by There is a very thin line between enjoying a powerful car and overestimating one’s driving skills. It was this line that was crossed on a mountain road with no margin for error, when a BMW M4 Competition unexpectedly ended up among the rocks on a California pass.
What started as an emotional mountain drive suddenly turned into an accident – the bright yellow M4 lost traction and crashed into a stone wall along, presumably, the Angeles Crest Highway, known for its serpentines in the San Gabriel Mountains.
The entire incident was caught on video by a motorcyclist who publishes on YouTube under the nickname DrTwist. The recording shows two cars driving fast on a clear sunny day. On a wide turn, the M4 suddenly veers off the road and crashes into a slope. The exact cause is unknown, but everything points to the stability control system being turned off. Perhaps the driver panicked when the rear of the car began to slide and couldn’t correct the situation in time.
In such a situation, an experienced driver could have saved the car with quick reactions and precise control. But the smartest solution would have been not to turn off the electronic safety systems, which BMW installs for a reason.
The impact was strong. The car momentarily lifted into the air before landing hard on the gravel shoulder. Visible damage includes a shattered front bumper, potential suspension problems, and deployed airbags. In other words, the repair will be very expensive.
The video shows two motorcyclists and a man without protective gear approaching the accident site. It is unknown who was exactly behind the wheel, but there is a high probability that everyone remained unharmed.
This M4 Competition is a pre-facelift model in Sao Paulo Yellow, and it’s not a standard one. It is fitted with a tuned body kit with canards, widened sills, and a fixed rear spoiler. The interior features M Carbon bucket seats, numerous carbon fiber elements, and Merino leather in a combination of Yas Marina blue with black and yellow accents.
The base price of an M4 Competition in the US starts at $84,300, but this particular example, due to its modifications, cost significantly more. We hope this case serves as a reminder: the stability control system is your friend, and no amount of confidence can replace it on a mountain road.
