[sunilch]

Originally Posted by Anand123

A Mercedes-AMG event happened in Kerala today and unfortunately, it didn't end up well. No idea how the crash happened.

Originally Posted by v12

Seems like they crashed at a very high speed too. It is indeed weird because in such an event, both the cars would be travelling in the same direction, right? Why were they coming towards each other from the opposite direction? And why were they speeding on such a narrow public road?

Hope the driver and occupants are safe.

Originally Posted by ajmat

The road looks like outside the Casino hotel. I guess various people were trying the cars out.

My hypothesis based on the damage is that one of these was going towards the venue and one rwas eturning. Judging by the damage, the SL55 was at a higher speed and clipped the GT63.

A bit OT but seems to be the best thread to ask this due to relevance ( I know it sounds like an oxymoronic statement ) ... How are these cars and events insured? I am guessing some of these cars are dealership/company owned and some would be owner owned (current owners invited by the company for the event).

In case a prospective customer is driving a company owned car and that car has accident, insurance will cover some of the damage but not all of it I believe. Who pays the delta?

What if the insurance company refuses to honor the claim on account of dangerous driving?

I am guess that whatever can be fixed will be fixed and sold eventually to another buyer by the dealership, for such damaged cars.

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by sunilch

A bit OT but seems to be the best thread to ask this due to relevance ( I know it sounds like an oxymoronic statement ) ... How are these cars and events insured? I am guessing some of these cars are dealership/company owned and some would be owner owned (current owners invited by the company for the event)..

I'm also curious to know the insurance aspects. The red car was driven by a young chap and the blue one by a young lady. As per a whatsapp voice message that was shared in a group, the lady driver lost the control and hit the other car.

[rx100]

According to a report from a Kerala newspaper, there were no fatalities, and the injuries do not seem to be life-threatening. It also provides an eyewitness account of the events that occurred.

https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/mo...?id=1371188&u=

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by sunilch

A bit OT but seems to be the best thread to ask this due to relevance ( I know it sounds like an oxymoronic statement ) ... How are these cars and events insured? I am guessing some of these cars are dealership/company owned and some would be owner owned (current owners invited by the company for the event).

In case a prospective customer is driving a company owned car and that car has accident, insurance will cover some of the damage but not all of it I believe. Who pays the delta?

What if the insurance company refuses to honor the claim on account of dangerous driving?

I am guess that whatever can be fixed will be fixed and sold eventually to another buyer by the dealership, for such damaged cars.

Originally Posted by clevermax

I'm also curious to know the insurance aspects. The red car was driven by a young chap and the blue one by a young lady. As per a whatsapp voice message that was shared in a group, the lady driver lost the control and hit the other car.

Normal insurance might not cover this as this could be classified for "testing" unless the dealer took out a specific insurance

The cars are beyond repair, Mercedes would never release these out. They will be dismantled and used to education/research

Willingdon Island has narrow roads although open and is the wrong place for such event. BMW host these events on private land and ensure circumstances are avoided - like driving strictly within a demarcated path with run off areas. Normally Hari Singh's team organise these events even for Mercedes. This, most probably, was a dealer event who did not think about these aspects. Mercedes are usually selective about who they lend out the more powerful AMG cars. This was totally at the dealership level.

Originally Posted by rx100

According to a report from a Kerala newspaper, there were no fatalities, and the injuries do not seem to be life-threatening. It also provides an eyewitness account of the events that occurred.

https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/mo...?id=1371188&u=

Looks like my armchair hypothesis was way out!!!!

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by ajmat

Normal insurance might not cover this as this could be classified for "testing" unless the dealer took out a specific insurance

The cars are beyond repair, Mercedes would never release these out. They will be dismantled and used to education/research

Willingdon Island has narrow roads although open and is the wrong place for such event. BMW host these events on private land and ensure circumstances are avoided - like driving strictly within a demarcated path with run off areas.

It certainly looks like Willingdon Island. This stretch is sort of under control of Cochin Port Trust and tolled. I have heard of insurance issues happening here for people who do not pay the toll. Sort of denies it claiming it was private area and was trespassed (If the toll/entry fee is not paid). In case the dealer didn't pay/contact the por trust, things might get tricky when it comes to insurance.

I am not sure of this statement, but heard this long time back from a reliable source.

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

It certainly looks like Willingdon Island. This stretch is sort of under control of Cochin Port Trust and tolled. I have heard of insurance issues happening here for people who do not pay the toll. Sort of denies it claiming it was private area and was trespassed (If the toll/entry fee is not paid). In case the dealer didn't pay/contact the por trust, things might get tricky when it comes to insurance.

.

This will be a big mess for sure!

1. Use of dealer plates might be in question according to each states interpretation. during a recent test drive, we had to diligently fill in the form specifying who drove and odo reading in and out
2. The insurance coverage/liability
3. The speed violation
4. The third parties involved
5. Event permissions
6. Of course, questions wold be asked about safety in allowing powerful cars in the hands of inexperienced drives
7. Was there a qualified instructor/person to advise, not a mere salesman who says floor it!
8. Did the drivers sign any liability for misuse/excess speed?

[RahulNagaraj]

Thanks to Sameer for sending these images in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via this Team-BHP share page!

News Link: https://www.newindianexpress.com/cit...land-in-kerala

Photos:















Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NaadU-05uc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTuRu3YhBVs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DwST6kik4M

[SuperGirl_Dad]

Originally Posted by RahulNagaraj

Attachment 2646998


Attachment 2647001

This is a perfect example of a small overlap crash test. Why is there no side or curtain airbag on the SL55 cabrio?

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by SuperGirl_Dad

This is a perfect example of a small overlap crash test. Why is there no side or curtain airbag on the SL55 cabrio?

This is a convertible. It might have been on the door which was removed to extricate the driver

[Sk8r]

Am sure the organizers are in a soup. However, I feel their stars are perfectly aligned as there is no fatality for the occupants or the general public.

[GeeTee TSI]

How could uncertified (in racing prowess) drivers just gun these cars on what is clearly not a closed circuit race track?! From the cars' performance pedigree as well as the extent of damage visible, it does not take a genius to figure out the sort of illegal speeds which might have been involved.

These cars might be very first world but the event management was so not that. We neither have adequate tracks nor a track culture in the manner of driving and protective gear.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by ajmat

... It might have been on the door which was removed to extricate the driver

An earlier post said that the door had been cut off to rescue the driver. When reading that post, I thought, "It's a convertible: why cut steel when surely a pocket knife could cut the hood?"

[Chisels121]

The report linked above clearly stated that the test-driver of the orange AMG 4 Door lost control by over speeding and ran into a Hyundai Accent and then banged the SL55 AMG parked on the roadside so I guess no more discussion how the accident happened. Needless to say my opinion would be that NOBODY should give performance cars for test drives in India on public roads as the driver is definitely going to push the accelerator pedal not realising that his limits are WAY lower than the car's limits. These test drives should be conducted on the track like BMW Joyfest and Porsche events as there the driver can test the GT63 4 door high speed capabilities.

[nettooran]

Originally Posted by Anand123

A Mercedes-AMG event happened in Kerala today and unfortunately, it didn't end up well. No idea how the crash happened.

There is an old unused railway line that crosses this road. Its told that the car driven by the lady lost control after going over it. I have seen this place and the railway lines are not protruding in any way. Not sure if there was some road damage on the edges or any recent misalignment.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Chisels121

Needless to say my opinion would be that NOBODY should give performance cars for test drives in India on public roads ...

It is a completely ridiculous thing to do. I don't know how any insurer would cover it (if they did? Excuse me if I missed the answer to that question). I don't know how the manufacturer would risk the vehicles.

Test driving performance vehicles is something that needs more than a track: it needs instruction. I think that, in some countries, this is done as a two or three day package, ending with the higher-powered vehicles.

The organisers should be prosecuted for bringing such a risk to a public road.

(Off-topic, Casino Hotel was on the itinerary for my very first trip, as an India-shy tourist, to this country. If anyone had tried to tell me that I would be living here just 8 years later, I'd have thought they were mad )