That is Not the Brake
On the morning of Sunday, July 11, 2021, at approximately 10:30 a.m., a car being operated by a student driver plowed through a chain-link fence and crashed into an antique airplane that was parked at the Chico Air Museum. According to reports from the Chico Police Department, the driver mistook the gas pedal for the brake while attempting to execute a turn. As a result of the mistake, the vehicle jumped the curb, crashed through the fence and into the yard of the Chico Air Museum, and hit a rare airplane, cause it significant damage.
Much Repair Work Lies Ahead
The president of the museum, Brain Baldridge, estimates that it will take many hours of volunteer time to return the airplane to its original condition. Mr. Baldridge noted that the plane was very rare and unfortunately sustained a significant amount of damage. The impact damaged the plane’s tail cone section and horizontal stabilizer. It may take hundreds or perhaps thousands of hours of work with sheet metal to fix the damage. A lot of labor went into getting the plane in the condition it was prior to the crash. Mr. Baldridge is confident that they will ultimately be able to repair the plane.
Fortunately, No Injuries Were Reported
The vehicle with the student driver also contained a passenger. Neither vehicle occupant suffered injuries.
Watch the YouTube video. Action News Now reported on the story. Their clip is posted below.
Student Driver – Dangerous?
When a person is learning to drive in anticipation of getting a California driver’s license, they need to obtain an instructional permit. During trips on the road to gain experience with the learner’s permit, the unlicensed driver must be accompanied by a licensed driver. Because of the level of inexperience, there are always risks involved with a learning driver taking to the roads. The task of driving can be complex, and there are many opportunities to make dangerous and/or costly mistakes, such as mistaking the accelerator pedal for the brake.
Newly Licensed Drivers
The increased risks of accidents do not magically disappear once a person obtains their driver’s license. If the new driver is also a young person, there is often the added component of several other traits common in youth. For instance, teen drivers commonly take unnecessary risks behind the wheel. The incident of car crashes is high in the six months after a driver’s license is obtained. There really is no substitute for experience behind the wheel when it comes to safety. That is not to say that there are not plenty of terrible drivers who have had their licenses for years and years – there definitely are! But unless they are impaired by drugs or alcohol, or are losing cognitive ability due to age, they are unlikely to slam on the gas when trying to stop the car.
Chico Personal Injury Lawyer
Greetings – and thanks for visiting the AutoAccident.com legal blog. I am Ed Smith, and I am a Chico, California personal injury lawyer. For more than 38 years, the injury lawyers at my firm have been advocating for injured Northern Californians and representing grieving families in their claims following a wrongful death. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by another driver’s inexperience, recklessness, or negligence, we may be able to help you recover monetary damages. It can take a lot of anxiety off of your mind following a serious car wreck to know that a skilled legal professional is working to protect your rights and increase the value of your case. To receive our free and friendly advice following a crash, call us at (530) 392-9400. If you are calling from another part of Northern California, please feel free to use our toll-free line: (800) 404-5400.
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Photo: MMcB
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