Missouri Road “Lifted” Toyota into the Air Due to Heat
Extreme heat in North America is leading to dangerous situations on the roads. In the city of Cape Girardeau (Missouri), high temperatures caused the road surface to deform, leading to an accident involving a Toyota Corolla. Surveillance cameras captured the moment the car lifted into the air after hitting the damaged section.
According to eyewitnesses, the driver had no time to react – the car flew about a meter to a meter and a half into the air before crashing back down onto the road. Other motorists were able to pass through the dangerous zone safely by slowing down. The video also shows that the deformation of the surface affected the adjacent area, which may have helped other drivers notice the problem earlier.
According to experts, for such deformations to occur, the road surface temperature must reach approximately 49°C (120°F). Even at an air temperature of 32°C (90°F), black asphalt can heat up significantly more.
Similar incidents have happened before in various regions during hot summers. This situation is a reminder of the importance of vigilance on the roads, not only due to the condition of the vehicle but also because of potential road surface defects. Local services are already working to address the aftermath of the incident and are advising drivers to be especially careful in conditions of extreme heat.