Veyron crash heads to court
2012-10-05 13:22
FOWL PLAY OR FOUL PLAY?: Above shows a vehicle recovery worker at the scene of the crashed Veyron in 2009. Was a pelican to blame or is the driver trying to commit insurance fraud?
CAPE TOWN - In 2009 we reported on a bizarre incident worthy of bringing tears to the eyes of any car enthusiast - a Bugatti Veyron crashing into a lagoon.
Driver Andy House told Texan authorities that he had dropped his mobile phone and, while bending to pick it up, was startled by a low-flying pelican sending him into the water.
COURT BATTLE
Talking on your mobile while driving a car that can reach speeds of 400km/h? It's surprising the police didn't book him for that.
Unbeknownst to House, he was being filmed and the video has become infamous on YouTube.
Perhaps the pelican was jealous of the car? Or maybe it was a really important phone call? What if the bird made the phone call? Unfortunately his insurance company isn't buying his story...
House filed a R22m insurance claim for the totaled car. In return he received a lawsuit, which will begin in October 2012 as his insurer, Philadelphia Indemnity, claimed he was committing fraud since there was no pelican visible in the video.
Using the video as evidence in its civil lawsuit, the insurance company said that House made no attempt to brake and he, "intentionally drove the Bugatti into the lagoon to destroy the car and collect proceeds approximately twice the value of the car."
Philadelphia Indemnity further stated it found no skid marks on the road and said, " (House) left the vehicle running for over fifteen minutes while it was submerged until it died on its own causing unnecessary damage to the vehicle's engine".
The company also claims it has an informant who alleges that House offered him cash to steal the car and set it on fire. The insurer is counter-suing by demanding the, still withheld R22m, for the ruined supercar.
Watch the video below:
