by A Dramatic Case in Argentina
Having a large number of dollars in the bank does not always mean having common sense behind the wheel. Being far beyond the average age also does not guarantee wisdom. Both of these truths were demonstrated quite dramatically in Argentina, where one elderly Ferrari driver showed why the annual Cavalcade event in Argentina was canceled.
High-Speed Purosangue Crash
Fortunately, he and his no less experienced passenger survived the violent crash, which has now become the unwanted centerpiece of this story.
Circumstances of the Event
The incident occurred near San Martin de los Andes on Route 237, where a white Purosangue reportedly crossed into the oncoming lane at a speed of about 200 km/h. It is unclear whether the driver collided with an oncoming vehicle or simply lost control.
Instagram post by Diario NoticiasNQN (@noticiasnqn.com.ar)
Footage published on social media appears to show the moment preceding the accident, with the Purosangue, along with three other cars, attempting to overtake others on a two-lane road with a double solid line.
Aftermath of the Crash
Regardless of what caused the actual crash, the outcome was the same. The expensive Ferrari, which is not an off-road vehicle, traveled about 400 meters after the initial impact. That’s the length of a quarter-mile drag strip minus eight feet. It rolled over several times and hit a pine tree.
The driver reportedly felt he had fallen too far behind the convoy and accelerated to catch up. Apparently, Aesop’s fable about the tortoise and the hare hasn’t reached Patagonia.
Both occupants of the vehicle, US citizens, avoided serious injuries and left the hospital a day after being admitted. To the driver’s credit, they didn’t seem to be the only ones acting foolishly.
Instagram post by Diario NoticiasNQN (@noticiasnqn.com.ar)
According to Incipolletti, several event participants were “fined by the National Gendarmerie and the Neuquén Police for dangerous high-speed driving, endangering the lives of other drivers.”
Event Cancellation
Luciana Ortiz Luna, Secretary of Emergencies and Risk Management of Neuquén, told Todo Noticias that the authorities had actually canceled the event shortly before the crash.
What was supposed to be a pleasant event turned into something completely different. We had already warned the Ferrari drivers that they could not perform dangerous maneuvers. The truth is that they behaved terribly throughout the competition. They were fined, and the organizers were warned that this would not be allowed to continue.
After the rollover occurred, the authorities decided that no Ferrari in the area could move without a police escort.
Instagram post by El Arca Neuquen (@elarcanqn)
This incident raises questions about the responsibility of participants in exclusive automotive events and the need to adhere to safety rules on public roads. Such cases can have serious consequences not only for the immediate participants but also for the reputation of the brands organizing such events. Local authorities are demonstrating determination in ensuring road safety by taking radical measures, such as canceling the event and introducing mandatory police escorts.
