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.
I have new respect for Subaru.