Chevelle Wreck

[oestek]

This is a bad one...



http://www.kptv.com/news/13780666/detail.html

[StRacerDuke]

That'll buff right out...

Imagine the force it took to cause the frame to rip and twist from the body! I wonder if all the body bolts were being used?

[hdesign]

A little strange that it was an old and newer Malibu involved and the new one looks to be in better shape.

[Smock67]

damn that sucks horribly. that care is almost unrecognizable. ouch

[Kenova]

A little strange that it was an old and newer Malibu involved and the new one looks to be in better shape.

Not really. The auto manufacturers have spent billions to make it easier to survive brutal collisions like this one. As much as I like my old cars, I'm undoubtedly safer in a new one.
Ken

[68Punishergto]

[rob07002]

HOLY @%&#!

That was what appears to be a nice car.

Sorry to hear the passenger died.

[TonyL]

Wow. looks like it was a nice big block car once. It also would appear that he didn't use the right body to frame hardware. Or at least, didn't repair the floors as well as he should have (if he did). The body separating from the frame like that is very odd. I've seen hundreds of chevelles and countless other full frame cars like this one involved in all sorts of wrecks, I've NEVER seen anything like this ever. I want more info.

[69TAPoser]

It is described as a head-on collision, but it appears that the right rear quarter of the Chevelle took the hardest hit? Maybe he lossed it, crossed the lane heading towards the ditch and was hit in the right rear qtr?

I agree with the body/frame seperation. What's up with that?

Phil

[TonyL]

I agree that the car looks to have been hit in the drivers rear mainly. I'd guess that's where the impact happened.

[70TWO NOVA]

Very unfortunate, my thoughts and prayers are with those involved.

[BRIAN]

That is the difference between a well designed unibody car and an old body on frame type car. That newer Malibu did exactly what it was supposed to do which is collapse up to the front cowl leaving the passenger compartment protected. The older Chevelle has nothing to absorb the impact which can easily be seen by how the buckles are present throughout the body especially in the passenger compartment. The newer Malibu probably was even able to open it's doors. That is why when you hear guys saying they hate new cars because they can't take an impact simply do not know that is what it is engineered to do, collpase and save you life.


Hope everybody was ok but doubt it. That is a serious LR impact and the newer Malibu is most likely at fault as he has the front end damages. No good for anyone.

[TonyL]

the newer Malibu is most likely at fault as he has the front end damages.

Not. The chevelle entered the malibu's path, ass bacwards and impacted the malibu in its lane. the chevelle was subsequently spun around. leaving it laying where it ended up in the middle of the road. The malibu, now mortally wounded, limped to its right, (the only natural instict of the driver is to swerve to the right to avoid the impact, causing his car to spin counter clockwise twice ending up where it did, off the right shoulder of the road.

Given the probable speed of the chevelle, if he'd lost control and spun the car at speed in excess of 80 mph the weight would have all been on the front of the car as it impacted. the nose of the car would have been down, and the ass end up. The malibu hit this upset balanced car in directly in the frame since it was raised up off the ground. actually knocking the frame out from under the car.

[Steve Chryssos]

That's the weirded wreck I have ever seen. I'll bet the Chevelle was coming apart before the impact. Like maybe the driveshaft came loose and pole vaulted the car.

[6'9"Witha69]

Not. The chevelle entered the malibu's path, ass bacwards and impacted the malibu in its lane. the chevelle was subsequently spun around. leaving it laying where it ended up in the middle of the road. The malibu, now mortally wounded, limped to its right, (the only natural instict of the driver is to swerve to the right to avoid the impact, causing his car to spin counter clockwise twice ending up where it did, off the right shoulder of the road.

Given the probable speed of the chevelle, if he'd lost control and spun the car at speed in excess of 80 mph the weight would have all been on the front of the car as it impacted. the nose of the car would have been down, and the ass end up. The malibu hit this upset balanced car in directly in the frame since it was raised up off the ground. actually knocking the frame out from under the car.

Very plausible deduction, especiallt if the axle was impacted, that would cause the outward buckle of the rear frame to the Pass Side.

[hdesign]

Not really. The auto manufacturers have spent billions to make it easier to survive brutal collisions like this one. As much as I like my old cars, I'm undoubtedly safer in a new one.
Ken

Yes, but I was referring to how strange it was that of all the cars on the road to hit....it was a late model Malibu.

Manufacturers have undoubtedly made incredible progress in understanding the physics involved with an impact. It is a proof positive that heavier bodies made of heavy gauge steel are not better in an accident.

[MrQuick]

Not. The chevelle entered the malibu's path, ass bacwards and impacted the malibu in its lane. the chevelle was subsequently spun around. leaving it laying where it ended up in the middle of the road. The malibu, now mortally wounded, limped to its right, (the only natural instict of the driver is to swerve to the right to avoid the impact, causing his car to spin counter clockwise twice ending up where it did, off the right shoulder of the road.

Given the probable speed of the chevelle, if he'd lost control and spun the car at speed in excess of 80 mph the weight would have all been on the front of the car as it impacted. the nose of the car would have been down, and the ass end up. The malibu hit this upset balanced car in directly in the frame since it was raised up off the ground. actually knocking the frame out from under the car.

Even both cars doing 45 the combined speeds could do damage like that.

Even if the right bolts where used the washers ultimatly hold it all together. Combined with stock rubber bushings i've seen washers pull right through the frame holes. Pretty unfortunate and another warning to be safe out there.

[BRIAN]

Is that fact as to what happened or what you feel happened?No argument just curious? In many states the Malibu will be held accountable for some of the fault as it is hit in the nose. Unless that Chevelle was going backwards and there are witnesses good luck with that one. It is almost impossible in the eye of the law to be 0% at fault if the front of your vehicle impacts another. Parked or car in reverse are the only two that come to mind and you better have witnesess as that story will change very quickly.

It takes a lot of work to determine exact causes of accidents and cars do not always respond in a way that sounds logical. Body on frame cars are some of the weakest in terms of taking an impact. Plus add to that it is a 30 year old car with some mods, patches or who knows what and all logic goes out the window.

Not my opinion just fact so don't shoot the messenger.

[BonzoHansen]

Very sad.

"...were thrown from the vehicle" jumped off the page at me.

[bookends]

wow that was horrible, proof that unless the car isn't going to be driven you should upgrade to later designed three point seatbelts, the passenger may have lived if these had been in place and worn.