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Man dies on National Mall after getting pinned by art car painted by Andy Warhol
The Washington Times ^ | 18 September 2025 | Brad Matthews

Posted on 09/18/2025 9:51:15 AM PDT by WhiteHatBobby0701

A man unloading a BMW painted by Andy Warhol on the National Mall died Wednesday after a winch gave way and trapped him under the car.

The accident happened just before 3 p.m. near 14th Street and Jefferson Drive SW.

A U.S. Park Police spokesperson told WTOP-FM that the victim, who was not identified, died at the scene from critical injuries after first responders had tried to save his life.

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.

The car was set to be featured in an exhibition on the Mall by the nonprofit Hagerty Drivers Foundation.

Mr. Warhol painted the car in under 30 minutes in 1979; the vehicle was then used in that year’s 24 Heures du Mans, finishing second in its category and sixth overall, according to the Hagerty Drivers Foundation website.

The foundation’s “Cars at the Capital 2025” exhibition is now canceled, according to the foundation’s social media post on Thursday.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography
KEYWORDS: 24heuresdumans; andywarhol; bmw; imsa
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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.

1 posted on 09/18/2025 9:51:15 AM PDT by WhiteHatBobby0701
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

This is now his 15 minutes of fame, unfortunately.


2 posted on 09/18/2025 9:58:18 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

When it’s your time....


3 posted on 09/18/2025 10:00:26 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

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


4 posted on 09/18/2025 10:01:19 AM PDT by gundog (The ends justify the mean tweets. )
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

Art kills.

Time to ban all art.


5 posted on 09/18/2025 10:02:19 AM PDT by x
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

Was it Janis Joplin that had the painted Porche 911?

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


6 posted on 09/18/2025 10:05:22 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

I was expecting a soup can.


7 posted on 09/18/2025 10:11:09 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

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


8 posted on 09/18/2025 10:11:14 AM PDT by jimtorr
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701
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.

9 posted on 09/18/2025 10:12:43 AM PDT by EVO X ( )
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To: EVO X

I hate when that happens.


10 posted on 09/18/2025 10:13:49 AM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: central_va

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


11 posted on 09/18/2025 10:18:15 AM PDT by EVO X ( )
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To: EVO X

“ 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.


12 posted on 09/18/2025 10:24:28 AM PDT by Clay Moore (My pistol identifies as a cordless hole punch. )
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To: All

A case of art instigates death.


13 posted on 09/18/2025 10:27:20 AM PDT by Peter ODonnell (The scoffers will say where is the promise of His coming? Turn on your damn TV)
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To: EVO X
Anton wouldn't have minded if it he'd pinned down been a wench, instead of his SUV.


14 posted on 09/18/2025 10:31:42 AM PDT by x
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

Worst. Paintjob. Ever.


15 posted on 09/18/2025 10:32:32 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

The first rule of using a winch;

Do not be under the load.


16 posted on 09/18/2025 10:45:42 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again," )
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701
The 'artist' at work.


17 posted on 09/18/2025 10:54:14 AM PDT by plain talk
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To: x; Clay Moore

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


18 posted on 09/18/2025 10:56:40 AM PDT by EVO X ( )
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To: fella

Failed to observe safety rules.


19 posted on 09/18/2025 11:20:51 AM PDT by hoosierham (Freedom isnt free)
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To: gundog

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

A mat tis he now.


20 posted on 09/18/2025 11:38:33 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Sometimes There Is No Lesser Of Two Evils)
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