Many details are still unknown, but a flying car described as Santa's sleigh by some onlookers and as a miracle by other observers, landed on an apartment rooftop in Fresno, California, without incident or injury in the early morning hours on January 6.
According to witness accounts and a law enforcement officer's opinion on a Northern California television broadcast, the driver of the car likely took a corner at a high rate of speed.
Somehow, the vehicle was catapulted into the air and landed on the roof of the apartment building in a suburban neighborhood.
The driver of the car fled and suffered a broken leg when he jumped from the roof. He was apprehended by police and later identified as Benjamin Tucker.
Tucker, 25, already wanted for assault, had stolen his girlfriend's car and lost control on the residential corner.
"It could have been much worse, like 10 times worse," said one onlooker. "It was a miracle."
A towing company had to use a crane to get the car down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcGX4-T3Vxw
Article Last Updated: January 6, 2012.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
It never ceases to amaze me how stupid some people are. Must have left his brains at home that morning.