Man and dog die after being trapped in Corvette

[Safeway]

The button on the handle requires power to operate. The manual release is the black lever on the floorboard.

 

[KeithP]

Doesn't the top roof panel come off from the inside? In any event, I found the instructions to unlock the door is less than 60 seconds when looking at a copy of the manual online.

Here is a copy of the manual:
http://www.c6registry.com/technical/manuals/2007corvette.pdf

The guy also left his phone in the waffle house. I wonder if he was even fit for driving?

-KeithP

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

This poor man and his dog died an awful death due to what was, in my view, a highly questionable design decision. I find it fairly inexcusable for any car (particularly one with standard, side-opening doors) not to have an interior door handle that is mechanically connected to the latch mechanism. In the event of a crash or other emergency I don't want to have to remember to use an emergency release.

 

[IronWing]

"his Corvette"

This is the part that bother me. Makes me wonder if some other health condition didn't incapacitate him before the heat got him.

 

[Ns1]

I gotta agree with DVC here...

This poor man and his dog died an awful death due to what was, in my view, a highly questionable design decision. I find it fairly inexcusable for any car (particularly one with standard, side-opening doors) not to have an interior door handle that is mechanically connected to the latch mechanism. In the event of a crash or other emergency I don't want to have to remember to use an emergency release.

...because seriously, why the fuck do I need an e-button and a manual override to open the door?

The button on the handle requires power to operate. The manual release is the black lever on the floorboard.

 

[andylawcc]

...because seriously, why the fuck do I need an e-button and a manual override to open the door?

this

 

[SlickSnake]

Doesn't the top roof panel come off from the inside? In any event, I found the instructions to unlock the door is less than 60 seconds when looking at a copy of the manual online.

Here is a copy of the manual:
http://www.c6registry.com/technical/manuals/2007corvette.pdf

The guy also left his phone in the waffle house. I wonder if he was even fit for driving?

-KeithP

The last part is a salient point. It's possible he was having some sort of physical problem before he got out to the car, or maybe he left his dog out there, and went out to check on it or turn on the air for it, and that's why he left the phone behind, because he was planning to go back in. That might be why they found him, when the waitress noticed he'd been gone a while and didn't pay the bill and left the phone behind.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

The button on the handle requires power to operate. The manual release is the black lever on the floorboard.

To me that looks kludgier than just having a simple door handle. Thanks but no thanks, GM.

 

[darkewaffle]

why the fuck do I need an e-button and a manual override to open the door?

I think there's a significant difference between "need X and Y" vs "can use X or Y".

 

[Ns1]

I think there's a significant difference between "need X and Y" vs "can use X or Y".

More like: "Can use X or Y unless Z, in which case Y"

why the fuck do I need a decision tree to open this fucking door? Just give me a manual door handle already.

 

[soulcougher73]

This has to be a joke. Nobody could be this inept. Nobody in waffle house parking lot to help this tard ?

 

[Viper GTS]

This has to be a joke. Nobody could be this inept. Nobody in waffle house parking lot to help this tard ?

Sadly it's pretty easy to believe.

http://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/327080/couple-close-death-after-night-stuck-keyless-car

My car has electronic latches but the emergency release is on the door itself and very clearly marked.

Viper GTS

 

[rh71]

http://www.amazon.com/Fire-RES-Q-ME...=UTF8&qid=1434055772&sr=8-2&keywords=res+q+me

 

[Ruptga]

The obvious solution is to invade Texas.

 

[SP33Demon]

Very sad, he should have kept up with his squatting/deadlifting and he would have been able to kick out the window. Poor strength for the loss.

 

[MarkXIX]

How in the hell can you be 72 years old at a Waffle House and not have a fucking ceramic coffee mug in your car to use to break out the window of your boner-mobile? Seriously?

If this guy was a Vietnam vet or something, he would have had a 7th Cav coffee mug and he'd be alive today.

 

[lxskllr]

I hate electric shit on cars, and that's about the only way they come anymore. I'm considering getting an antique for my next car, but that comes with its own problems. I can fix a lot of old stuff, but I'd have to fix stuff all the time, and I'm not especially fond of car work.

 

[WilliamM2]

If your car had a lever on the floor, wouldn't you pull it just to see what it did? Hard to believe he didn't know how to release the door, unless he bought the car moments before it happened.

 

[Jaskalas]

How in the hell can you be 72 years old at a Waffle House and not have a fucking ceramic coffee mug in your car to use to break out the window of your boner-mobile? Seriously?

If this guy was a Vietnam vet or something, he would have had a 7th Cav coffee mug and he'd be alive today.

A person with health issues may be too frail to break windshield glass.
Or not be cognitive enough to discover an unusually hidden location for the door lever.

As for no one helping him. How much of a ruckus is a guy unable to break glass REALLY going to make? I imagine not much. Am I really going to bother someone in their vehicle for no good reason? Hell no. Bystander effect, not my problem, probably just get myself in trouble anyway... etc, etc...

 

[Childs]

The only thing I really can't wrap my head around is how nobody noticed him. I'm sure he was beating on the windows asking for help. It's not like he was in the middle of nowhere.

Maybe he parked far away from the building to avoid other cars.

 

[Jaskalas]

If your car had a lever on the floor, wouldn't you pull it just to see what it did? Hard to believe he didn't know how to release the door, unless he bought the car moments before it happened.

Something that is not commonly used is going to be forgotten. It's likely that's the first time the vehicle ever lost power and the "regular" button to open the door did not work.

 

[Brainonska511]

Something that is not commonly used is going to be forgotten. It's likely that's the first time the vehicle ever lost power and the "regular" button to open the door did not work.

Perhaps the car was also quite hot to begin with. It wouldn't take long for it to become disorienting.

 

[bradley]

I don't know what's sadder: this gentleman's own dream killing both he and his companion or the lack of basic common sense exhibited by some on this forum. Just wait until you get elderly, you'll be surprised how how the most mundane and basic tasks become obstacles.

I wouldn't be surprised if poor vision and lack of fresh air made it difficult to comprehend the user manual. RIPx2

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

If your car had a lever on the floor, wouldn't you pull it just to see what it did? Hard to believe he didn't know how to release the door, unless he bought the car moments before it happened.

I would, but not everyone is as curious as me. If this poor guy started to panic I could easily imagine him not finding that release, which is why I consider it an unsafe design.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

If your car had a lever on the floor, wouldn't you pull it just to see what it did?

At that age I'd be surprised if I could bend/lean forward enough to even see the floor/the lever while seated in the driver's seat.