Now that's a shame .......

[sammyg2]

How would you like to have someone like her for a neighbor?

Woman burnt to death after setting her own car alight in road-rage incident
Simon de Bruxelles
It was the ultimate expression of road rage. A furious woman driver died after ramming another vehicle and spinning her wheels so fast that her own car burst into flames.

Serena Sutton-Smith, 54, burnt to death after refusing to get out of her Vauxhall Nova as she sat with her foot flat on the accelerator.

She spun the wheels so fast that her tyres disintegrated and the metal rims sent a shower of sparks into the engine, igniting the brake fluid and setting the car on fire.

Appalled onlookers urged her to get out of the car as the flames licked around her but she told them to “F off”, an inquest in Gloucester was told.

The road-rage attack took place on a quiet country road in the Cotswolds between Weston sub Edge and Mickleton in Gloucestershire.

The inquest heard that Paula Small was driving her Fiat Punto when Ms Sutton-Smith emerged from a side road without stopping, causing her to swerve to avoid a collision. Mrs Small was forced on the grass verge and she flashed her lights as Ms Sutton-Smith passed her.

Ms Sutton-Smith then pulled over and Mrs Small stopped a short way in front of her. She was getting out when the Vauxhall Nova rammed her car.

Mrs Small said: “I opened my door and put my foot out but as I was getting out there was a bang and I hit my head on the door frame. I was frozen with terror.” As neighbours came to investigate they saw Ms Sutton-Smith sitting with a furious expression, revving her engine and spinning her wheels.

Nicholas Willmore told the inquest that he was in his workshop at Cottage Farm Antiques when his mother alerted him to what was happening outside. As he walked across the road to the two cars he saw smoke coming from the engine of the Nova.

He said: “There was a deafening sound of an engine running as though someone had a foot stuck on the accelerator.

“The car’s front wheels were spinning and there was loads of revving. I could see a biggish person at the wheel and there was movement in the car. Flames were coming from underneath the car and I thought the person might be trapped inside although I couldn’t hear any shouting.

“I opened the driver’s door wide. It opened easily. The person looked at me, it was a big built woman. I said ’You’ve got to get out of the car. It’s going to burst into flames’.
“The person replied ’F off, just f off’ and she raised her right fist towards me in a threatening manner before slamming the door shut.

“I was a bit bewildered and moved 3-4 yards back. I could see her gesturing towards me. She seemed to be in quite a rage. Both fists were raised and being shaken and the person was looking right at me.

“This was definitely done in a manner to tell me to stay away from her car.” Mr Willmore grabbed a fire extinguisher from his workshop but it failed to put out the flames. Another motorist also tried to extinguish the flames.

Mr Willmore added: “The heat was getting more and more intense and the flames were growing. I could no longer see inside. There was nothing that could be done to help the person inside.

“There was no attempt by the person to get out. In my opinion it was against all human instincts for someone to stay inside that car.” Ms Sutton-Smith was dead by the time fire fighters arrived to put out the blaze.

Fire officer Andrew Clayton said: “The circumstances indicate that this was a deliberate act. She remained in the vehicle after ramming a car and then sat with the front wheels spinning until fire developed.

“The front nearside passenger wheel gouged into the road surface by 50mm and the tyre was totally destroyed by the friction. This would have produced sparks igniting fluid, most probably brake fluid.” The inquest heard that Ms Sutton-Smith, who had previously worked behind the bar at a working men’s club in Ashton sub Edge, had a history of erratic behaviour and suffered from bipolar disorder.

Alan Crickmore, the Gloucestershire coroner, said that her mental condition meant that she failed to appreciate the danger she was in.

He said “At no time, prior to becoming incapicitated, was Serena trapped in her vehicle. She was certainly able to get out of it when Mr Willmore opened the door and invited her to do so.

“I am driven to the conclusion that if at any time she had wanted to do so before becoming incapacitated she could have got out of the car and would not have died as a result of the fire.

“I am satisfied the fire was started because of her deliberate actions. But I am far from satisfied that at that point in time it was her clear intention that death would ensue.

“I think it is more likely than not that she failed to understand the peril she was in and the consequences of her actions.” He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

[126coupe]

Went off her meds.

[Heel n Toe]

"The inquest heard that Paula Small was driving her Fiat Punto when Ms Sutton-Smith emerged from a side road without stopping, causing her to swerve to avoid a collision. Mrs Small was forced on the grass verge and she flashed her lights as Ms Sutton-Smith passed her.

Ms Sutton-Smith then pulled over and Mrs Small stopped a short way in front of her. She was getting out when the Vauxhall Nova rammed her car."

Yeah, probably off her meds, but also, how often does it happen that the in-too-big-of-a-hurry, narcissitic nutjob who commits the error/offense is the one who gets angry when called on it?

I'm sure most people here have many good stories on encounters with that type of driver.

There's a chance Smith wouldn't have "gone postal" if Small hadn't flashed her lights. I'm sure Smith heard that as "YOU IDIOT!"

Which would've been accurate, of course.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Yeah, probably off her meds, but also, how often does it happen that the in-too-big-of-a-hurry, narcissitic nutjob who commits the error/offense is the one who gets angry when called on it?

I'm sure most people here have many good stories on encounters with that type of driver.

There's a chance Smith wouldn't have "gone postal" if Small hadn't flashed her lights. I'm sure Smith heard that as "YOU IDIOT!"

Which would've been accurate, of course.

Yep, Yep, Yep and Yep.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Something about those women who feel the need to hyphenate their surnames...

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Something about those women who feel the need to hyphenate their surnames...

that's funny considering your screen name

[Superman]

Sounds like my ex-wife, except for the "large" thing.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by nostatic

that's funny considering your screen name

Touche.

But I'm not a woman. And that's not my surname.

I am however, prone to occasionally finding myself in flaming vehicles, much to my chagrin...

[gprsh924]

Originally Posted by nostatic

that's funny considering your screen name

zing!

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by nostatic

that's funny considering your screen name

good one!

This mentally imbalanced person committed suicide. More should have been done to remove her from the car. She obviously needed help and didn't get any.

[nynor]

sounds to me like she got plenty of help. imagine forcefully removing her from the car and the legal fiasco that would have ensued. good riddance.

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by nynor

sounds to me like she got plenty of help. imagine forcefully removing her from the car and the legal fiasco that would have ensued. good riddance.

She was someone's wife, mother, sister, aunt. Let's hope your family never needs lifesaving assistance while onlookers argue if they deserve it.

[nynor]

hah! did you read the article? at least three people tried to help her. i'd be ashamed if my wife behaved like that. again, good riddance.

there always has to be some pseudo-sensitive person that wants to take the 'high road'. i would have tried to help her if i was there, but i wouldn't have stuck around to be burnt up with her.

[onlycafe]

if you can't move someone by lighting a fire under their ass, then they undoubtedly don't want to move.

[DARISC]

"suffered from bipolar disorder.

Alan Crickmore, the Gloucestershire coroner, said that her mental condition meant that she failed to appreciate the danger she was in."

No sympathy for the mentally ill?

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by DARISC

"suffered from bipolar disorder.

Alan Crickmore, the Gloucestershire coroner, said that her mental condition meant that she failed to appreciate the danger she was in."

No sympathy for the mentally ill?

Not by some. Nynor would be ashamed if knew anyone mentally ill. No doubt would reflect poorly on him. "Good Riddance" shows how little compassion can come from the self absorbed.

This really has little to do with road rage. That was just a trigger. She could have been sitting on tracks with train bearing down.

[nynor]

ah, terryh, ad hominem attacks. is that the best you can do?

bipolar does not mean incapable of understanding danger. i work with the mentally ill. that is what i do, until i finish respiratory therapy school.

the position you are taking is that because she was mentally ill, she is the victim. that is exactly what one of the main flaws of our system for dealing with the mentally ill happens to be. instead of holding them responsible for their actions and allowing them to face the consequences, we pander to them, allow them to hold us hostage to their actions and illness, and enable their behavior. the fact is that this woman is responsible. period. she created a situation that was not only dangerous to herself, but to everyone in the immediate vicinity. again, good riddance.

now, if you wish to twist my words, a la wife vs. mentally ill, go ahead. have at it. knock yourself out. your argument is flawed and everyone knows it.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by DARISC

"suffered from bipolar disorder.

Alan Crickmore, the Gloucestershire coroner, said that her mental condition meant that she failed to appreciate the danger she was in."

No sympathy for the mentally ill?

to answer this question in a word, no. no sympathy. empathy, yes. sympathy, no. sympathy twists the relationship in an unhealthy way. empathy allows for compassion of their suffering, but also allows the other person to be responsible for their actions.

[TerryH]

Unless a person somehow chooses to be mentally ill, I see them as a victim.

And Nynor, you are the last person I'd want treating anyone I know for anything. Good luck and please practice only in Utah.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by TerryH

Unless a person somehow chooses to be mentally ill, I see them as a victim.

And Nynor, you are the last person I'd want treating anyone I know for anything. Good luck and please practice only in Utah.

and there you have it. they are all victims, even when they victimize others.

its interesting that you have so much compassion, except for someone that you disagree with. good luck with that.