A car driven at speeds of a least 100 mph crashed into the concrete pillar supporting a bridge on Ohio Interstate 675 on Monday, August 23. The moment of impact tore the car into three pieces and was caught on tape by the camera mounted in a police car at the scene.
NDTV reported 19 year-old Brennan Eden was driving his 1985 Pontiac Firebird past other drivers at high speed when he drove off the left side of the roadway while passing a Sugarcreek Township police car. "He went down into the median, into the grass, hit the guard rail, went airborne and the car hit the center post of the bridge and literally exploded into three main pieces," said witness Mark Riley.
The force of the crash ejected Brennan from the car. According to the NDTV report, he was alert and conscious after the crash and was flown to Miami Valley Hospital by Careflight. He is listed in critical condition.
According to the British paper, The Sun, Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Marty Fellure said: "He is very lucky to still be alive at this point."
With any luck, Brennan will survive his experiment with reckless driving and will be available to face the consequences. He would likely face, at minimum, charges of reckless driving. Reckless driving laws in most states prohibit driving a vehicle in a way that shows a "reckless" or "willful" disregard for the safety of other people, including other drivers and pedestrians. Some state traffic laws dictate that certain acts automatically qualify as "reckless driving" including:
- Driving 25 miles per hour (or more) over the posted speed limit
- Racing another vehicle
- Trying to elude a police officer
- On a two-lane highway, passing another vehicle when visibility of oncoming traffic is limited.
From the eyewitness accounts, Brennan Eden seems to have nailed down at least two of the above elements. After he is released from the hospital, his driver's license will likely be but a faint memory for him for years to come.
Related Resources:
- Car in Ohio slams into overpass, breaks into bits (AP)
- Reckless Driving (by state) (FindLaw)
- What is "reckless driving"? (FindLaw)
- Congress Considers National Distracted Driving Bills (FindLaw's KnowledgeBase)
- Florida Reckless Driving Law (provided by Ferrer Shane, PL)
- Auto Accident FAQs (provided by Hofland Beasley & Associates)
