Thursday 24th June 2010

Lexus Test Driver Killed In LFA

Tragic accident near Nurburgring between LFA and BMW 3-series

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Lexus's chief test driver, Hiromu Naruse, has died in a head-on collision near the Nurburgring.

The 67-year-old was driving a Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition prototype when the car collided with an oncoming BMW 3-series on highway 94. Naruse was pronounced dead at the scene. The two occupants of the BMW - also apparently a test car of some sort - were seriously injured.

The exact cause of the accident is unknown, but is currently the subject of an investigation by police.

It appears that the Lexus was on the way back to Toyota's nearby engineering facility after a test session at the 'Ring: according to a police spokesman the drivers and passenger were wearing helmets, while both cars were 'packed with electronics equipment'.

Naruse had worked for Lexus parent company Toyota since 1963 and worked on many projects ranging from the iconic Toyota 2000GT to the LFA - his latest baby.

The thoughts of the whole PH team - and no doubt the whole of PistonHeads - are with Naruse-san's family, and the families of the two BMW occupants.

[.Mark]

That's a terrible story. And look at all the people there not in some kind of uniform for a fatal accident!

Thoughts indeed to all concerned. Wonder if they will ever put the special edition car in to production now, not a nice thing to be associated with.

[R66STU]

Very sad.. but I suppose he went doing something he loved.

[liamrp]

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

[SWoll]

I'm sure all our thoughts go out to the families of evryone involved. A very sad end for a great driver and awesome car.

[Gizmo!]

Terrible news for those involved.

Must have been some impact if both driver and passenger were both killed wearing helmets!

[FactoryPilot]

Horrible news

Just hope the crash wasn't caused by some sort of 'safety' issue with the car, don't think that kind of publicity would do Toyota any good at all, especially with the recent issues...

[dave_s13]

R66STU said:

Very sad.. but I suppose he went doing something he loved.

Strange notion that.

The only "good" way to die is at after a very long, healthy and fulfilling existance, in your sleep.

All other ways are total $hit really.

[matbat]

Looking at the skid marks (assuming they are from the BMW) I wonder if the LFA was on the wrong side of the road.
being that it was in Germany and in Japan they drive on the left... I mean I know he is a skilled test driver but we all make mistakes.

Very sad news though :-(

[QED87]

Heck, what a shame.. RIP.

Looking at the photo I wonder whether he was driving on the wrong side of the road.

[Rusty-C]

dave_s13 said:

R66STU said:

Very sad.. but I suppose he went doing something he loved.

Strange notion that.

The only "good" way to die is at after a very long, healthy and fulfilling existance, in your sleep.

All other ways are total $hit really.

I don't want to die, but if i'm going to do at the wheel of supercar then so be it - i'd rather not take anyone with me, though.

[threesixty]

FactoryPilot said:

Horrible news

Just hope the crash wasn't caused by some sort of 'safety' issue with the car, don't think that kind of publicity would do Toyota any good at all, especially with the recent issues...

Terrible news indeed.

I do find myself wondering what caused their deaths though, while its obviously a bad crash it doesn't look like a fatal car crash, both passenger compartments appear intact and they were wearing helmets. Makes me wonder if there was indeed somekind of safety issue.

[red_slr]

+1

Very sad news indeed.

[XJR500bhp]

Shame indeed, sad story

But looking at the photos i would of though passengers wearing seatbelts and helmets would be injured, but not killed, you can't help but think some kind of safety issue is the cause.

[soad]

Really didn't want to read this

[anonymous-user]

XJR500bhp said:

Shame indeed, sad story

But looking at the photos i would of though passengers wearing seatbelts and helmets would be injured, but not killed, you can't help but think some kind of safety issue is the cause.

Massive deceleration was probably the cause of death, rather than the cabin being penetrated and causing loss of blood.

[Laurel Green]

Very sad indeed. Thoughts are with families and friends.

The crash picture does seem to warrant injuries rather than death. Perhaps it is the electronics carried for the testing that caused the deaths.

[durbster]

dave_s13 said:

R66STU said:

Very sad.. but I suppose he went doing something he loved.

Strange notion that.

The only "good" way to die is at after a very long, healthy and fulfilling existance, in your sleep.

But you can't have a fulfilling life without taking risks, so there's no shame if your final moments are in the pursuit of a fulfilling life.

Always sad to see. From what I've read it does seem to suggest driver error, sadly.

[barks]

They drive on the left in Japan don't they... Looks a lot like the Lexus was on the wrong side of the road.

[Shinobi]

RIP, as said above the car doesn't look to badly damaged surprising that it killed the occupant.

[Hugo a Gogo]

no passenger in the Lexus, dead or otherwise