predict Offshore Drilling Disasters

Kyle Wagner — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EDT

It's the billion-dollar question for offshore drilling giants: Could the Deepwater Horizon disaster have been prevented? Researchers at MIT's Impact and Crashworthiness Laboratory may have found at least a partial answer—the same kind of computer modeling that predicts whether car components can hold their own in a crash could also forecast whether pipes will fracture at offshore drilling sites. A fractured pipe can mean the difference between a stable operation and a massive oil spill. More »

Watch Rosberg's and Perez's Monaco Grand Prix crashes side-by-side

Mike Spinelli — Sat, 28 May 2011 18:00:00 EDT

There was an eerie similarity to the crashes of Sergio Perez (left) and Nico Rosberg (right) during the run-up to the Monaco Grand Prix. One major difference separated them, however. Perez hit a safety barrier. Rosberg miraculously skidded past it. More »

Chilling video shows motorcyclist crushed between cars

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EDT

Getting rear-ended is usually a minor annoyance in a car, but on a motorcycle it's a worst-case scenario. Still, it could have ended much worse for this Texas man nearly crushed between two cars on a Dallas freeway. Amazingly, he survived. More »

Driver caught on video plowing into throng of bicyclists

Justin Hyde — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST

A Brazilian man faces several charges after speeding his Volkswagen through a crowd of hundreds of bicyclists Friday evening in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Given the sheer force of the attack caught on video, it's amazing no riders were killed. More »

The biggest crash in Daytona 500 history

Tom Joslin — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST

Don't like NASCAR? Not watching today's race right now? That's OK, you'll probably still enjoy this vintage footage from the 1960 Daytona 500. Watch as 37 vehicles crash in what we believe to be the biggest smash-up in NASCAR history. More »

Study shows red-light cameras bad for death

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:15:00 EST

If you're still alive, you can thank a red light camera, according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. More »

How Much Is A Totaled Ford GT Worth To You?

Justin Hyde — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST

Three months back, we wrote about a $200,000 Ford GT totaled by a tuner. Now it's been digested by the insurance process and spit out at a salvage auction. How much would you pay for a crunched supercar? More »

Scary Chinese Truck Crash Taunts Laws Of Gravity

Justin Hyde — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST

Yes, it's Monday after the holidays and none of us are happy back at the grindstone. But it could be worse: At least you're not the driver of this truck in China left dangling over a gorge after a wreck. More »

The Ten Cheesiest Hollywood Car Explosions

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST

If you believe Hollywood stunt coordinators, gas trucks are everywhere and your family sedan's a light tap away from turning into an all-consuming fireball. With your help, we've ignited this list of the ten cheesiest fake Hollywood vehicular explosions. More »

Crashed Russian Army Helicopter Stranded Atop Mountain Forever?

Justin Hyde — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:15:00 EDT

Two months ago, a Russian military helicopter crashed on Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest mountain. It's still there, because the Russian military lacks the resources to cart it down 15,700 feet. It may stay up there forever. More »

Motorcycle Crash Closes Golden Gate Bridge In Both Directions

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:15:00 EDT

A motorcycle crash on the northbound side of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge has traffic blocked in both directions, with one witness on the bridge indicating the motorcyclist isn't moving and "looks dead." Update: bridge reopens, traffic still slow. [@abc7kirstensze] More »

LeMons Buttonwillow Rollover Remix (Punk Rock Version)

Rob Krider — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EDT

The closest finish in 24 Hours of LeMons history ended on the last lap with one pizza undelivered and a yellow aerodynamic brick winning the race. Here's the punk rock video remix. More »

This Woman Crashed Into A House, Then Turned Into A Moron

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EDT

This is 20-year-old Floridian Kristin Ashley Butcher. She allegedly crashed her Nissan into the front of a house, backed out, drove home, called the cops and claimed the car had been stolen, then returned damaged. They didn't believe her either. More »

Rally Driver Rolls, Flips And Pilots Car To Victory

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EDT

Rally driver Patrick Richard rolled his Subaru racer at Canada's 2010 Rallye Baie Chaleurs then heroically hopped out and, with his co-driver still strapped in, flipped the Subie back over and raced to victory with parts flapping in the wind. More »

Get Out Of My Corn You Damn Rally Driver!

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EDT

I grew up on a farm. Occasionally drunks would swerve off the road and take out huge swaths of corn. Never once did a rally driver plow through our fields. Especially in a Fiat 500 Abarth. More »

NASCAR's Jack Roush Crashes Plane In Wisconsin

Sam Smith — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:49:00 EDT

NASCAR team owner and motorsport legend Jack Roush crashed his plane while landing in Wisconsin today. Roush is reportedly in critical condition. His jet, a Hawker/Beechcraft Premier 390, broke in two and appears to be a total loss. UPDATE! More »

"My Car Dragged Me Down The Street"

Sam Smith — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EDT

Welcome to Garage of Horror, where we share your worst wheeled experiences. Today we have three stories, all of which have to do with bad luck. Ever feel like your car is out to get you? More »

The Ten Most Infamous Crashes In Racing

Martin Grossinger — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EDT

Sadly, crashing is an inevitable part of racing. The sport we love has taken many of our heroes, and although tragedy is never pleasant, it's important to remember who we've lost. Here are your suggestions for racing's ten most infamous accidents. More »

This Is Your Bill Caswell Rally Car Crash Gallery

Sam Smith — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EDT

Bill Caswell, Jalopnik's $500 Craigslist rally-car driver, competed in last weekend's New England Forest Rally. He crashed his car. Because you guys seem to like this sort of thing, we've assembled a gallery of shots from the weekend. Viva crapcan! More »

VIDEO: 34 Low-Speed Chinese Car Accidents

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:30:00 EDT

This is a compilation of low-speed car crashes taken from Chinese CCTV cameras and set to a smooth bongo beat. Our favorite comes at around the 2:00 mark, when a driver decides to slowly run over an oblivious pedestrian. More »

14 Spectacular Supercar Crashes They Walked Away From

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:00:00 EDT

The modern high-performance car is an amazing beast, a fast, comfortable way to cover great distances at high speed. Most of them are also remarkably safe — these accidents, courtesy of Wrecked Exotics, left their drivers all but unharmed. More »

Man Rides Exploding Airbag Indoors, Internet Laughs

Sam Smith — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EDT

Let's cover a few basics. First, we've seen this sort of thing before, but it's never been quite this funny. Second, isn't a room with a ceiling a bad idea? And third, why do these people always have southern accents? More »

Does a WRX STI Really Need a Wing? At 148 MPH, You Bet It Does!

Murilee Martin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EDT

Really Need a Wing? At 148 MPH, You Bet It Does!" alt="Click here to read Does a WRX STI Really Need a Wing? At 148 MPH, You Bet It Does!" src="http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/12/2012/02/small_7a5a9d44eeb406f7a69471a916601870.jpg"/>

Going 70 on the highway, will a big-ass wing on your Subaru make a performance difference? Sorry, no. How about if you're heading into the esses at VIR without realizing your ex-big-ass wing has just failed? Uh-oh… More »

See What Happens When You Don't Check Your Blind Spot?

Murilee Martin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST

We saw a record four rollovers in last weekend's 24 Hours Of LeMons Texas, and the rollover parade started about five minutes after the green flag. Here we see what happens when an Escort ZX2 gets shoved into a Gremlin. More »

Why Muffler-Pipe Roll Cages Aren't Allowed: The Best of LeMons Crashes

Murilee Martin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST

Who doesn't love watching a Corolla slide into a Nissan pickup, or a Mustang T-bone a BMW 6 series? Here's more proof that Snell SA2000 helmets, 5-point seat harnesses, HANS devices, and .120" roll cage tubing are worth the investment. More »

Add A Tube Back In: The First Crash Of The New Lotus F1 Era

Sam Smith — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:15:00 EST

The bloom is officially off the new Lotus F1 effort — ex-McLaren F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen smacked his green and yellow T127 into a tire wall at Jerez during testing today. Lots Of Trouble, Usually... Scandanavian? More »

Lamborghini Gallardo Tangles With Many Parked Cars In LA's Laurel Canyon, Much Bondo Needed

Murilee Martin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST

The Laurel Canyon neighborhood in Los Angeles has been the stomping grounds of countless drug-addled bad drivers (including such crashy legends as Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and Keith Moon), so the locals are probably accustomed to scenes like this one. More »

Nissan 350Z Teeters On Guard Rail After Snowy Crash

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST

We knew the Nissan 350Z was a well balanced car, but this accident on the snowy roads of New York illustrates that fact in remarkably dramatic fashion. (Hat Tip To Eric) More »

$1.1 Million Pagani Zonda F Crashes In Hong Kong

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

Another Pagani Zonda F has crashed, this third smash-up occurring in Hong Kong. The lunatic-machine's carbon fiber body, shattered and spread all over the street like a ghastly automotive murder scene is almost too gruesome to share. Full gallery below. More »

Roll Cage Stress Test In 3... 2... 1...

Murilee Martin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Wienerschmoker E30 Gets Shiny Side Down, Brings Arse Freeze Rollover Total To Three

Murilee Martin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:58:00 EST

Tying the old LeMons record from last year's Thunderhill event, three cars flipped over at the '09 Arse Freeze-A-Palooza. In every case the driver suffered zero injuries, which should serve as a counter-argument to those whining about "overkill" rollcage specifications. More »

V8olvo Gets Upside-Down, Roof Barely Dented: Volvo Bricks As Sturdy As Advertised!

Murilee Martin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:56:00 EST

After a little mishap with a TR7 on Saturday, the Scuderia Flatpack V8olvo (formerly the Black Metal V8olvo) suffered a much worse setback late in the race today, when it attempted to share space with a '67 Plymouth Fury. More »

More British Leyland Carnage: Spinout-Happy TR7 T-Boned By V8olvo

Murilee Martin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

The guys driving the V8-powered Volvo 244 were hoping to follow up their victory at Buttonwillow with another this weekend, but the Buick V6-powered Wedginator Triumph has made that goal much, much harder to reach. More »

Killer Bee MGB Wipes Out, Gets Rolled Into Ball Of British Leyland Scrap

Murilee Martin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST

Yes, one of our favorite Index Of Effluency contenders went into the dirt and flipped over yesterday afternoon. That's the bad news. The good news is that the driver of the Killer Bee MGB wasn't hurt. More »

Video Of Deadly Police Crash Released

Sam Smith — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST

Two teenagers were killed in Milford, Connecticut on June 13 by a speeding police car. Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, the video has finally been released to the public. Warning: graphic footage below. More »

Roll Bar Stress Test: When You Really, REALLY Need To Pass That Triumph!

Murilee Martin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

A Spec Racer Ford oughta be way faster than a TR6, so you should be able to zip right by on the racetrack... right? Racing tip: always check to see if another SRF is passing you before making your move! More »