Ah the benefit of being 52, or the ability to live long enough to realize how lucky I have been given the risks I've taken.
At 18 or 19 most, if not all of us, who are into cars have this aura of invincibility and like was mentioned above have taken risks that today we would shake our heads at.
I recall taking out my Dad's cars (Trans AM, custom V8 MGB) without his permission on public roads and racing flat out with a friend in the car. Stupid? You bet. Lucky? I'll say. But back then while I thought I understood the risks, I really didn't since I truly believed that I could handle it. Would my father have condoned this? No way - he had no idea.
The bottom line is that this kid made a mistake on a public road with friends on board. A lethal mistake. Was it criminal, most likely not unless his father approved of his use of the M5.
He didn't get what he asked for since I'm sure he didn't ask to die.
If there is fault here beyond the obvious, it is in my mind with a parent that would knowingly put such horsepower into the hands of the inexperienced.
Unlike Lewisracing with tons of track time this young man apparently did not have the experience and car control to handle such a vehicle, and that negligence is borne by the parents, if indeed they approved his use of such a vehicle.
I own two 500 hp cars and my teenagers (3) have never driven them and they know that if they were to touch them they'd be in deep sh**. Are they good drivers? Yup. But not good enough to be let loose with an M6 or even a more sedate sl55.
There is a lot more that we will find out over the coming days (toxicology, parental permission, etc.). It is very tragic, but I can't begin to imagine being the parent of this boy. :sad1:
For a brief few moments it made me think seriously of selling my cars, wondering if my luck will run out based on some of the stuff we all do on public roads. We all speed - we love these cars. We take chances - because we feel we can handle the risk and we have experience. As we get older we tend to pick our spots to minimize the risks. Todays cars are mind blowingly fast, and when trouble hits its going to be too fast to react for most drivers, let alone the inexperienced.