Well, I guess the W126 ISN'T indestructable (MUST SEE) - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ConnClark · #46 11-13-2006, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

I imagine the force of the impact was the contributer to her death, not necessarily the fact the car split.......

Half a car has a lot less mass/inertia than a whole car. Being in just half a car could make the accelerations on the occupant a lot more severe.

JimmyL · #47 11-13-2006, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConnClark

Half a car has a lot less mass/inertia than a whole car. Being in just half a car could make the accelerations on the occupant a lot more severe.

Well, she was in the whole car when the impact happened, right????? She did not take the impact in just half the car. The impact sheared the car and impacted her at the same time.

I'm not sure what point we are getting at exactly. I just know that is a very haunting photo.........
When your parents, or parent, start to get into the elderly age bracket, side impacts are what worry you the most. That is what I fear the most with my sainted mother.

pwogaman · #48 11-13-2006, 08:03 PM

More sad details from the incident:

The motorist who died, Chinsu Park Un, 78, of Radcliffe Drive, was attempting to turn left onto Casho Mill Road from Elkton Road when her 1984 Mercedes was hit by a speeding blue 2004 Saturn Ion, driven by Christopher Monaco, 20, of the Brookside development near Newark.

To see the whole article:

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200661113045

From the description and the picture it appears the Mercedes was hit from the left at the rear door at about a 45 degree angle. The impact must have pushed the rear passenger door in allowing the Saturn to climb up the rear door rocker panel and wheel well. The Saturn's front end must have climbed up wheel well and caught at the back of the door opening. The force of trhe Saturn pushing on the back of the car with its front end caught at the rear door must have literally pulled (ripped) the back from the front. The W126 is plenty strong when it comes to pressure coming into the cabin, but, evidently, not so strong when it comes to tensile strength.

BodhiBenz1987 · #49 11-13-2006, 09:59 PM

VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061113/VIDEO01/311130003 Shows different angles as well as the Saturn. Saturn's front is pretty torn up, but I still don't think it would have torn the Mercedes. There's damage to the left hand door on the Mercedes as well, the non-impact side, which had to have been either from striking the pole or from rescue workers. Perhaps the impact of the Saturn and the impact of the pole created the perfect storm? I still don't believe it is physically doable on a solid car. I think it was a chop job, based on the photos of rear ends posted above. Wish I could find out for sure ... I'll ask at the office tomorrow if anyone knows more. Wish I could check out the vehicle in person ... I enjoy physics-related puzzles.

The whole thing is tragic, whatever happened. It's one thing when A-holes in rice rockets kill themselves ... but when they kill an innocent lady ...

JimmyL · #50 11-13-2006, 10:40 PM

Keep the info coming, and thanks for the link to the video. It is tragic, but fascinating.

Hey, btw, how 'bout Romo!!

Hatterasguy · #51 11-13-2006, 10:59 PM

The car was a 1984 300SD, look at the trunk.

Maybe it was pretty rusty? Looks like the Saturn nailed it real hard and pushed it into the pole.

The Saturn held up extremly well, crash protection has come a long way in 20 years. I have seen pictures of a 2006 G35 nailed in about the same way by a van at 40mph and the damage was much less. The side impact airbags protected the drivers head as well.

BigBadBenz · #52 11-13-2006, 11:56 PM

the scrapings on the pavement and curbing that lead toward the grass...could that show that it the front half was dragged up there like others said, to clear the intersection? If you think about it, that would be a simple way to clear a path. You can put it on flatbad, but that woul take longer than puttin it onthe median and deal with it later... Esp if rush hour was coming.

bgkast · #53 11-14-2006, 01:24 AM

I'm betting it was a weld together too

A saturn racing a 350Z? Why even bother? Not even sure that could be considered a race.

whunter · #54 11-14-2006, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H-townbenzoboy

Just sad. I hope they find that Nissan that was involved. They're probably gonna charge that Saturn driver with vehicular manslaughter, well, at least I hope, and that Nissan driver needs to be charged with something as well.

When John/Jane Doe's are committing a criminal act, drag racing in this case, and someone dies, all persons can be charged with MURDER, because if they had not been breaking the law, this person would be alive today.

Should the prosecutor feel generous, it may be lowered to involuntary manslaughter.

From the Mayors statement; I suggest they will demand the MAXIMUM possible penalty for this crime.

Have a great day.

justinperkins · #55 03-20-2007, 01:42 PM

Here's a follow-up:

Quote:

Two men were indicted in a Nov. 11 car crash that killed a 78-year-old Newark woman.

Jason Brower, 28, and Christopher Monaco, 20, were indicted Monday on charges they killed Chinsu Park Un. Brower was charged with manslaughter, and Monaco was charged with second-degree murder.

According to police, Monaco was racing his Saturn Ion with Brower's Nissan 350Z south on Elkton Road when Monaco slammed into Un's Mercedes Benz 300. The impact ripped Un's car in two. Police said Un was turning from Elkton Road onto Casho Mill Road when the Saturn hit her car. Un was taken to Christiana Hospital, where she died. Monaco was treated at Christiana Hospital.

Investigators said the Saturn's speedometer was frozen at 82 mph, but did not know if that was Monaco's speed. The speed limit there is 40 mph.

Here's the article (don't know how long it will be active though): http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070307/NEWS/703070372/1006/NEWS

DslBnz · #56 03-20-2007, 02:13 PM

Cars like that W126 should not be allowed on the road.

This is exactly why a car should never be "repaired" after a massive collision. When the unibody is spent, its time to move on.

justinperkins · #57 03-20-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DslBnz

Cars like that W126 should not be allowed on the road.

This is exactly why a car should never be "repaired" after a massive collision. When the unibody is spent, its time to move on.

Yeah but there is too many a**hole body shop hacks out there who care about nothing more than making a cheap buck.