Five dead after car crashes off end of private airstrip

CNN.com ^ | Sat Jan 26, 2008 | (none given)

[dayglored]

... The car flew through the air for 200 feet, he said, and struck an oak tree 15 feet off the ground, splitting the vehicle in two.

Three of the occupants were ejected -- one landing 40 feet away, Burroughs said.

The engine block of the BMW was completely dislodged and wreckage from the car was found over a 200-square-foot area, the FHP spokesman said.

It was not known if the victims were wearing seat belts and the agency was awaiting the results of toxicology tests from the medical examiner's office to find out if alcohol or drugs played a role, Burroughs said.

Ya think???

"Hold muh beer and watch this!"

[monkeyshine]

Sad. Sounds like they wanted to see how fast they could drive the car. I guess the runway lights were off. Private airstrip? Probably only 3000-3500 feet - about 1/2 mile.

[Ronin]

Idiot kids using a runway as a drag strip.

[Bob]

Flaps, Johnny, FLAPS!!!

[umgud]

Hey, they at least deserve kudos for killing themselves somewhere other than a public highway where they could have killed others.

[rawhide]

[Royal Wulff]

Fortunately, mammalian populations generally have an excess of males.

[Ronin]

Burroughs said it was not clear how the car got onto the private Greystone community airstrip -- the same one actor John Travolta uses for his aircraft -- but the car was driving north on Runway 36, which is 1.5 miles long.

The length of the strip caught my eye. Travolta flies airliners. I think he owns three.

[VanShuyten]

My buddy WAS right. Those BMW’s sure can fly!

[dayglored]

> Idiot kids using a runway as a drag strip.

Yep, that's what I figure too.

Thinking back to when -I- was driving around at 18-20, it's a wonder I didn't get killed too...

[hole_n_one]

7,550 ft

Source

[Ronin]

Someone is going to get sued here. Very rich community with very deep pockets.

[stylin19a]

He attempted a braking maneuver and the vehicle slid sideways off the end of the runway."

braking and sideways...yet flew 200 feet in the air ? is that possible ?

[dayglored]

> Fortunately, mammalian populations generally have an excess of males.

These seem to be candidates for Darwin awards, I suppose.

[dayglored]

> Sad. Sounds like they wanted to see how fast they could drive the car. I guess the runway lights were off. Private airstrip? Probably only 3000-3500 feet - about 1/2 mile.

Mile and a half. Pretty big "private" strip. Great drag racing territory, until you hit the end...

[doorgunner69]

2008 BMW? Teenage driver and passengers? Rich spoiled liberal brats with daddy’s graduation present no doubt. Sorry, but BMW drivers are a gold plated punchline these days............

[Schwaeky]

BMW perhaps, for not equipping that machine with wings....

[Ronin]

Same here.

Some of the crazy stunts I pulled...

I shudder just remembering.

[hole_n_one]

[dayglored]

> braking and sideways...yet flew 200 feet in the air ? is that possible ?

And don't forget, hit an oak tree 15 feet off the ground at the end of that 200 foot-long flight.

He must have been going at an unbelievable rate of speed, plus the runway was elevated somewhat above the surrounding ground.

No, that 200 feet isn't altitude. It's distance.