1300 hp mercury comet brake failure crash

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mopardude318 said:
**** I’ve been driving without a parking brake for years.
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I wasn't planning on re-installing mine after the subframe connectors, but I damn sure am now.

Smart people learn from their mistakes. Wise people learn from the mistakes of others. I'm installing mine today.
 
Just Send It said:
I wasn't planning on re-installing mine after the subframe connectors, but I damn sure am now.

Smart people learn from their mistakes. Wise people learn from the mistakes of others. I'm installing mine today.
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Yea I gotta get some cables made. I kinda want to install a fuel cutoff switch too. My fuel pump is on with the key on. I’d like to separate that function. Same for ignition.
 
When I had my trans out I checked everything under the Dart and the emergency brake cables were a little saggy, I guess after 52 years they stretched some! They are fine now. I always use the emergency brake when I park, now it's actually doing something!
 
Jeff Seighman said:
When I had my trans out I checked everything under the Dart and the emergency brake cables were a little saggy, I guess after 52 years they stretched some! They are fine now. I always use the emergency brake when I park, now it's actually doing something!
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PARKING brake, not an emergency brake.

when did that change? It’s used for parking, not emergencies.

as for the rest of the brakes, nothing to do with this, it’s a stuck throttle, that’s it
 
It's been called by both names ever since I can remember. If your brakes failed, you wouldn't try your PARKING BRAKE, I would.
 
92b said:
I'm not excusing what happened and there is a lot to be learned from this. But i'll ask a few questions to be answered to yourself ( not on this thread).

At anytime in your life have you knowingly driven a vehicle with brakes that weren't working properly?

Do you test the emergency brake on a regular bases to make sure it works before you go for a drive?

Have you ever driven a vehicle with out safety belts or not buckeled up in one that does have belts even if it's just for a short trip?

Have you ever made a split second decision in an emergency situation that after having time to think it over you would have done differently?

Please don't give your answers in this thread.
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I thought about all that. Lots of differences, that I WILL answer in this thread. First and foremost is the timeline. Back when a lot of us did stupid stuff like that, there was nothing around in the outskirts of town. Nothing. No traffic, either. Just open spaces. Secondly, there are WAY fewer guys that have 1000 plus HP cars. Lastly, I HOPE those that do are not as stupid.
 
Just Send It said:
I wasn't planning on re-installing mine after the subframe connectors, but I damn sure am now.

Smart people learn from their mistakes. Wise people learn from the mistakes of others. I'm installing mine today.
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It's a good idea. The braking system is incomplete without one. You can trace the parking/emergency brake all the way back to the 1920s and even before to the horse and buggy days.
 
mopar head said:
:wtf:You hating on him for? he`s like an innocent bystander.
I bet in the future he`ll be telling drivers to stop the car and let me the hell out!
:rolleyes:
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The innocent bystanders were the people in the van and the other car that got smashed. His 'show', his liability.
 
jos51700 said:
The innocent bystanders were the people in the van and the other car that got smashed. His 'show', his liability.
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Nope, All liability lands on the driver/owner.
When Leno went upside down in the Hemi underglass, you think Jay would be liable for the drivers injury, if he was injured?:rolleyes:

No difference if you had a facebook page and posted ride alongs of friends hotrods.
He wrecks and injures somebody and you, do you think your liable?
I think Judge would think different, or you better hope so.
Owners car, owners liability, show or not.
 
mopar head said:
Nope, All liability lands on the driver/owner.
When Leno went upside down in the Hemi underglass, you think Jay would be liable for the drivers injury, if he was injured?:rolleyes:

No difference if you had a facebook page and posted ride alongs of friends hotrods.
He wrecks and injures somebody and you, do you think your liable?
I think Judge would think different, or you better hope so.
Owners car, owners liability, show or not.
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Leno's crash didn't hurt people outside the vehicle. Did Leno's accident happen on the street? There's those pesky reasons behind why and where it was done that way, and Leno is an old pro at this, not some amateur trying to 'get more views'.

What you're saying is like saying that they had an accident filming Predator and helicopter landed on your house and messed it up and hurt you inside it, and only the pilot is liable.
Nope.

The production company is liable. They were filming a show, and the people filming the show had a responsibility to make sure the vehicle was operated in a safe manner. Ergo, the dipshit who pushed for 'views' over safety: just as liable as the rest of the chuckleheads running that outfit.

Let me posit this:
Why do you think they made another video about it?
Apology to minivan driver?
Nope.
Public service announcement?
Maybe. See below.
Announcement of change in policy to prevent further tragedy?
Nope.
MORE VIEWS.

What's the last thing he says in the video? Sorry to Minivan Driver?
NO.
"Thanks for watching the show. Thanks for help us in continuing to grow the channel. BLAH BLAH BLAH." I know where his priorities are.

Or did he voluntarily demonetize the follow-up video?
 
jos51700 said:
dipshit who pushed for 'views' over safety:
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He had no Idea the car was screwed until the last minute and by then It was too late:rolleyes:
Maybe after all this All youtubers will be required to carry liability insurance.
Will see , if , this goes to court.

When did youtubers become production company`s?
 
mopar head said:
He had no Idea the car was screwed until the last minute and by then It was too late:rolleyes:
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You can't honestly say that. This is the era where people launch balloons and tell the news that their kid is inside. For the 'views'.
This is the era where people intentionally crash their planes. For the 'views'.
That's part of the problem I have with his followup video. It doesn't address the problem, it really seems geared more towards getting more 'views'.

IF he'd said, "I'm not going to show you what happened, and I'm demonetizing this, and these are the changes we're making moving forward, and we're really really really really sorry to all involved.....then we'll talk.
But, he didn't.

mopar head said:
When did youtubers become production company`s?
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That was kind of my point. These are amateurs that are trying to get rich and famous through media notoriety rather than hard work and dedication. There's a right way and a wrong way. This is the wrong way.

All I know is, if that'd been my wife and kids in that minivan, and I saw this video, I'd go find and buy a Mercury Comet with the explicit intention of driving it right through this guy's asshole.

I don't even blame the owner of the car. I doubt he got a paid a dime from the channel. But I KNOW the people putting on the show made money on this deal.
 
jos51700 said:
I don't even blame the owner of the car.
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Sorry, that`s where ALL the liability falls.
I bet ya:
1. He got the ticket for faulty equipment, failure to control a motor vehicle. and who knows what else.
2. His insurance co. paid for a rental, and value of the car he smashed into.
3. His ins. co. paid for any/all medical bills to the same people.
4. His ins. co. paid for the damage and any injuries to the other car he side swiped.
5. His ins. co. Paid for the host`s teeth and any other injuries that may of happened to him.
The people may take both the driver and the host to civil court for negligence.
We`ll see.
I`d like to see Lehto`s take of what the victims can or can not do in court.
We need a lawyer from calif. to chime in.
 
mopar head said:
Sorry, that`s where ALL the liability falls.
I bet ya:
1. He got the ticket for faulty equipment, failure to control a motor vehicle. and who knows what else.
2. His insurance co. paid for a rental, and value of the car he smashed into.
3. His ins. co. paid for any/all medical bills to the same people.
4. His ins. co. paid for the damage and any injuries to the other car he side swiped.
5. His ins. co. Paid for the host`s teeth and any other injuries that may of happened to him.
The people may take both the driver and the host to civil court for negligence.
We`ll see.
I`d like to see Lehto`s take of what the victims can or can not do in court.
We need a lawyer from calif. to chime in.
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I don't disagree with you, but I suspect that the shows' insurance (if they have any) will get thoroughly lubricated and screwed in this threesome as well. The host had plenty of opportunities to shut things down.

I just said that I don't blame him....
 
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Jeff Seighman said:
I hope the folks in that other car are OK and they sue the hell out of that idiot Comet owner, hell the lawyers will have it easy, the video speaks to the Comet owner's ignorance. The passenger should have known better too, he's done enough hot rod video's.
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No kidding. They knew the throttle was sticking and still took it out... IDIOT.

The attorney for the people in the minivan should get this video if they did state that. Not just negligent, GROSS NEGLIGENCE.

Hi perf cars with Lo Perf driver.... panic much? No contingency plan for if the throttle stuck AGAIN. Hit the ignition, not try to put it in park. LMAO Nice car got crushed because the driver was a knucklehead. Great job.
 
RustyRatRod said:
That's what I would have done. In fact, that's what the LAW says. You always steer to the right in an emergency. Weren't there a few trees on the other side of the curb?
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Was it the Sonny Bono Memorial highway? :lol:
 
Jeff Seighman said:
It's been called by both names ever since I can remember. If your brakes failed, you wouldn't try your PARKING BRAKE, I would.
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RustyRatRod said:
Lots of people do, but now you can see it can cost you big time.
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How would it cost you big time? It wouldn’t in this situation AT ALL.

throttle stuck on a 1,000hp vehicle, no brakes were stopping that situation without decoupling the engine from the rear axle (Neutral or killing engine) as the accident happened the hydraulic brake system was already comprised from driving around with the brakes applied and fighting a sticking throttle.

Would ANY smaller parking brake system, most being cable driven have a fighting chance against 1,000 hp at 40 mph? Nope.

Prove me wrong, jam your throttle at 2200 RPM like the driver said he did, neglect to put the car in N and stop your car with the parking brake, guarantee I can’t get my daily driver civic to stop by the parking brake only.
 
depending how fast you are going if you happen to lock those rear brakes it could easily put you into a bad *** spin.

personally i think throwing in neutral would probably been best. even if ihe throttle is stuck wide open. rather blow the engine then total that car and mini van.
 
Turn the motor off and mash that emergency brake may not stop it, but it's sure as hell going to slow it down and hopefully minimize any injuries or damage.
 
Funny memory, my brother had an ol gmc square body and it WOT on him.
scared him pretty good I imagine. moved his truck one day and could hardly press the accelerator, felt like he used a hood spring for a return spring.:rofl:
 
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