300D - Fatal accident - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

derburger · #16 10-26-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

This is a sad story. It is IRRESPONSIBLE to speculate or link LoveCraft to the accident. It could have been any cars, any makes, any manufactures, any after market equipment added. Why link an accident to any alternative fuel or a particular vendor.

We at PeachParts.com know more about 1983 300 diesels than the press. Perhaps you are satisfied with "ran out of gas" as an explanation for this accident. Maybe it was a Lovecraft conversion, which is widely known here to be the 240d kiss of death. Since you own the same type of car you should want to know what caused this tragedy to prepare your own cars accordingly. The "green engineer" in your sig probably means you run your 240d fleet on zombie KFC grease but that is an assumption that I am making.

P.S Most 20 year old girls would never in a thousand years want to own a 1983 Mercedes diesel unless it, the fuel, maintenance and insurance were free from their parents, even then they would still probably hate it. But that is just speculation...

okyoureabeast · #17 10-26-2009, 08:44 PM

Sometimes I wish cars came equipped with the hazard triangles.

Unless the article specifically says what happened we can only speculate. Blaming lovecraft is just pointless until we know more details.

Someone should send the reporter an email.

theo3000 · #18 10-26-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

...Seated in the car with seat belt on and headrest in position should have protected her fairly well even in an airbagless '83. .....

That why I guessed she was out of the car. Even if the Saturn was doing 100, I doubt it would have caused a fatality if the MB driver was in the driver's seat.

littlerobot · #19 10-26-2009, 10:37 PM

The older the car is, especially without airbags, means interstate / freeway driving should be kept to a minimum, I think. I have a 15 year-old daughter who loves the vintage look of my 1984 300D, and has asked for one for her first car. I think it's a good idea, as long as she stays off the interstate. However, this girl who was killed was on the shoulder, and I assume (hope) she had her hazards on. Sometimes, a driver can do everything right and get killed by another driver who is doing something wrong. This is the part that scares me! The wreck that kills you doesn't have to be your fault.

MBeige · #20 10-26-2009, 10:38 PM

It's a bogus story. We all know a 300D will never run out of "gas"

#21 10-26-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlerobot

The older the car is, especially without airbags, means interstate / freeway driving should be kept to a minimum, I think.

Well, I have about 40K miles on my 300D so far this year, it will be 50K by the end of the year; almost all interstate. The only time I was nervous was changing a tire on the side of a busy highway after dark, much more dangerous than being inside the car.

Sometimes, bad stuff just happens. All you can do is take reasonable precautions and hope for the best. Don't feel bad, my 14 year old wants me to buy her a motorcycle as a first "car."

kerry · #22 10-26-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlerobot

The older the car is, especially without airbags, means interstate / freeway driving should be kept to a minimum, I think.

Why? I would think mile for mile, far more accidents occur on non-interstate highways than on interstate highways.

Codifex Maximus · #23 10-26-2009, 11:33 PM

Article doesn't say if she was in the car; I figure if she was, she'd still be alive. Must have been in front of the car pumping on the manual pump or around at the trunk getting her fuel can.

Very very sad.

Makes you appreciate those Highway Courtesy folks who cruise the highways helping folks.

Time for me to get some triangles and flares for my trunk too.

Codifex
1981 240D SkyBlue (needs an engine)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof

pawoSD · #24 10-27-2009, 12:58 AM

My sister is 20 and she does not mind the W123......in fact, a decent 300CD has been finally located for her to drive.

Fulcrum525 · #25 10-27-2009, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theo3000

While on the shoulder, her vehicle was struck in the rear by a 2007 Saturn sedan.

Ugh that is absolutely terrible

Its already been stated but a few things do seem off. I want to know if she was in the car or not and just how big that shoulder was. It wouldn't surprise me if the the drive of that Saturn was texting or some other nonsense like that

Theo, keep up with the story and tell us what you find out.

pawoSD · #26 10-27-2009, 01:55 AM

It never ceases to amaze me how out of it some drivers are out there. I mean, are they just along for the ride in the car, or are they actually driving it?? Can't even imagine what is going through the minds of those people (probably very little).

vwkess · #27 10-27-2009, 07:26 AM

If you do some "googleing", it appears it was a 3 vehicle accident. So most likely, she got rear ended, then her vehicle was pushed into traffic... perhaps a side impact at that point. Happened 3:47am, and a coroner was called an hour later.

Maybe she was "fine" initially? Back in the mid 90's there was a "minor" traffic accident out front of my work. A guy and his son were driving one of those big old full size Cherokees (you know one of those early 80's tanks, not the XJ) and got t-boned. Really minor damage to the truck on the driver's side. In fact the dad easily opened the door and got out. It wasn't long after that, just a few minutes or so, and he said he wasn't feeling well. Collapsed soon after and died at the scene before the ambulance got there... internal bleeding got him. Just takes something small, but if it hits you just right, that is all it takes.

littlerobot · #28 10-27-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Why? I would think mile for mile, far more accidents occur on non-interstate highways than on interstate highways.

But, the number of accidents isn't the issue, since survival rates go down based on speed. The high speed of interstate / freeway accidents combined with the lack of airbags lowers the chances of survival. I love these cars too, but will not let my teenager spend a lot of time on the interstate without airbags.

pj67coll · #29 10-27-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlerobot

But, the number of accidents isn't the issue, since survival rates go down based on speed. The high speed of interstate / freeway accidents combined with the lack of airbags lowers the chances of survival. I love these cars too, but will not let my teenager spend a lot of time on the interstate without airbags.

What's with the mania about airbags. I'd venture that seatbelts and a solid structure are more important than airbags in any vehicle.

- Peter.

barry123400 · #30 10-27-2009, 01:21 PM

A car at todays freeway speeds slaming into you while you are not in motion may be asking a little much to survive. Especially if no reduction in accelleration is underway before the impact. I would not even want to watch that senario.

It may have been a semi corner hit or off centre event and took out one side of the car for example. Very sad but these things do occur unfortunatly.