Earlier this month in Germany a Citroën SM was involved in a secondary accident on the A7 motorway near Rhön which was a result of a car that had collided with a truck that had apparently changed lanes in front of the vehicle in the left lane. The car driver was seriously injured. However, in the forming traffic jam there was an evening outing of five Citroën SMs. One SM drove into the rear of a truck. The driver and front seat passenger survived, but the back seat passenger, a 78-year-old woman, was killed. She was not wearing a seat belt and went out the back window. The 90-year-old driver and front passenger sustained serious injuries.
The accident had happened a few minutes after 7 pm. According to eyewitnesses, first the truck pulled into the left lane. The motorist in the car was unable to break in time and crashed into the rear of the truck. At a distance of about 200 meters from the first accident traffic had slowed and a truck driver had reduced his speed. The driver of the SM following the truck reacted too late to the situation and crashed into it at near full speed.
A most unfortunate outcome to a Friday evening outing, and a reminder to all of us to stay alert at the wheel.
Photos courtesy of Berthold Diem.
“90 YEARS OLD”??? Driving an SM at near full speed (130-140 mph/210-225 kmh)??
I’m 69 and recognize that my judgment isn’t as fast or clear as long ago, my decision-making is slower, my physical reaction time longer, my night vision not as good as it used to be.
The SM: NO ABS brakes, no Electronic Stability Control, no AirBags. In comparison to modern high performance cars these 45-50 years old antiques are deathtraps.
The only reason the front seat occupants survived is that the car sideswiped the truck rather than slammed into it head-on.
kauheaa
ik heb een body carrosserie liggen van citroen sm 2,7 carburateur is de uwe te koop en draait de motor nog,,,of heb je interesse in mijn carrosserie
gsm nr 0032496304219
mvg Jonkers Michel