Post by Shorty on Apr 14, 2008 22:03:30 GMT
OAP's £60k Porsche crash escape
A veteran driver who had not had an accident in 76 years but caused £60,000 worth of damage to two Porsche cars has spoken of his "miracle" escape.
Jack Higgs, 93, was uninjured when his Ford Fiesta hit a Carrera II then flipped over onto a Porsche 911 outside a showroom in Penarth, near Cardiff.
Mr Higgs was found hanging upside down by his seatbelt in his overturned car.
The former Pentecostal minister, who lives next door to the showroom, has decided to quit driving.
Mr Higgs said he could not explain how he managed to lose control of his 13-year-old car and smash into the Porsches.
One of the elite cars was a write-off while the other was badly damaged and will need extensive repairs.
Both cars were privately owned and were in the garage for servicing.
Mr Higgs' Fiesta, worth £600, was also a write-off.
The next thing I knew I was hanging upside down in my car thanking my lucky stars I was still alive
The cost of his first accident in 76 years was estimated at £60,000 - which will be met by his insurance company.
"I've been driving since I was 17, have a clean licence and have never even picked up so much as a parking ticket," said Mr Higgs who added he would be relying on the bus service and lifts to get him around from now on.
"I just don't know what happened except that I lost control as I was reversing and suddenly I had hit the cars.
"The next thing I knew I was hanging upside down in my car thanking my lucky stars I was still alive.
"It was a miracle I got out alive and I put it down to the power of prayer and God looking after me.
"But that's it - the end of my driving career, I'm never driving again."
Staff at the RS Porsche base said Mr Higgs managed to get himself free and walked away from the crash without a scratch.
He was given the all-clear after being checked over by paramedics.
There was glass and bits of broken metal everywhere - but Jack is such a gentleman he asked for a sweeping brush to help clear them up
He is well-known to workers at the showroom and has driven across the forecourt to get to his garage for 45 years without any problems.
Porsche dealer Dave Coombs said: "It was amazing. We could hardly believe our eyes at the damage.
"He managed to get himself free and walked out without a scratch. But the Porsches were a real mess.
"There was glass and bits of broken metal everywhere - but Jack is such a gentleman he asked for a sweeping brush to help clear them up.
"But we walked him to his home for a cup of sweet tea while the breakdown trucks arrived to tow away the cars.
"I'm not too concerned about the cars - what matters is that Jack survived which is incredible considering his great age."
Source - BBC Website.
If only it were on youtube!
Glad nobody got hurt, but it does seem rather funny.
A veteran driver who had not had an accident in 76 years but caused £60,000 worth of damage to two Porsche cars has spoken of his "miracle" escape.
Jack Higgs, 93, was uninjured when his Ford Fiesta hit a Carrera II then flipped over onto a Porsche 911 outside a showroom in Penarth, near Cardiff.
Mr Higgs was found hanging upside down by his seatbelt in his overturned car.
The former Pentecostal minister, who lives next door to the showroom, has decided to quit driving.
Mr Higgs said he could not explain how he managed to lose control of his 13-year-old car and smash into the Porsches.
One of the elite cars was a write-off while the other was badly damaged and will need extensive repairs.
Both cars were privately owned and were in the garage for servicing.
Mr Higgs' Fiesta, worth £600, was also a write-off.
The next thing I knew I was hanging upside down in my car thanking my lucky stars I was still alive
The cost of his first accident in 76 years was estimated at £60,000 - which will be met by his insurance company.
"I've been driving since I was 17, have a clean licence and have never even picked up so much as a parking ticket," said Mr Higgs who added he would be relying on the bus service and lifts to get him around from now on.
"I just don't know what happened except that I lost control as I was reversing and suddenly I had hit the cars.
"The next thing I knew I was hanging upside down in my car thanking my lucky stars I was still alive.
"It was a miracle I got out alive and I put it down to the power of prayer and God looking after me.
"But that's it - the end of my driving career, I'm never driving again."
Staff at the RS Porsche base said Mr Higgs managed to get himself free and walked away from the crash without a scratch.
He was given the all-clear after being checked over by paramedics.
There was glass and bits of broken metal everywhere - but Jack is such a gentleman he asked for a sweeping brush to help clear them up
He is well-known to workers at the showroom and has driven across the forecourt to get to his garage for 45 years without any problems.
Porsche dealer Dave Coombs said: "It was amazing. We could hardly believe our eyes at the damage.
"He managed to get himself free and walked out without a scratch. But the Porsches were a real mess.
"There was glass and bits of broken metal everywhere - but Jack is such a gentleman he asked for a sweeping brush to help clear them up.
"But we walked him to his home for a cup of sweet tea while the breakdown trucks arrived to tow away the cars.
"I'm not too concerned about the cars - what matters is that Jack survived which is incredible considering his great age."
Source - BBC Website.
If only it were on youtube!
Glad nobody got hurt, but it does seem rather funny.