RE: Porsche Test Driver Killed
Monday 16th February 2009
A Porsche test driver has been killed following an accident in a 911 cabrio prototype, it has been reported. The driver, a 51-year-old Porsche engineer, was driving the car on the A5 Autobahn in what is thought to be an endurance test of the new car.
Porsche Test Driver Killed
Report: Porsche engineer in fatal accident while testing new 911
The vehicle apparently came off the road and hit the guard rail. The accident involved only the one car and happened at 2:45am just past the Weiterstadt exit on the motorway. A spokesman for Porsche was quoted as saying the engineer ‘was one of the most experienced test drivers.’
Police and fire department personnel responded to the scene from nearby Darmstadt. An investigation has now been launched by the public prosecutor.
Witnesses said the driver, who has been with the company for 25 years, had been driving at a high rate of speed in the 998 prototype. He was being followed by a second Porsche test driver in a camouflaged four-door Porsche Panamera prototype, but he avoided the collision and escaped unharmed.
Discussion
Yeah, that sucks, living in Germany (using the A5 to work everyday) I heard this on the news this morning
Unfortunate thing to happen, luckily it was that time of day (morning) though as there could and almost certainly would have been more casualties on that stretch of road; around rush hour it gets real chocka.
R.I.P
Unfortunate thing to happen, luckily it was that time of day (morning) though as there could and almost certainly would have been more casualties on that stretch of road; around rush hour it gets real chocka.
R.I.P
Without wanting to be morbid, the pictures in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (see: http://tinyurl.com/afckc7) indicate that the car has somehow managed to squeeze under the barrier.
I wonder whether he might have got away with it if the safety barrier hadn't been there.
A very sad way to go.
I wonder whether he might have got away with it if the safety barrier hadn't been there.
A very sad way to go.
Hungry Pigeon said:
Without wanting to be morbid, the pictures in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (see: http://tinyurl.com/afckc7) indicate that the car has somehow managed to squeeze under the barrier.
I wonder whether he might have got away with it if the safety barrier hadn't been there.
A very sad way to go.
Dear God! What a horrible accident. I have see a few when I was a recovery driver, but that is very very nasty..I wonder whether he might have got away with it if the safety barrier hadn't been there.
A very sad way to go.
My thoughts to his family.
Mark
Very sad to hear 
The picture is nasty, of coursee he would have been on the left side of the car. Doesn't bear thinking about although thankfully he probably didn't know much about it. May he rest in peace or with the sound of Flat Sixes going by, whichever he prefers.
I too am in Germany - Darmstadt is only 30 mins or so south of here (Frankfurt) and I've used that peice of road a fair few times. Will spare a thought for him next time I pass.
Leo
The picture is nasty, of coursee he would have been on the left side of the car. Doesn't bear thinking about although thankfully he probably didn't know much about it. May he rest in peace or with the sound of Flat Sixes going by, whichever he prefers.I too am in Germany - Darmstadt is only 30 mins or so south of here (Frankfurt) and I've used that peice of road a fair few times. Will spare a thought for him next time I pass.
Leo
deevlash said:
that looks horribly like theres a guy still in the drivers seat in that pic...
Its left hand drive and I dont think there would be much left tbhI travel the A5 shortly as I am also in Frankfurt, what is deemed high speed is the question? So many drive at 180-220 KM on that road even in these conditions. Also looking at the picture it seems the car slowed before it had hit the barrier?
Could have hit an animal perhaps?
RIP such a sad way to go.
Edited by vz-r_dave on Friday 13th February 16:07
the question has to be asked, why are companies allowed to do official (specifically) high speed testing on public roads (especially of prototypes) at all. This should be done at a testing facility.
I know all about testing on the roads, but the high speed endurance stuff, in prototypes, on a public road, even at 2 in the morning, is just asking for trouble.
My sympathies to the family involved.
I know all about testing on the roads, but the high speed endurance stuff, in prototypes, on a public road, even at 2 in the morning, is just asking for trouble.
My sympathies to the family involved.
Are they allowed to conduct high speed tests on public roads? On this occassion no one else was hurt, and the test driver accepts the risks, but what if he'd taken out a fmaily as well as himself? Surely any high speed endurance tests should be done on a suitable test facility?
I understnad it was 2AM, but Porsche's testing could easily have involved an innocent party, they should keep high speed testing off the public road!!
In fact, on a test track there would be suitable run off/barriers, which this public road doesnt have obviously, doesnt look like it's been bult with extreme high speed accidents in mind, safer for everyone if they tested somewhere more suitable.
I understnad it was 2AM, but Porsche's testing could easily have involved an innocent party, they should keep high speed testing off the public road!!
In fact, on a test track there would be suitable run off/barriers, which this public road doesnt have obviously, doesnt look like it's been bult with extreme high speed accidents in mind, safer for everyone if they tested somewhere more suitable.
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