by A Car Enthusiast’s Dream Turned Nightmare
A ride through Deal’s Gap, better known as the Tail of the Dragon, is a dream for many American car enthusiasts. This stretch of asphalt offers 318 curves in just 11 miles. However, some drivers return from there regretting that they went at all.
This happened to the driver of this damaged Ferrari 458 Spider, who returned with a wrecked Italian supercar and a pile of unpleasant memories.
The Moment of the Accident
In recent days, several videos have appeared on YouTube showing the red 458 Spider crashing, failing to handle a sharp right turn on the iconic road.
The driver, who was going too fast for the very slow turn, might have avoided the accident if the adjacent lane had been clear. But a U-Haul truck was right there.
Consequences of the Collision
The sports car, the last Ferrari model with a naturally aspirated V8 engine, hit the left rear side of the truck, tearing off the 458’s fender and ripping the front left wheel from its suspension mounting points.
The impact was so strong that the rear of the truck lifted into the air, and when it landed a few feet further, it was visible that its axle had shifted. It was a powerful hit.
Was the Car Rented?
Commentators suggested that, judging by the stickers on the doors, the Ferrari was a rental car. If so, hopefully, the driver did not skimp on insurance.
However, the stickers, the cars moving behind the 458, and the cameras positioned on the turn point to something more organized, likely the Dragon Rally — monthly auto rallies held from March to November.
History of Misfortune on the Tail of the Dragon
But it could have been worse, as this is far from the most terrible Ferrari accident on the Tail of the Dragon. In 2021, a red 488 Pista Spider, a convertible, flipped over on the winding asphalt and landed on its roof.
Back then, witnesses saw the Ferrari hit a bump at high speed, causing the driver to lose control on a section known as Gravity Cavity MM3.
This accident once again reminds us of the importance of observing safety on challenging tracks like the Tail of the Dragon. Even experienced drivers can get into trouble if they do not account for road conditions and speed limits. Such incidents also raise questions about the responsibility of participants in organized events, where the risk can be particularly high due to the competitive nature of the events.
