Posted on 01/26/2008 10:13:45 PM PST by dayglored
(CNN) -- Five young men died Saturday when the car they were in drove off the end of a private airstrip near Ocala, Florida, became airborne for 200 feet and slammed into an oak tree, authorities said.
"This had to be the worst vehicle crash that I have ever seen during my career," said Randy Robinson, a spokesman for the Emergency Medical Services Alliance with 27 years on the job.
The 2008 BMW was split in two in the wreck, which happened at 3:45 a.m., said Lt. Mike Burroughs, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol Troop B.
He told CNN the victims -- 18 to 20 years old and all from the area -- were declared dead at the scene.
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.
"It is evident that the driver of the vehicle saw he was approaching the end of the runway," Burroughs said. "He attempted a braking maneuver and the vehicle slid sideways off the end of the runway."
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
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!"
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.
Idiot kids using a runway as a drag strip.
Flaps, Johnny, FLAPS!!!
Hey, they at least deserve kudos for killing themselves somewhere other than a public highway where they could have killed others.
Fortunately, mammalian populations generally have an excess of males.
The length of the strip caught my eye. Travolta flies airliners. I think he owns three.
My buddy WAS right. Those BMW’s sure can fly!
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...
Someone is going to get sued here. Very rich community with very deep pockets.
These seem to be candidates for Darwin awards, I suppose.
Mile and a half. Pretty big "private" strip. Great drag racing territory, until you hit the end...
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............
BMW perhaps, for not equipping that machine with wings....
Same here.
Some of the crazy stunts I pulled...
I shudder just remembering.
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.
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