[AshSimmonds]

  Dead Porsche testers 'were safe drivers'
CHRISTINE KELLETT

The two men killed in a dramatic road smash on Brisbane’s southside this morning were Greg Wright, 47, and Jarrod Hamilton, 27.

The pair was test-driving a powerful Porsche 911 GT2 for a Brisbane-based motor repairs shop when they lost control on Fairfield Road at Yeronga about 10.30am, slamming head-on into a passing truck near the intersection of Nelson Street.

They died at the scene.

This afternoon their employer, Fulcrum Suspensions, issued a statement expressing "great shock" at their deaths.

"On behalf of the entire Fulcrum Suspensions family we extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the loved ones and friends of Greg and Jarrod after today’s terrible tragedy," Managing Director Graham Scudamore-Smith said.

The men, research and development engineers, had been assessing the $200,000 luxury sports car for a regular customer ahead of repairs to replace suspension components.

Mr Scudamore-Smith said Fairfield Road was one of several approved routes "that Fulcrum Suspensions uses at all times for ride evaluation".

The 996 model Porsche being driven by the pair has a top speed of 315 kmh and can accellerate from zero to 100 kmh in just 4 seconds.

"It is normal practice for Fulcrum Suspensions engineers to assess the vehicle’s ride before replacing suspension components.

"Greg was a member of the Fulcrum family for nine years, while Jarrod had been with us for just over three years.

"Both were highly experienced and responsible drivers. Both were professional engineers who made major contributions to the business. No words are enough to express the sadness and shock that we are all experiencing at this time.

"We are all still trying to piece together what caused this tragedy and have pledged our full co-operation with all authorities to achieve this.

"In order to achieve this, we will not be making any further media or public comment until these investigations have been carried out by the relevant authorities."

Police today said wet weather and speed would be examined as part of an investigation into the crash which occurred when the silver Porsche slid off the tarmac and across a median strip, into the path of an oncoming prime mover.

The truck was towing an empty trailer and suffered damage to its front end, however the driver was not seriously hurt.

Acting Inspector Acting Inspector Shaun Dinon, of the Forensic Crash Investigation Unit, said the scene which confronted rescuers this morning was among the worst imaginable.

"This was a really, really bad crash and one that need not have happened," Acting Inspector Dinon told brisbanetimes.com.au.

"It is extremely tragic and really demonstrates why people need to pay attention behind the wheel of a motor car because even a momentary decision - be it one to break the speed limit or whatever - can have fatal consequences."

Police remained at the scene for most of the day, only reopening Fairfield Road to traffic about 3.30pm.

Acting Inspector Dinon said heavy showers would complicate the evidence-gathering process but was confident police would be able to piece together an accurate picture of the tragedy from skid marks and other forensic clues that would point to the speed the Porsche was travelling before impact.

A Department of Community Safety spokesman this morning described the scene that met ambulance paramedics.

"The car was very entangled. It was a mess," he said.

"The two males that were both in the car were deceased at the scene."

One witness who saw the collision told Seven News the Porsche "just broke to pieces" on impact.

http://www.watoday.com.au/queensland/dead-porsche-testers-were-safe-drivers-20100301-pcgp.html

[M308]

Damn......That is a hard hit.
With total respect to the families of the deceased, there must of been some form of stupidity, wrecklessness & speed from the driver for that type of damage. Just not worth it but very sad indeed

[jim501]

Very nasty. It isn't called the widowmaker for nothing.

[Ferrarista]

Damn......That is a hard hit.
With total respect to the families of the deceased, there must of been some form of stupidity, wrecklessness & speed from the driver for that type of damage. Just not worth it but very sad indeed

+1

[looney]

Very nasty. It isn't called the widowmaker for nothing.

not to mention the unrelenting rain weve had for days, there are thick sheets of water on every road.

its pretty dicey on the roads at the moment.

[osg]

Very nasty. It isn't called the widowmaker for nothing.

+1000.....

Having driven Scud's old 996 and current 997 GT2 in anger.... i can say first hand that they demand respect on a dry road, let alone a soaked one..... The 996 GT2 still to this day is the only car that has genuinely frightened me......

[Pazzo Canguro]

Damn......That is a hard hit.
With total respect to the families of the deceased, there must of been some form of stupidity, wrecklessness & speed from the driver for that type of damage. Just not worth it but very sad indeed

Agreed. it was pissing down that time yesterday morning as it has been for 24hours.   i feel for their family's.     

[allanuber]

Agreed. it was pissing down that time yesterday morning as it has been for 24hours.   i feel for their family's.     

Lets see how the investigation pans out. Doesn't take much to put a wheel on the grass median. Once you're on there it's like ice. The oncoming truck would have had massive momentum and zero stopping power in the wet. Even sliding into an oncoming truck with both cars doing a conservative 80, giving an impact speed of 160's is going to cause massive and frightening damage. RIP to the guys, horrible accident.

[M308]

Doesn't take much to put a wheel on the grass median. Once you're on there it's like ice.

I know exactly how that feels & you are right, nothing you can do but hang on & pray........but I was very luck in that incident

[hydie]

I have heard from one of the owners friends that he had told them not to take the car out in the current weather.