[Hickstead]

Originally Posted by ecenandu

G-class, I wonder how crash worthy it is, since the design had changed little over the years.

I was really shocked to see a Benz SUV in this position. This is the road that I use daily for my office commute. Based on the damage caused to the vehicle, I assume that it was really doing some insane speeds. I also assume that the occupants were not buckled up. According to the post mortem report, the driver (minister's son) lost his life because of severe internal injuries in the lungs and liver.
















Pics Source: eenadu.net

The vehicle can be viewed more clearly in the below video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtVeX_hqaOw

[Fullrevs]

Got this from a whatsapp group that I belong to. Happened in Hyderabad last night as the G-Wagen crashed into a metro rail structural column. Please excuse the smiley. That's how the picture came.

[IN07KL0484]

Looking at the crumple zone of the G-Class, I don't think the seat belts would have made a big difference.

It had to be an insane crash for a G-Class to be this mangled from a head-on collision. G's are known for their strength during head-on crashes and weak in rollover accidents.

[ecenandu]

Originally Posted by Hickstead

I also assume that the occupants were not buckled up.

Do you really believe that would have a made a difference in this accident? A 5 star crash worthy car would have made a difference though, it is the crash structure that has taken the brunt. Against solid pillars, trees, the odds for the car winning is always little. Would have, could have, hmm, you never know.

[Engine_Roars]

Originally Posted by Fullrevs

Got this from a whatsapp group that I belong to. Happened in Hyderabad last night as the G-Wagen crashed into a metro rail structural column. Please excuse the smiley. That's how the picture came.

According to the news, it was being driven by a Minister's son. Two people have died, the driver & his friends and news also says that it was being driven at very high speeds.

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by IN07KL0484

Looking at the crumple zone of the G-Class, I don't think the seat belts would have made a big difference.

It had to be an insane crash for a G-Class to be this mangled from a head-on collision. G's are known for their strength during head-on crashes and weak in rollover accidents.

It had to be an insane speed + old design which are far from NCAP requirements

[IN07KL0484]

Originally Posted by ajmat

It had to be an insane speed + old design which are far from NCAP requirements

Spot on! 70's design to be precise, with upgrades here and there. But it's still heartbreaking to actually understand the implication of an old design through an accident like this.

I guess nothing beats XC90 when its comes to the safety aspect.

[prithm]

Originally Posted by ajmat

It had to be an insane speed + old design which are far from NCAP requirements

Even if it cleared all NCAP guidelines, how can any human survive without a scratch in an headon collision against an immovable target ??

Even at low speeds (as observed in crash tests), dummies fling and get thrashed around, leave alone the soft, spongy human body.

Not trying to be judgmental, but loss of life even in a top end car can only be due to driver error. Not sure what role did yesterday's weather play in this. Its not like driver would not have seen such a huge ugly pillar sticking like a sore thumb.

This road especially winds and snakes through the posh areas of Hyderabad. Not a straight line at all to floor the pedal.

[Chetan_Rao]

The steering/dash are in the first row, which itself has moved almost to the second row. Not sure anything short of an impenetrable force field would've saved the occupants from injury.

There's only so much any car can do in real life, no matter how safe it is on paper and under test conditions.

[Acharya]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1fj2VJT0DO4

This is footage of G - class accident, look like a crash test video.

[Hickstead]

Couple of pics from another telugu daily.
Source: www.andhrajyothi.com

[Kiterunner]

Noticed the speedometer needle stuck at 210 KM. I am assuming this was the speed during the crash.

[n_naik]

Originally Posted by Hickstead

Couple of pics from another telugu daily.

The second pic with the needle stuck at 200+kmph mark explains everything.

[IN07KL0484]

Originally Posted by prithm

Even if it cleared all NCAP guidelines, how can any human survive without a scratch in an headon collision against an immovable target ??

Even at low speeds (as observed in crash tests), dummies fling and get thrashed around, leave alone the soft, spongy human body.

Clearing NCAP/Crash tests do not mean that occupants won't get a scratch during accidents, it just means you won't get any grave/fatal injuries.

Not trying to be judgmental, but loss of life even in a top end car can only be due to driver error. Not sure what role did yesterday's weather play in this. Its not like driver would not have seen such a huge ugly pillar sticking like a sore thumb.

Generally, crash tests are done at 60 to 70 Km/Hr and this was well beyond that. So definitely a human error.

Originally Posted by Acharya

This is footage of G - class accident, look like a crash test video.

I am tempted to say understeer but it doesn't seem like the driver was even trying!

[Hickstead]

Video of the damaged vehicle and accident spot.
Source: Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DR6ROEDbYs