1 dead, 1 hurt in crash of Ferrari in Newport Beach

One man was killed and another is clinging to life after their Ferrari jumped a center median on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach and crashed into a flatbed truck coming from the opposite direction.

The accident occurred about 5:15 p.m. today, resulting in an ongoing traffic closure shutting off Pacific Coast Highway between Bayshore Drive and Jamboree Road. The highway is likely to remain blocked for hours, said Sgt. Jerry Lowe of the Newport Beach Police Department.

Investigators are trying to determine what caused the Ferrari to spin out and then cross the center divider, which, in that section of the highway is either a raised curb or a median strip, said Sgt. Evan Sailor, public information officer for the Newport Beach police.

"The Ferrari broke into several pieces," Sailor said. "There's debris everywhere. The vehicle was engulfed in flames when the first officer arrived on the scene."

Eighteen firefighters from the Newport Beach Fire Department worked to douse the fire and rescue the two men trapped in the Ferrari

The passenger died at the scene. Rescue workers used special equipment to extract the driver. He was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where he's listed in critical condition.

The two occupants of the truck were taken to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach to be treated for minor to moderate injuries.

Authorities have not released the names of the victims.

-- Howard Blume

Comments

[Kaonashi]

What is it with Newport Beach and trashed Ferrari's?

[Bill]

I know that Ferraris are often driven very fast but it seems that whenever they are involved in an accident, they either break in half or shatter into pieces killing anyone in the car. They don't seem to be very safe cars. Scan the web and there are dozens of Ferrari accidents that seem to end up the same way.

[Uncle_vito]

Ferraris are difficult cars to drive fast. Too bad this driver had more money than brains.

Vito

[JOE]

I was there before the police or the emergency units arrived. Probably 10 seconds after the impact. I rolled my VIDEO on the IPHONE got about 10 minutes of intensive fire and explosions. I have a lot to say about what I saw tonight. I got the rescue all on VIDEO. Mostly, I have to say, to the ignorant person that got there seconds before me, don't declare anyone dead if you are not sure. I beleive that delayed the rescue. I was willing to jump in and extract the passenger who was just feet from me and the fire hasn't yet overtaken the vehicles. The man screamed the kids are dead. Now, I wish I didn't listen to him. I will have to live with my regrets. Although, seconds later I started yelling, its going to blow up, and it did, just after I finished saying that. I sincerely send my deepest condolences to the families of the two gentelmen. And, I must add, the whole event was needless and very very sad on this special eve, whereby these men should have been gathering with their families rather then being involved in this unbelievable tragedy... VanishingArt@Yahoo.Com.

[Quested]

friend of my friends family was driving
it was a new car his parents got him for Christmas
my heart goes out to the family

[Bee]

When the accident happened, I was waiting at a long signal at Bayshore and PCH, which is about a block before the scene. I didn't know what was going on, but...what bothers me is how fast the police cars were racing to get there. There were 4 or 5 police vehicles headed to the scene from different directions, mostly from the West, all separately at about 20 seconds to 1 minute apart . Yes, they had their lights flashing and the sirens were blaring but man, they were tearing up PCH, steering around traffic and ripping thru the intersection going at least 70 mph, and NOT slowing and checking traffic at the intersection either, whether it was a green or a red light.

I'm sure our police are safe and experienced drivers. However, it was scary to see them blast by cars in the other lanes and go full speed ahead thru the intersection like that. IMO they need to re-think their approach - next time they and some innocent soul might not be so lucky.

[effen_what]

Its crazy right? As many Ferraris that get trashed in accidents you would think that the manufacturer would do something to improve safety and handling. Better off in a Porsche where the handling is like driving on rails. Why would someone buy there kid a Ferrai anyway not knowing if they can handle it? Sometimes people with money are dumber than the ones without it.

[Ben Dog]

Giving a Ferrari to someone who doesnt know how to drive is a bad idea. Its like giving a loaded gun to a kid....Just because a person looks like an adult physically.... Doesnt mean they are an adult mentally. RIP passenger...You prob didn't deserve this. Was the driver Nick Hogan?

[mackie]

To Joe up there: Try not to carry the burden for the outcome of this accident. The outcome of this, was not in your hands. The circumstances that delayed involvement by others, may have actually saved your life. My understanding, is that the Fire department needed equipment to extract driver. Had you and others tried to extract them yourself, you may have been injured. Have no regrets, other than for the grief of their families. Be at peace with this. These things are in the hands of a higher power.
Be at peace my friend.

[Dino]

hey bee,

Hopefully you never need the cops to come and help you. If you ever need help, maybe they should just take their time. Stop being a critic about how they do the job unless your willing to do the same. I doubt it.

[August]

It must be nice getting a Ferrari for Christmas.

[RichDavid]

you don't have to have a Ferrari to be a bad driver. So. Cal. if full of stupid, bad drivers, driving way too fast.
Most are young and inexperienced boys, men? Cutting in and out on the Freeways at 80,90, 100 miles per hour. Who cares if they kill themselves? Just don't take innocent people with you! All these wrecks are caused by stupidity.

[TheBigPicture]

At least this idiot didn't kill any innocent victims...

He should have got some driving lessons with his car...

Idiots...

[cash4acres]

Most who race on the Track use Japanese & American cars! They last longer and don't break down. As for the "European sports cars", they are only show in Orange County. They "eat cash" at the track, and the American & Japanese cars use them as "traffic cones"... Most owners never been on a track, and in So. California we have many tracks for the real racers: California Raceway Fontana, Buttonwillow Bakersfield, Willowsprings Rosamond/Lancaster, Irwindale, El Toro Marine Corps Air Station! These "knuckleheads" have an OLIVE Brain vs. Human Brain!

[anthony]

its a horrible accident.... no words can take the pain the families of the victims are going through.

the main problem with these (not only ferraris) is that the tires are cold and take time to heat up and actually perform as they where designed to perform. i have seen it many times owners getting into these powerfull machines without thinking about their tires being cold and not at temperatures to keep it from sliding out.... they end up wrapping it around a street light pole.

you cant keep a powerfull performance car from spinning out of control with cold tires.....

[ferrariowner]

cash4acres, I don't think you paint a completely accurate picture of Ferraris. I DO agree that it has become a poseur car in Orange County and many of those driving them have no business behind the wheel. I also agree that they are much more temperamental than Japanese cars. American cars are no more reliable, but certainly cost much less to maintain. However, to assert that "American and Japanese cars use them as traffic cones" is ridiculous. Maybe you're saying the drivers don't know how to handle the cars at the track and get in the way (i.e. more money than driving skills), but a Ferrari is certainly on a different planet when it comes to handling (when in the hands of a capable driver)(Note that I love all kinds of cars and have driven them many...the F-car is a different beast). However, the MR configuration is not for everyone, especially those who don't understand the simple laws of physics associated with a car weighted at the rear. Uncle_vito is right. This sounds like a case of the driver making a quick lane change and having the rear of the car come around on him and going in the opposite direction before he knows it. Truly tragic, and if the post about a kids parents purchasing it as a Christmas gift are true, then that really sucks.

[XDetoursX]

I can't believe the amount of stupid comments regarding this article. Let's see:

"I was willing to jump in and extract the passenger who was just feet from me.." Would have, could have, should have...So why didn't you? Apparently taking video was more important.

"I know that Ferraris are often driven very fast but it seems that whenever they are involved in an accident, they either break in half or shatter into pieces killing anyone in the car." Maybe you should do some research and learn something before you post. The cars are built that way. They are meant to break apart at high speed in order to reduce the impact to the driver similar to an F-1 car.

"...what bothers me is how fast the police cars were racing to get there... it was scary to see them blast by cars in the other lanes and go full speed ahead thru the intersection like that" What are you, 3 years old? I hope the next time you have an emergency and need the police they take their sweet time getting there.

"...Ferraris that get trashed in accidents you would think that the manufacturer would do something to improve safety and handling. Better off in a Porsche where the handling is like driving on rails" Ferraris have been making race and exotic cars for over 50 years. I'm fairly certain they know what they are doing. Doesn't mean the cars are meant to be driven 100 mph on the highway. Even your precious Porsche would have been crumpled up like a tin can. Maybe you should write Ferrari to tell them they don't know how to build a car?

"At least this idiot didn't kill any innocent victims..." So what would you consider the passenger then? Try reading the article next time.

"Most who race on the Track use Japanese & American cars!" Ha, ha, ha.. Oh really? Could that be because Miata's and Chevy's are cheap piles of doo doo? Every heard of the Ferrari Challenge, or the American Lemans Series or The Rolex Sports Car Series

"the main problem with these (not only ferraris) is that the tires are cold and take time to heat up" Maybe if you're on the track that means something, but no amount of heat in the tires is going to keep a car on the road when the driver is going way too fast on city streets.

[Lando]

Whats the speed limit on PCH? 40-45? tops? how fast where they going to show off?

[Just Me]

I feel for the family of the passenger what a sad day it will be forever in there hearts and memories. If this car was truly a gift to their son, how pitiful to give a gift like that, they might as well given him a gun and told him to go play Russian Roulette.

Oh and Bee...

Just for your information, are you sure that you were there or just reading it from the news article that states the wrong street, because every day I pass by Bayside Drive where the accident happened.

[Joker]

This wouldn't be news if it was a Toyota.

[Cheddman]

Nope. I don't feel an ounce of sympathy for these two or their families. You risk MY life by driving like that -- or inviting it by buying your kid a Ferrari -- and you lose any respect due other humans.

None of us "deserves" life. Especially not these fools.

[David McCrary]

I went by AM after to have a look at the scene of the accident.
Lots of yellow paint on the ground. The smell of fuel. Small pieces of clear plastic. It was a bit surreal.

It is my opinion that there was some sort of race between two cars, though no evidence of that yet. That is usually what happens, especially if the driver is easily provoked in to a "race".

The north bound side, where the Ferrari was originally headed, and prior to skipping over the raised median, had evidence of serious braking, in fact it ws surprising to see there is considerable amount of tire left on the far right lane, and then the car swerves hard to the left, and jumped over the median and hit the back of a tow truck that too was trying to get out of its way.

My best guess, 150 MPH. Not sure if he entered PCH from Jamboree and that hard sweeping right did him in. This seems unlikely.

My guess is he was speeding along and just after Jamboree he hit the gas hard, its a sweeping down hill right turn, he swearved left, hit the brakes (did this car have ABS? can it be switched off?), then car moved hard right to the slow lane, then left, over the median and WHAM. Dead young man, only 24. Hope the other makes it. Terrible time to happen too.

No disrespect meant, but not an untold story over the years with untrained Ferrari owners. Its a complex machine that requires respect.

[John Bryans Fontaine]

Physics is physics. People get killed more often in Ferraris because they are going much faster than other cars when they lose control. Remember, Princess Di was killed while riding in a Mercedes that was speeding. Does that make Mercedes unsafe?

[John Bryans Fontaine]

XDetoursX is absolutely correct, many of the comments were laughable. And the Porsche fan neglected to mention the car's nasty, notorious habit of swinging it's tail out in corners.

[BB]

Did they ever say who the survivor is?