Posted on 05/27/2005 12:32:56 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A tourist flipped his rented SUV on the world-renowned ``crookedest street,'' police say.
The unidentified man, driving the sport utility vehicle with Washington state license plates, realized Thursday he was driving with his emergency brake on. He tried to fix the problem, but soon smelled smoke and burning brakes. He pulled over, put the car in neutral and looked for the brake release, said Sgt. Neville Gittens, San Francisco police spokesman.
He found it, but as soon as he released it, the vehicle started to roll downhill on Lombard Street. Eventually, the SUV flipped onto its side. Gittens said at least three other passengers also were in the vehicle.
No other cars were hit, but the man's daughter received minor cuts climbing out a window.
Man, I will bet that was a pain in the butt to clear out.
driving with the emergency brake on.. SMART
Lombard St; designed in 1967 by a city civil engineer on acid
ping~!
Finally! A "SUV Kills" story that put the blame where it belongs.
"They have a street called Lombard Street that goes straight down; and they're not satisfied with you killing yourself that way. They put grooves and curves in it and then they put flowers there where they've buried the people that have killed themselves. Lombard Street, wonderful street" -- Bill Cosby
Rented SUV, huh? I sure hope he bought the damage waiver.
OK -- be a lawyer for a second. The rental car companies at SFO *ALL* set the parking brake when they park the car, even in their level garages. So, when you rent a car at the SFO airport, YOU have to remember to release the brake before driving away.
I'll betcha this guy is a novice renter, never uses the parking brake in his own vehicle, had no reason to suspect it was set, since the SUV motor can easily override the parking brake. AND he was unfamiliar with this make and model.
It is the rental car company's fault, not the driver's fault.
I'm sorry --- it's Bush's fault.
Anything coming out of San Francisco doesn't surprise me one iota.
Location: steep hill; check.
Transmission: neutral; check.
Brake: release; check.
Wha? What happened? Why did the car roll?
Maybe it's time for mandatory minimum IQ standards for drivers' licenses.
Bill Cosby's bit about driving in San Francisco was the first time I'd ever heard of Lombard Street. To this day, the memory can crack me up.
Who doesn't use the parking brake? Are there actually people who park without it?
Thanks for the pic. Love that street.
BINGO!!!
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