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Saturday 5 March 2011

A "true" FOAF tale

Here is a cautionary tale about the hazards of driving a small car which is almost worthy of the Fortean Times "Strange Deaths" column. I heard it from a former colleague, who got it from his truck driver brother, who heard it from another truck driver who actually witnessed the incident. This may sound a bit like an urban legend or FOAF (friend of a friend) tale, but I couldn't find it listed on any of the urban legend sites so it must have really happened (In the interests of strict scientific accuracy, however, I should point out that the video clip at the end of this post is a computer-generated simulation, and not footage of the actual event).

The incident involved a Fiat 500, which is a notoriously small car and hence a potential death trap -- a fact borne out by the events that unfolded. The Fiat clipped the rear wheel of a large articulated lorry, causing the car to somersault. The driver, who wasn't wearing a seatbelt and had the sunroof open, fell out and landed on the roadway. A moment later (and only the most jaded cynic would claim this defies the laws of physics) his car fell on top of him and squashed him flat!

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