We may have lost one of our own!
Thread Starter
"...I'm a Dapper Dan man"
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 840
Likes: 1
From: Newport News, Va
There was a very bad single vehicle accident on base (Ft. Eustis, Va.) yesterday. Everyone thought it was me because they said it was a silver RX-8. I can't say for sure but the MP's saw me drive up (on my way back from dinner) and when I asked what kind of car it was he said it looked just like mine! I know that there are two other 8's on base. one with the wing/spoiler on the rear deck and another just like mine. The driver was a soldier from a transportation Co.
Well he was tearing (had to be doing over 80 to get it to slide like that) up Mulberry Island Rd. heading north just past Klingernhoffer Rd. (where I work) and it looks like when the road starting turning to the right he went straight. You can tell by the skid marks that he attempted to turn but he got light and slid sideways off the road, hit a tree at the "B" (?) pillar and ripped the car into two pieces! He (the driver) was found on the ground between the two halves of the car. Some said he was dead but a witness said he was moving and talking on his own when he was airlifted to the hospital.
Everybody at the hanger thought it was me! I mean I was getting phone calls and everyone was so glad to see me when I walked thru the door. From what I could see it kind sorta looked like an 8 but I was not allowed to get close enough to get a good look at it!
I hope it wasn't and I hope that the driver will be ok!
Well he was tearing (had to be doing over 80 to get it to slide like that) up Mulberry Island Rd. heading north just past Klingernhoffer Rd. (where I work) and it looks like when the road starting turning to the right he went straight. You can tell by the skid marks that he attempted to turn but he got light and slid sideways off the road, hit a tree at the "B" (?) pillar and ripped the car into two pieces! He (the driver) was found on the ground between the two halves of the car. Some said he was dead but a witness said he was moving and talking on his own when he was airlifted to the hospital.
Everybody at the hanger thought it was me! I mean I was getting phone calls and everyone was so glad to see me when I walked thru the door. From what I could see it kind sorta looked like an 8 but I was not allowed to get close enough to get a good look at it!
I hope it wasn't and I hope that the driver will be ok!
Last edited by Rotary Nut; Apr 16, 2004 at 08:50 AM.
Thread Starter
"...I'm a Dapper Dan man"
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 840
Likes: 1
From: Newport News, Va
Originally posted by Astor
Not another silver......
not to sound insensitive but, if he was driving beyond his abilities then.......
Not another silver......
not to sound insensitive but, if he was driving beyond his abilities then.......
That stretch of road has the highest speed limit on base (40mph). Now they will probably lower it! He looked like he drifted off the road and into the tree. I know that road like the back of my hand. I have been driving it almost daily for 10 years. He had to be going double the limit as I have hit 60 there with no problem in my 8 on rare instances of froggyness.
Still isn't good news for the driver..
Originally posted by Rotary Nut
Good news it wasn't an 8 ! It was a Mitsubishi Galant! Just saw some pics of the car! The giveaway was the three diamonds on the wheel center caps.
Good news it wasn't an 8 ! It was a Mitsubishi Galant! Just saw some pics of the car! The giveaway was the three diamonds on the wheel center caps.
Still isn't good news for the driver..
Originally posted by Rotary Nut
Good news it wasn't an 8 ! It was a Mitsubishi Galant! Just saw some pics of the car! The giveaway was the three diamonds on the wheel center caps.
Good news it wasn't an 8 ! It was a Mitsubishi Galant! Just saw some pics of the car! The giveaway was the three diamonds on the wheel center caps.
Just because someone drove beyond their capabilities doesn't mean they deserve a fatal accident. I am sorry for whatever happened to the driver (fatal or not). If all of us were punished that way for our mistakes when pushing some of our vehicles, I think this community would be lacking several interesting and nice people. Not to mention there could be other factors (blowout, deer or animal in road, falling asleep, etc).
Coming thru in waves...
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,488
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From: Somewhere between Yesterday and Tomorrow.
Agreed. Glad to know now it wasn't a fellow forum member, but no one should wind-up crashing like this. Pity. I hope the driver pulls through with no permanent injury, and swiftly.
"but no one should wind-up crashing like this"
While I don't wish harm to anyone I can't exactly say this individual didn't bring this upon him/herself. Going at an estimated 80 mph on a public street limited to 40mph is reckless. This is the result of reckless behavior and I'm just glad that no innocent people got involved with this individuals desire to go fast (too fast as it turns out).
A car can not be driven beyond it's limits.
While I don't wish harm to anyone I can't exactly say this individual didn't bring this upon him/herself. Going at an estimated 80 mph on a public street limited to 40mph is reckless. This is the result of reckless behavior and I'm just glad that no innocent people got involved with this individuals desire to go fast (too fast as it turns out).
A car can not be driven beyond it's limits.
Thread Starter
"...I'm a Dapper Dan man"
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 840
Likes: 1
From: Newport News, Va
No
And I do not think it would pe prudent to give it out due to privacy concerns.
I was looking over those pics and this car was BRAND NEW! The underside was still clean and the car had temp tags on it from what the MP's said.
Oh and it was a Mirage not a Galant.
And I do not think it would pe prudent to give it out due to privacy concerns.
I was looking over those pics and this car was BRAND NEW! The underside was still clean and the car had temp tags on it from what the MP's said.
Oh and it was a Mirage not a Galant.
Best wishes for the driver and his/her family, but it doesnt look good. Mits quit building the Mirage. Was it maybe a Lancer? Either way, not a chance of taking a turn at eighty. Even if it was an EVO. When I was at Camp Pendleton we used to lose people to wrecks all the time. Very sad.
Thread Starter
"...I'm a Dapper Dan man"
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 840
Likes: 1
From: Newport News, Va
It could be it had headllights like a Focus ZX3. I went and looked at the aftermath and the R/H headlight unit seperated from the car and was thrown 50 feet into the woods!
It wasn't an Evo because there was no rear axle gearbox (FWD). So it must have been a Lancer.
It wasn't an Evo because there was no rear axle gearbox (FWD). So it must have been a Lancer.
Thread Starter
"...I'm a Dapper Dan man"
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 840
Likes: 1
From: Newport News, Va
Yes he is in good condition. It was about 50 meters north of Klingenhagen (?) (Apache training facility/Advanced Aircraft Armament Div/DAHT) on Mulberry Island road. he was heading north and wound up on the southbound side of the road
Originally posted by Rotary Nut
I just looked at Mitsu cars and it turns out the car was a Diamante! The wheels are the same also
I just looked at Mitsu cars and it turns out the car was a Diamante! The wheels are the same also
Diamante rims
Lancer rims
Also, notice the shape of the headrest in the pics above and below, and compare it with the one in the crash pic.
you can see the headrest near the top right corner




