Two killed in wrong-way Prius collision

[zenMachine]

The driver of the Chevy pickup was a U.S. Border Patrol agent in his 30s who was driving home from his shift at the Campo station, according to the California Highway Patrol. The other vehicle, a Toyota Prius driven by a woman in her 20s, was traveling eastbound in the highway's westbound lanes at more than 100 mph just before hitting the truck, witnesses told the CHP.

Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said. Authorities said the man was wearing a seat belt, but the woman apparently was not...

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/14064965/detail.html

[rfred]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zenMachine @ Sep 7 2007, 09:39 AM) [snapback]508532[/snapback]</div>

The driver of the Chevy pickup was a U.S. Border Patrol agent in his 30s who was driving home from his shift at the Campo station, according to the California Highway Patrol. The other vehicle, a Toyota Prius driven by a woman in her 20s, was traveling eastbound in the highway's westbound lanes at more than 100 mph just before hitting the truck, witnesses told the CHP.

Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said. Authorities said the man was wearing a seat belt, but the woman apparently was not...

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/14064965/detail.html
[/b]

A terrible tragedy for the people involved, but where is the relevance?

[Winston]

I guess the relevance is that even a Prius cannot protect you in a 100mph collision when you don't wear a seatbelt.

[hyo silver]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Winston @ 2007 09 07 08:05) [snapback]508538[/snapback]</div>

...even a Prius cannot protect you in a 100mph collision when you don't wear a seatbelt.
[/b]

Especially if you're driving on the wrong side of the freeway. Was it suicide?

[Frank Hudon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hyo silver @ Sep 7 2007, 08:11 AM) [snapback]508542[/snapback]</div>

Especially if you're driving on the wrong side of the freeway. Was it suicide?
[/b]

nope idiotcide

[ny biker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Winston @ Sep 7 2007, 11:05 AM) [snapback]508538[/snapback]</div>

I guess the relevance is that even a Prius cannot protect you in a 100mph collision when you don't wear a seatbelt.
[/b]

I think the message is that even a chevy pickup and a seatbelt can't protect you when you get hit by a car going 100 mph.

[rudiger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rfred @ Sep 7 2007, 10:57 AM) [snapback]508535[/snapback]</div>

A terrible tragedy for the people involved, but where is the relevance?[/b]

A Prius, a car known for high fuel economy (not performance) was involved and estimated to be doing 100 mph at the time of impact.

It doesn't sound like the Prius driver was going for maximum fuel economy but, rather, maximum impact force. Considering that the other driver was probably moving along at a good clip, as well, that objective was probably achieved.

[zenMachine]

I find it curious that "witnesses" reported that the Prius was travelling in excess of 100mph. How could anyone determine that? At 2:30am? Of course, according to Toyota, the maximum speed a Prius can sustain is 103mph.

I wonder if the car's blackbox contains the crash info and has been retrieved.

[justlurkin]

I thought the incessant warning beeping if you aren't wearing your seatbelt would drive you nuts well before you reach 100mph in the Prius. :P

Maybe that woman was hearing-impaired or something.

[RobertG]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JustLurkin @ Sep 7 2007, 08:54 AM) [snapback]508579[/snapback]</div>

I thought the incessant warning beeping if you aren't wearing your seatbelt would drive you nuts well before you reach 100mph in the Prius. :P

Maybe that woman was hearing-impaired or something. [/b]

Or she found out how to disable the seat belt warning beep before that high-speed ride.