Darwin says, "Accepted into the Archive."

Confirmed

(28 July 2006, Australia) Police wished to question Gareth, 38, in connection with a stabbing. But he evaded that unpleasant business by driving his car into a power pole. It was initially assumed that he had simply lost control of the vehicle, but Victoria police soon determined that the fatal crash was caused by an accidental shot to the groin. Apparently the deceased had been driving with a loaded firearm in the footwell of the car.

Posted Sun Jul 30, 2006 9:11am AEST

Victorian police have confirmed that a 38-year-old man, who died in a car crash at Tyabb yesterday, was wanted over a stabbing at Hastings on Friday night.

Gareth Lewis, of Hastings, was driving a stolen car along Mornington-Tyabb Road about 8:00am yesterday when he crashed into a tree.

Investigators say it appears Mr Lewis accidentally shot himself in the groin with a shotgun and lost control.

CONFIRMED NEWS STORY:

Man in car crash died of gunshot first theage.com.au -- July 30, 2006 - 10:44AM

A Victorian man, who was accidentally shot in the groin while he was driving, was dead before his car slammed into a power pole, police say.

Gareth Lewis, 38, of Hastings, in the state's south-east, was driving on the nearby Mornington Peninsula some time on Friday night when it is thought a loaded firearm stored in his car's footwell accidentally fired.

Victoria Police senior constable Bradi Owens said it also appeared Mr Lewis died from the gunshot wound moments before his car ran off the road. "That is what the pathologist has determined," Constable Owens said.

A passer-by found Mr Lewis' body in the wrecked car about 8am (AEST) on Saturday, on the Mornington-Tyabb Rd, opposite the Tyabb Airfield. Attending ambulance officers also concluded the man had been dead for several hours but the exact time of the crash remains unknown.

Police have refused to confirm media reports that Mr Lewis was wanted for questioning following a stabbing incident in Hastings, which occurred about 10.30pm on Friday. A police spokeswoman said she would not comment on the case for privacy reasons.

Initially, police said the man had crashed into a power pole after he lost control of his car, and his death was counted in Victoria's official road toll count. It was later removed after police determined the cause of death, reducing the toll to 179 compared to 210 at the same time last year.

Submitted on 02/23/2008

Submitted by: Mathew Johnston
Reference: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/07/30/1700660.htm

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
While car crashes are a dime a dozen I can't think of any other cases where a driver has shot themselves in the groin with a shotgun. That sounds like the sort of thing that takes a fair amount of effort, and a lot of stupidity, so it's worthy of a DA in my opinion. Thanks, Mathew!

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Even though this is rather sparse on detail, there are few detractors. He wasn't being chased by cops at the time of his crash, so he must have been playing with his gun. He lived a mook's life and died a mook's death. I will vote DA! Thanks!

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