- It’s unclear how the driver lost control, smashed into the building’s wall and ended up in the pool.
- Fortunately, no one was swimming in the pool at the time of the crash, and no one else was injured.
- Given the cost of repairs on such cars, it seems unlikely that this Merc will return to the roads.
Authorities in San Bernardino, California, found themselves dealing with an unusual holiday-season mishap that could easily compete for one of the year’s strangest accidents. In 2024, we saw our fair share of luxury cars making unfortunate aquatic debuts, but this one takes a particularly bizarre turn.
Gymgoers likely got the fright of their lives when a black Mercedes S-Class busted through a wall of the fitness center and plunged directly into the pool. Fortunately, no one was swimming at the time, nor was anyone else in the fitness center injured.
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It’s unclear how the driver of the Mercedes lost control of the car, but writing on Facebook, the California Highway Patrol used the crash to remind motorists about the dangers of distracted driving, telling locals to “put the phone down,” “skip eating while driving,” and to “focus on the road, not passengers.”
The Mercedes, which appears to be an S580, has been badly damaged because of the driver’s poor understanding of what ‘carpooling’ means. The front end has seen better days, and at least one of the wheels and several suspension components were destroyed. Of course, the car’s unexpected excursion into the water will have caused most of the damage.
While it can be possible to save cars that have been dunked in water, repairing a high-end luxury saloon like the S-Class with its myriad of systems and complex electronics likely costs more than seeing your kid through college – especially if the engine was running when the car hit the pool, which means it could be hydrolocked. Thus, the insurance company might decide it’s best to call this one a write-off.
The driver of the Mercedes was treated on the scene by Redlands firefighters and paramedics and escaped with minor injuries.