[amit]

I read this report on the multiple car pile up at Jogeshwari, mumbai reported by Mid-day.

The last para says :

Mehta tried to avoid hitting the Palio, but couldn’t as the four vehicles behind him crashed into his car. A Skoda crashed into Mehta’s car, a Qualis crashed into the Skoda and another vehicle banged into the Qualis.

However, only Mehta’s car was damaged. The other cars drove away soon after the incident.

How is that possible?

[Ram]

Originally Posted by amit

I read this report on the multiple car pile up at Jogeshwari, mumbai reported by Mid-day.

The last para says :

How is that possible?

Here's my conjecture: The Skoda - a much heavier car - rear-ended Sudhir Mehta's Indica. The Skoda's driver must have not have been alert and used minimal brakes. The Qualis that hit the Skoda, may have hit it gently, due to its lighter construction and probably better use of brakes.
That scenario would explain Mehta's Indica bearing the brunt of all the damage.

When any car hits another car from behind, the law all over the world puts the blame squarely and entirely on the rear car. So much so, in the case of a multi-car pile-up, the last car to hit the pile pays for all the damage. By law, the first car that got rear-ended always goes scot-free.

[amit]

How come the Palio too got away with no damages?

[Ram]

Originally Posted by amit

How come the Palio too got away with no damages?

1. Law of Conservation of Momentum: m1*v1 = m2*v2
2. That some cars are built sturdier, some cars flimsier
3. Shape and composition of material at point of Impact (Painted steel sheet (thickness and shape), Polyurethane, Fibreglass, ...)
4. Distribution of impact forces