Friendly passing motorist squashed by flying 1000-pound asphalt chunk

[Algorem]

Volkswagens just don't hold up well in an accident.

"One dead, several injured after gasoline tank explodes

A welder's torch caused an old underground gas tank to explode Friday, killing one man when asphalt weighing about 1,000 pounds landed on his passing vehicle, authorities said...

The blast left a crater that was 5 to 6 feet deep and 15 to 20 feet across and hurled chunks of asphalt and debris 100 to 200 yards, said Capt. Ronald Maybee with the Jacksonville...

"Many pieces of asphalt blew off and one of those pieces struck a vehicle going southbound on U.S. 17. It struck the top of the vehicle and killed the driver."

Spring said the asphalt that struck the Volkswagen measured an estimated 3 to 4 feet square and was 6 to 8 inches thick..."

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050520/APN/505201280&cachetime=5

[gollygee]

1. He used a welder on vent pipes from a UST?

Jesus.

[Bombero1956]

5. here in Mass

under 527 CMR 9 and MGL Chapter 148 any tank out of use for more than a year is considered abandoned and must be removed. That goes for both UST and ASTs.

[gollygee]

6. That doesn't mean you take a welder to it

I used to work for a company that remediated UST sites.

[Kellanved]

2. I don't think any non-armored car can withstand that sort of accident

Death from above just isn't part of the normal crash scenarios.

[Ilsa]

3. I dunno, Algorem, I think a chunk of asphalt weighing 1000 lbs

hitting your vehicle when going the speed limit is pretty deadly, no matter what you are driving. Poor guy.

[Heidi]

4. Ouch. (nt)