# Physics of a car accident

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-of-a-car-accident/38101>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 24, 2000, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-of-a-car-accident/38101 "2000-10-24T13:17:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-of-a-car-accident/38101/1 "2000-10-24T13:17:15Z")

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Recently, I came upon an accident scene. The only car I could see that was involved was a early 80’s model station wagon. It was up a telephone pole _almost vertically!_

I could see how a car might climb a little bit up. But this car’s drive wheels - the rear ones - would’ve lost contact with the ground too early. And although it might have had enough speed to do this coming down a hill nearby, it would’ve had to have jumped a median island and a curb. It would’ve lost too much momentum.

I looked in the news, but I never heard any mention of the incident.

Anyone have any other ideas how a lone station wagon could do this stunt?

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**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-of-a-car-accident/38101/2 "2000-10-24T13:24:49Z")

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Hey, a double thread. (I’m off to post in the other one!)

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**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-of-a-car-accident/38101/3 "2000-10-24T13:27:35Z")

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How come this thread’s had less views?

Oh, AWB, could the wagon have spun upwards when it hit the kerb?