Man dies on National Mall after getting pinned by art car painted by Andy Warhol

The Washington Times ^ | 18 September 2025 | Brad Matthews

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

The car in question was the 1979 24 Heures du Mans IMSA GTO category No. 76 Hervé Poulain BMW M1 that he drove with Manfred Winkelhock and Marcel Mignot. Winkelhock was killed at the 1985 Budweiser 1000 at Mosport (FIA sportscar championship) event when his Porsche 962C had a vicious crash into the Turn 2 wall in what was a deadly season for Porsche's 956-based cars. (The next round at Spa, Stefan Belloff would die in a crash with Jacky Ickx at Radillon)

Mr. Poulain was the mastermind of the BMW Art Car project, which celebrates 50 years this year and this was part of the 50th anniversary exhibit scheduled for the National Mall.


The 1979 BMW Art Car in question, from the 24 Heures du Mans.

[ConservativeMind]

This is now his 15 minutes of fame, unfortunately.

[dfwgator]

When it’s your time....

[gundog]

Crushed by a Warhol. I guess you be killed trying to make a van go, too.

[x]

Art kills.

Time to ban all art.

[1Old Pro]

Was it Janis Joplin that had the painted Porche 911?

https://www.americanbluesscene.com/2018/01/janis-joplins-porsche-1/

[Billthedrill]

I was expecting a soup can.

[jimtorr]

Not to make light of the fatality, but I don’t think I like anything I’ve seen of Warhol’s work.

[EVO X]

Metropolitan Police officials told WJLA-TV that a winch failed as the man unloaded the 1979 BMW M1 Art Car from a flatbed truck and the car fell on top of him.

My take is the car didn't fall on the victim, but rather rolled over him when the wench failed.

[central_va]

I hate when that happens.

[EVO X]

The trucking company will get various visits from the feds. OSHA, NTSB and etc...

[Clay Moore]

“ My take is the car didn’t fall on the victim, but rather rolled over him when the wench failed”

It’s hard to find a good wench.

[Peter ODonnell]

A case of art instigates death.

[x]

Anton wouldn't have minded if it he'd pinned down been a wench, instead of his SUV.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Worst. Paintjob. Ever.

[fella]

The first rule of using a winch;

Do not be under the load.

[plain talk]

The 'artist' at work.

[EVO X]

LOL. Looks like I need to take the spelling error walk of shame.

[hoosierham]

Failed to observe safety rules.

[MeanWestTexan]

“Crushed by a Warhol. I guess you be killed trying to make a van go, too.”

A mat tis he now.