Driver Killed After Car Plunges 41 Feet From Parking Garage

[matcom]

<snip>

A man died after his car crashed through the wall of a downtown parking garage and landed on the roof of an adjacent building Monday night, officials said.

No other other injuries were reported.

Police on Tuesday identified the victim as Phillip W. Hines, 58.

The crash was reported about 6:30 p.m.

Authorities said a Ford Mustang punched through a brick wall on the fifth floor of the parking garage at Houston House Apartments in the 1600 block of Fannin.

"It appears the vehicle was backing into a parking space," said Houston police Sgt. L.H. Lefler, accident investigation supervisor, "The driver lost control, crashed through the wall and fell 41 feet to the building below."

Tire marks on the garage floor indicated he was backing up, Lefler said.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4881392.html

[Samurai_Writer]

1. Why do men INSIST on backin up into parking spaces?

See, let this be a warning to all you "I have to back up my car into the space because I'm macho" types. You could end up DEAD! Dead, I say!

[MissMillie]

5. I prefer to pull out of a space than to back out of one

Just call me MachoMillie!

[Hugin]

7. That and he was probably trying to cram it into a "Compacts Only" space.

(This story is kind of sad... )

[Whoa_Nelly]

11. It's the doggie thing...

;)

[UrbScotty]

17. Because men are smart.

Backing out of a parking space is - what's the word I'm looking for? - Dangerous.

[RogueSpirit]

2. wasn't this an insurance commercial?

only it landed in a fountain?

[DS1]

3. Hey, Cameron. You realize if we played by the rules right now we'd be in gym?

:hide:

[Blue_Tires]

9. well played, sunshine n/t

[deepthought42]

13. ...

:spray:

:rofl:

:blush:

:hide:

[Lars39]

4. Should have been some rebar in that wall..

[Xithras]

8. Who said there wasn't?

Thin wall, heavy car, high speed impact. Unless the wall is a foot thick, rebar wasn't going to stop it.

And if there were skidmarks on the ground, it was a high speed impact.

[johnnie]

6. Ouch

[Smooth Operator]

10. damn

Looks like a 2006 Stang. he may have tried chirpying the tires backing up and hit the gas too hard.

[hellbound-liberal]

12. One of the witnesses said she heard an explosion and then saw the Mustang coming through the wall

There is a possibility of equipment malfunction it seems. I ALWAYS back into parking spaces whenever I can. That habit stems from my trainig as a school bus driver. It's always best to pull forward into the line of traffic whenever you can.

[Bombero1956]

14. shit looks like mine

only the wheels are different.

[militaryspouse]

15. ..

such a preventable accident. It's a good thing nobody was down below when it happened. Man he mustve been scared!

[av8rdave]

16. Do you suppose his estate has to pay the parking fee?

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

18. Coulda been the Willie Nelson, coulda been the wine.

[musette_sf]

19. it is truly a sad commentary

on a place i used to live, when i KNEW before even opening the thread that this happened in Houston...