<Revised with updated info>
The Countryman accident actually wasn't on the Dragon... It was the 15mph-marked curve between the dam and Fontana. All the roads around here are potentially dangerous.

Well, a CM had a problem near the Dragon. Apparently the driver is OK.

(Speaking from experience) It looks like the CM did its sturdy best to take care of the pilot, although it got worked over pretty good. A very strong car...

 

 

Glad to here the Driver/passengers made it out OK!

 

Hello? Allstate?

Good to hear that those inside were okay.

 

When did that happen? I arrived earlier today and hadn't heard anything about it. Man the Dragon is fun! I can see how a person can get over zealous though. My tires were squealing through several turns. Glad the driver is ok.

 

Prob before 5.
My wife and I were coming off the Dragon and saw a helicopter and a stretcher by the dam.

 

What'd it hit, or what hit it?

 

Ouch! Glad the occupants are ok like others have said! Pains me to see a MINI crunched like that but it's nice to know they are one of the safest cars on the road!

 

I noticed you edited the location. I was wondering about that cause I am pretty sure I was doing my runs at about that time.

 

Always sad to see, but always glad to hear no one was hurt too bad and the MINI did its job.

 

Happened on the hellbender just before Fontana. Driver missed the turn and went off the shoulder. Went into a gully with a good drop. Vehicle rolled but the driver was able to walk away. Last I heard he was at the hospital and expected to be ok.

 

The CM rolled and didn't even break the glass?! <3 CM!

 

hope he has gap insurance

 

What's gap insurance?

 

Gap insurance explained --> http://lmgtfy.com/?q=what+is+gap+insurance

 

There wad only one occupant, he lost traction on an inside curb. If you've been to the Dragon you know the white line has nothing on the other side of it accept grass,rock or gullies. Some edges are worn or crumbled away. From what I've heard, he went down a gullie about 40 ft, rolled twice and was stopped by a tree. He didn't get any visible damage until they cut his seatbelt and he hit his head having to get a few stitches. After watching him overnight at the hospital, he was released and was back at the event the next day. Very lucky.

 

From "that other site":

I was the next car behind the Countryman, my wife and I witnessed the incident, admittedly from maybe 10 car lengths behind. We'd been following this C-man at a distance for about 10 miles (from Upper Sawyer's Creek Road to the section of 28 leading into Fontana). Sticking only to facts: The C-man made an early and fast corner entry, exited the road airborne into the ravine near the corner exit, and apparently hit the tree with its roof first, ending up on its roof, horn blazing, some 30-40 feet below the road surface. The driver was the lone occupant, was life-flighted out, treated for his injuries, and thankfully was able to return to Fontana to participate in other events.

Thankfully the driver survived, thankfully Mini designed a safe structure, and everybody was lucky this time.

I have to thank the driver's club/friends, the school bus driver who radioed the "911" call in, and the Propane truck driver who actually went into the ravine to retrieve the driver, the nurse who stayed with him until the ambulance got there, and the many others who stopped to help direct traffic and maintain safety for over an hour while the whole mess was sorted out.

That's all that need be said about the incident itself. Anything more would be conjecture, judgement, or speculation. Just don't.

Pay attention and be very careful out there.

Read more: http://www.*********************/for...#ixzz1uHis9rmW

 

Thank you for the helpful clarification of the event. (The link was blocked).

 

That's OK, the link was a thread on Moto-ring All-i-an-ce period com (NAM blocks all links to that excellent Mini site), no further information than in this thread, a couple of pictures of a C-man that hit a tree with its roof, and the usual rants about fast/ slow/ inconsiderate/ unsafe drivers who "don't drive like me".

 

Here's another view of the CM from the other forum site, post collision with a tree, after being pulled up about 40 feet from the bottom of the ravine. It took a pretty hard hit, but the structure did very well protecting the occupant.

 

<comment about the posting on the other site>

Well put.

 

Cosby had a great comedy routine where (IIRC) he referred to anyone driving faster than him as an idiot and anyone driving slower a moron - so, being fair, my comment isn't limited to posters on that site, but can be generalized to many, many car forum postings.

That's why my original post (in blue, above) is - and will remain - limited to the facts.

More fact: The initial point of impact was the roof structure on the tree, apparently at/near the base of the windshield, but there were multiple impacts on the way down, with the car ending up on its roof. The C-man was rolled by the tow truck driver while at the base of the hill, prior to pulling it from the ravine. Any damage on the top side of the car, therefore, was caused by the accident itself: the impact(s) with the tree(s) or forest floor on the way down. Ouch. The damage to the underside of the car (front wheel on its side, side skirt askew, etc.) may or may not have been caused by the long pull up the hill at the end of a tow cable.

 

well glad the passengers were ok! all i have to say is OUCH! the cabin held up pretty wel and with rolling it looks like the sunroof still held up.

 

We came across the scene just moments after this happened; very glad the driver was realtively unscathed -- it certainly didn't look good.