Driver 'Lost Control' While Parking, Cramming Their Subaru Sideways Between Two Vehicles

      The Woodlands Fire Department

      Houston, we have encountered an issue. I've fallen and I'm unable to get up because my Subaru is trapped sideways between two SUVs. I'm assuming that's how the 911 call was phrased when an H-E-B shopper found themselves stuck in a situation of their own making in a parking lot.

      The Woodlands, situated 30 miles north of Houston, recently experienced a parking related incident that has residents puzzled. A social media post indicated that the Woodlands Fire Department was called to a "vehicle rollover with an entrapment." At first glance, this sounds typical, but the vehicle was overturned with its passenger side facing the bright blue sky, indicating that things were not so straightforward since the Subaru was caught in quite the predicament.

      Upon arrival, TWFD discovered a Subaru Crosstrek perfectly positioned vertically between a Ford Excursion and a Toyota RAV4. The Subaru had come to a stop on its left side, trapping the driver’s door. It's unclear whether the airbags deployed or if the door locks were malfunctioning due to the crash, but the driver was unable to exit the Crosstrek independently.

      The Woodlands Fire Department

      Looking at images shared by the TWFD, one might wonder if chaos has struck Greater Houston. How did the Subaru end up in this position?

      The parking lot consists of angled spaces with planters serving as both decorative elements and wheel stops. However, with vehicles growing larger nowadays, these parking blocks feel more like minor annoyances than significant barriers.

      While I’m not a detective, it seems that this might be a case of pressing the wrong pedal. Considering the vehicle's trajectory and the damage to the tree sapling and the RAV4’s hood (the Excursion appears unscathed), it’s plausible the driver mistook the gas pedal for the brake. In a moment of panic, they might have pressed harder on the accelerator. This could have turned the parking block into a launching pad, and the Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system engaging might have enabled it to gain traction on the tree trunk, leading to liftoff.

      However, the tree was quite frail. Unable to bear the weight of the airborne Subaru any longer, the Crosstrek eventually fell onto the RAV4. With its wheels still spinning, the Subaru's momentum continued to push it upward onto the Toyota until the ride reached its conclusion and gravity took over.

      Of course, for this sequence of events to unfold, the Crosstrek needed to hit the parking bump at just the right speed and the tree at the proper angle. Otherwise, it would have resulted in a direct collision with the Toyota, the Ford, or potentially both.

      But I’m merely speculating. The driver received treatment at the scene but chose not to go to a nearby hospital. This doesn’t imply that there were no injuries. After all, ambulance rides can be quite costly, often more than eggs, and the driver might have decided to seek medical attention later through other means. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is still looking into the matter.

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