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2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Death trap on wheels

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4715058a11.html

Death trap on wheels By BELINDA FEEK - Waikato Times | Friday, 03 October 2008

Email a Friend | Printable View | Have Your Say

MARK TAYLOR/Waikato Times UNROADWORTHY:The interior of the Mazda 323 involved in Tuesday's fatal crash at Te Awamutu. A steering wheel made out of an old wheel rim was one of the many unsafe modifications.

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Advertisement AdvertisementA steering wheel fashioned from an old wheel rim on an already unsafe car may have played a grisly role in Tuesday's fatal smash at Te Awamutu.

Matthew Shannon McDonald, 23, of Te Awamutu was the passenger in a Mazda 323 which crashed after crossing the centre line on Station Rd and careering through a solid wooden barrier. He died at the scene.

The driver and owner of the car, a 19-year-old Kihikihi man, remains in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

Waikato road policing manager Leo Tooman revealed further details of the crash and the car yesterday.

Mr Tooman said the car had been "tow started" and had taken just two left turns before the fateful turn into Station Rd just before 7pm on Tuesday.

The car failed to take a slight bend, crossed the centre line and crashed through a solid wooden barrier before coming to stop against a concrete power-pole used to supply electricity to the main trunk railway line. The pair were not wearing seatbelts and were thrown from the car on impact. Police said that fact made the job of identifying who was driving the car difficult.

Mr Tooman said the car had so many defects and modifications it was "a disaster waiting to happen".

It had been ordered off the road in December 2005 due to a number of uncertified suspension modifications.

"On this occasion the vehicle had been towed to get it started. It had an RX7 motor for a Mazda 3 which is not compatible at all."

Mr Tooman said somebody had fashioned a steering wheel using the rim from a wheel and the spokes of an old steering wheel.

Sometime during the crash the rim has become detached from the spikes, he said. "The spikes were still on the steering column and they were like three knives sticking out from the steering column."

It was yet to be confirmed how much, if at all, the pair were injured by the spokes.

The car's wheels were also mismatched with two mags on the front and two old steel-pressed wheels on the back.

The wheel nuts on the rear wheels were also worn.

While it was yet to be confirmed, Mr Tooman believed speed was a contributing factor in the accident.

Both the vehicle's warrant of fitness and registration certificates had been removed from the front windscreen.

Mr Tooman said the tragedy served a reminder for other car enthusiasts attempting to modify their car.

The funeral for Mr McDonald, understood to be a car painter, will be held in Te Awamutu at Alexandra House Chapel from 11am tomorrow.

DISASTER WAITING

Police say the car had:

A modified wheel rim for a steering wheel

Lowered suspension

Mismatched wheels

Mismatched motor

Rust

It was:

Unregistered, unwarranted

Ordered off the road in 2005

And occupants were not wearing seatbelts

Submitted on 10/03/2008

Submitted by: Jules Smeg
Reference: By BELINDA FEEK - Waikato Times | Friday, 03 October 2008

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Bystanders Hurt
Thanks Jules, but the passenger would be considered an innocent bystander since he wasn't directly responsible for the crash.


Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I beg to differ. From the sound of it, there were many unauthorized, unsafe, and visible modifications made to the vehicle. Anybody should have known better to get into a rolling deathtrap like that. Just the fact it had to be "tow started", thereby showing there was something fundamentally wrong with it, should have been a clue to RUN. Thanks, Jules!


James said:
Definitely Toss: Bystanders Hurt
While Candi has a good point, the fact remains we DON'T KNOW the facts as to WHY the late Mr. McDonald chose (or was compelled) to ride in this jalopy. Until more is known about McDonald's motivation, I will have to agree with Bruce and toss this as per our strict "bystanders hurt" rule!


Graham said:
Definitely Toss: Bystanders Hurt
Who knows what was going through their heads at the time. If anything. As the passenger was killed, I have to opt to toss this one.


Tracy said:
Definitely Toss: Bystanders Hurt
Unfortunately I have to go with the majority here, and decline this as the passenger was killed. Thanks anyway


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