PSA: Lesson Learned don't be distracted at speed, pics inside.
 

My cousin and a field super for my company was on the way into work on Tues AM on the NYS Thruway when he started to smell and see smoke. He could not surmise as to where the smoke was coming from so he started to “look” around in the cabin of the car. Long story short, he switched from the left to the right lane and saw a tandem tractor-trailer a distance away.

In the midst of this confusion he did not realize how fast he at 72 mph (according to the tracking installed) was closing in on the trailer, traveling at 30 mph.

He slammed into the rear of the trailer at 72 mph (less the 30mph for the trailer) for an impact speed of approx 42 mph. He folded the crash bar at the rear of the trailer flat up to it’s chassis.

The car the bounces off the trailer back into the left lane and gets sideswiped by another southbound car.

Thankfully all he had were a sore chest and lacerations from his hand being cut by the windshield.

Take a look at some of the photos.

Moral of the story…..if you have a problem, smoke, fire etc, PULL OVER and STOP the vehicle and get to a safe place. Screw the car.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...rupostfire.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...rageyard14.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...rageyard13.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...rageyard12.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...rageyard11.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...orageyard7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...orageyard4.jpg

I have new respect for Subaru.

Ouch!

All good

That should buff right out. Glad they are okay.

Dave

The only exception should be if you're in a tunnel at the time the car catches fire in which case you should continue to the tunnel exit, then pull over and deal with the fire. Ask me how I know.

Glad they made it out okay, BTW.

gotta like those crumple zones
did you both get whacked with the airbags?
Bill k

He will get a ticket for that stunt...........

real smooth.........

good for him that he survived.

So did he ever figure out the cause of the smoke?

Glad to hear he's OK, as well as the others involved in the accident. That's the most important part.

Wow, glad they're both OK.

well sorted 944 ftw?

Remarkably similar to the Subaru that rear-ended my stationary Dodge Ram at 55mph.

http://granitehead.smugmug.com/Cars/...07_gdfEq-M.jpg

Glad nobody was seriously injured!

I'm thinking I would have backed out of the throttle when the smoke started but perhaps things happened fast.
Jim

Thanks for the well wishes. Everyone is fine, thankfully.

The driver is kicking himself in the ass because he is always the guy speewing safety, safety, safety!

I believe that things just did not register in his brain.

I believe that I would have backed off and if needed abandon ship. He was waiting for the next exit where he normally stops for gas/coffee.

Too bad for the Subi, everyone liked that car. I'll be looking for a new one.

There has got to be a better way to put out a fire.
Glad he's OK. Could have been worse: if he was on the Taconic and crossed over into on-coming traffic.

That's gonna leave a mark!!!!! Glad everyone is OK