Volkswagen doesn't make amphibious cars, but it may want to consider them in the future. On Saturday, a trucker hauling a load of new VWs from San Diego to Los Angeles drove off a pier and into the ocean.
Local authorities say the driver apparently "suffered from some kind of medical emergency", causing him to black out and lose control of the truck. The cab careened into the San Diego Bay at a National City marine terminal, plunging into the water. The trailer stayed on the pier, but three cars fell into the bay.
The teamster regained consciousness underwater, escaped from the tractor and swam some 13 feet to the surface where he was evacuated in reportedly good condition to a local hospital.
[Source: 10News.com via All Cars, All the Time]
2010 Chevrolet Camaro revealed!
Spy Shots: Honda's hybrid Prius-fighter caught
Best shot yet of the Transformers 2 mystery Vette
Spy Shots: Subaru WRX STI spec C
In The Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mercedes SLK55 AMG
First Drive: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 w/VIDEO![In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Ford Flex Limited [w/VIDEO]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/ford-flex45015_thumbnail.jpg)
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Ford Flex Limited [w/VIDEO]
First Drive: 2009 Mazda6
Should've bought a Garmin? Testing the iPhone 3G's GPS capabilities
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Omar G. @ Dec 31st 2007 11:16AM
What a waste !
Speddy @ Dec 31st 2007 11:50AM
Nah. They recovered the transporter. I'm sure the cab and trailer can be used again. Oh, you mean the VWs? Unless Passat's, they can scrap the rest.
refugee7 @ Dec 31st 2007 11:17AM
Glad that the driver is safe.
Luis @ Dec 31st 2007 12:10PM
I can't imagine coming to and realizing you're underwater...and on top of that being able to have enough sense to hold your breath and swim to safety! Amazing! That really is a good thing driver's ok.
EJ25RUN @ Dec 31st 2007 11:18AM
thought it said vw transformer with that pic!
3seriesisking @ Dec 31st 2007 11:45AM
That sucks.
zach @ Dec 31st 2007 11:50AM
Hopefully none of the cars had been special ordered by customers... that'd be a real kick in the nuts.
shouldn't be that big of a deal though; nothing like mazda's recent "issue" or the bmw/volvo ship.
Solo Racer @ Dec 31st 2007 11:51AM
Mazda scrapped all those cars.
Todd @ Dec 31st 2007 12:00PM
"....Introducing the Volkswagen sign, THEN swim, Then drive sales event."
Rick @ Dec 31st 2007 3:57PM
Good one ;)
NewJerseyBMW @ Dec 31st 2007 12:01PM
bahh just let'em air dry and it'll be all good.
Is this why Vw fans have a club H20 ?
http://www.clubh2o.com/
jc @ Dec 31st 2007 12:32PM
actually, volkswagen made amphibious vehicles during ww2.
Adam @ Dec 31st 2007 12:39PM
When the cars you're carrying suffer from spontaneous combustion at times.......this may have been a good thing.
JIm @ Dec 31st 2007 1:06PM
Reminds me of the '60s VW ad...
Volkswagens will definitely float, but not indefinitely.
I live in San Diego. Check signonsandiego.com for the local paper's view.
Benfolio @ Dec 31st 2007 2:38PM
Farfrommsinkin
Pat @ Dec 31st 2007 2:46PM
Filming a new GTI ad?
Time to vash ze auto!
stang fan @ Dec 31st 2007 3:21PM
"Medical emergency"? Sounds like the driver was trying to make sure none of those "bad" VWs got into customers hands.
How about changing it to..... "Dry and Drive"?
j_diesel @ Dec 31st 2007 3:55PM
i never thought i'd see Transporter and VW in the same headline ever again.
peter gusztav @ Dec 31st 2007 11:01PM
Wow, this is great promotion for volkwagen, I also posted it on my blog, with extra comments, www.opentopix.com/topic/off-beat/vws-transporter-runs-in-san-diego-bay
peter gusztav @ Dec 31st 2007 11:05PM
Sorry link to long here is the shorter link just opentopix.com, www.opentopix.com/topic/off-beat/transporter-runs-in-san-diego-bay