Allegedly Unlicensed Driver Wrecks Rental G-Class to the Point Where Chassis Separates from Body | Carscoops

      The forces were so intense that the chassis separated from the cab of the Mercedes.

      7 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      A crash in Italy resulted in the death of a 19-year-old and left three others injured.

      A 20-year-old, who was unlicensed, is suspected of driving the G-Class.

      The driver of the Opel Corsa tested positive during an initial drug screening.

      Tragedy occurred in Milan, Italy, early on Sunday morning when a collision reportedly resulted in one fatality and three injuries. Local reports indicate that it involved an Opel Corsa and what appears to be a rental Mercedes G-Class, potentially an AMG according to some accounts, although the wreckage complicates confirmation.

      The force of the crash was so severe that it ripped the chassis of the angular SUV from the rest of the vehicle. Authorities are still investigating how the incident transpired.

      The Crash Scene

      Italian news outlets have reported that four individuals were in the rented G-Class: a 30-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, a 20-year-old man who allegedly drove without a license, and a 19-year-old man who later succumbed to his injuries.

      The Opel was occupied by just the driver, a 32-year-old man who reportedly tested positive for drugs in an initial screening.

      Initial confusion at the scene led responders to believe the teenager was driving, but police later identified the unlicensed 20-year-old as the actual driver after he allegedly attempted to mislead them by pretending to be a bystander who had come to assist.

      According to Corriere della Sera, surveillance footage quickly revealed the deception. Investigators noticed the man's bloodstained clothes and a missing shoe, discovered inside the wrecked SUV. Coupled with CCTV footage, these details directly implicated him as the driver.

      Video from the scene shows extensive damage to the G-Class. The ladder-frame chassis lies on one side of the road, while the front section of the vehicle is missing. A spare tire cover and another wheel are scattered across the road, resembling the aftermath of an explosion rather than a typical car crash. The Opel sustained front-end damage, but little else.

      Tall and Heavy

      At this time, police are still working to determine the exact sequence of events. Speed appears to be a potential contributing factor. In Italy, the Mercedes G-Class starts at over $180,000 but can easily exceed $300,000 once AMG options are selected.

      It is a hefty SUV, and depending on the trim, it can be exceedingly powerful. Such weight and power rarely make for an optimal combination, especially when paired with a tall, rollover-prone design. Unfortunately, it seems the individuals involved in this crash may have learned this lesson in the most tragic way.

      Sources: Corriere della Sera, Automoto