Fresno man, 58, killed after jumping car over San Joaquin River after police pursuit, cops say

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, Newser, which is total clickbait.

Per Newser, it was a 337-foot jump. He made the jump but was killed when the car rolled over upon landing.

Fresno man, 58, killed after jumping car over San Joaquin River after police pursuit, cops say
BY ASHLEIGH PANOO
JANUARY 20, 2020 11:55 AM

A 58-year-old Fresno man died after speeding off an embankment and hurtling his Mercedes about 400 feet over the San Joaquin River on Monday morning. ... The man was identified Monday evening by the Fresno County coroner’s office as David Callahan.

Fresno police officers began pursuing Callahan around 8:30 a.m. at Herndon Avenue and Parkway Drive west of Highway 99 after seeing him driving recklessly, Sgt. Bob Reynolds said.

The chase began at slow speeds, about 30 mph, Reynolds said, until Callahan sped up near Dickenson and Barstow avenues. Police decided to call off the pursuit at that point, Reynolds said, as Callahan drove west away from city limits.

Shortly after, first-responders were called out to the river at Dickenson and Herndon and found he had cleared the river and crashed into the Madera County side. Callahan was killed in the crash, Reynolds said.
....

[marble falls]

1. Well, his last name was Callahan, Dirty Harry would have made it. The only ...

question on his mind was did he feel lucky.

It would be weirder still if there was a malfunction in the electronics of the Merc.

In the seventies an engine mount failed in a car in Akron allowing the engine to rotate enough to jam the accelerator on I-76. The driver burned out the brakes trying to stop the car. The OSHP stopped the car by getting in front of it and stopping it with the patrol car brakes.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. How can I not include this clip?

Insane Car Jump Ruined in "MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN" (James Bond, 1974)
17,539 views•Feb 17, 2018

Porfle Popnecker
12.6K subscribers

This James Bond film features one of the greatest car stunts ever.
The technical preparations for the "corkscrew" jump had to be precise.
With several cameras rolling, the skilled driver pulled it off in one take.

And then they went and ruined it by adding...
...a cartoon slide-whistle sound effect.

Composer John Barry later regretted adding the mood-killing sound effect.
Bond fans still cringe. And wonder what the moment would've been like without it...
(Let's find out!)

I neither own nor claim any rights to this material. Just having some fun with it. Thanks for watching!

[CaptYossarian]

3. The Burt Reynolds jump in Hooper was a greater distance, but

this one scores points for originality.

Probably the best one was the Bluesmobile evading the Illinois Nazis.