Sadly, two die in Cobra crash

[JWheaton]

My condolences to the families who lost loved ones.

My prayers to those in pain emotionally and physically from this accident.

[Carroll DeWeese]

Whatever happened exactly, it is very sad for all. But it does remind us all to always treat a Cobra with respect. It can bite at anytime. We all have to be better drivers than those around us. I hope family and friends of all involved in both vehicles are able to get through this.

[Brent Mills]

Very sorry to hear about this. Best wishes are with the surviving family and friends, as well as those who were injured in the accident.

[LateApex]

Jim Maxwell,

You hit the nail on the head that time and thanks for the follow-up!! Sorry I laid in to you hard in the post right after yours, but I knew a little something about this event at time of post. That said, I also hope that all is well with you since it did hit a little too "close to home". Best wishes!

[eric hinderberg]

I test drive these cars on almost a daily basis. I also race a 3000 HP funny car. I have told more than one of my customers that these cobras can, and are, as hard to control under a hard exceleration, as my race car. We may never know for sure what happened , but it is a very sad situation. My condolences to all involved. Be careful .

[teamfour]

My sincere condolences go out to Steve's family and the family's of the others involved. This could have happened to anyone, in any car. Let's keep this incident as a tragic and unfortunate accident.

[RACERAL]

this from fox8 wghp tv in greensboro


Crash in Greensboro claims two lives

Four people remain in the hospital following a car accident Satuday night that claimed the lives of two people. Police say about ten o' clock Saturday night Steven Niebauer was speeding on Bingham Road near Highway 68. Police say he lost control of his car and spun across the center line before being hit by an oncoming car. Niebauer and his passenger, Jennifer Dittman died instantly. All four people in the other car, three of them teenagers, went to the hospital with serious injuries.

[Mike Stenhouse]

Hal is right here folks. Steve simply dropped two wheels off on the shoulder and spun when he pulled back onto the road.

It was a rural road. The speed limit was 45 or 55 mph. The collision was head on, so it was a closing speed of 90 to 110 mph, enough to seriously damage a car at perfectly legal speeds.

It was a serious accident. Idle speculation only further injures the survivors. Please, let us stick to the facts.

[Buzz]

Deepest condolences to all involved. We pray for a swift recovery for the injured and that time passes quickly to ease the pain of those who lost a loved one. Tragedies like this don't just remind us to be extra careful in any car on any road at any speed, but also to take the opportunity to love, cherish and appreciate those close to us every single day of our lives.
Peace to all of you out there and also to your families and friends.

[cdog]

The media considers it their god given job to present every story of this type from the most acute angle possible. More people will read about a "race car at a high rate of speed" than "car spins when encountering curbing"

They want to villanize, sensationalize, anything they can. The jackal media is one of the BIG problems with this country.

I'm sure we all hope that this driver was being safe and simply made an error (at a reasonable speed) that he didn't have time to correct, but the media will NEVER say that, given the Cobra element in this story.

[Jeff Frigo]

I don't want to start a war, but the police said he was traveling at a high rate of speed, not the media. I don't care for the police very much, but they have investigated 100's of accidents, they have nothing to gain by saying this.

"Greensboro police say Steven Niebauer was driving "at a high rate of speed" down Brigham road. He lost control of his car and crossed the center line, crashing into a Cutlass."

Sorry.

[Neal Jackson]

Hopefully some actual hard facts will follow - i.e., speed limit; roadway design and conditions - straight, curved, flat, dips, incline, decline, asphalt, concrete, dirt, dry, wet, icy; weather conditions; lighting; skid/tire marks by either car; distance from where Cobra simply dropped two wheels off on the shoulder to actual Point of Impact in reported opposing lane; physical conditions of both drivers prior to accident; points of impact of the cars involved - headon, T-bone, sideswipe; seatbelt useage in either car; animal crossing warning signs in the area; vehicle malfunction in the Cobra???

[Neal Jackson]

Jeff,

You're probably right in saying the police have nothing to gain by saying "high rate of speed", although, I have seen cases wherein there existed a known road defect/hazard/lack of warning/etc. that was the responsibility of the state/county/city to maintain or correct (but didn't) and because of the obvious "exposure" following a severe accident, well, let's just say it took a little digging to uncover the real (or contributing) cause.

[Jeff Frigo]

Neal:

Could be.

[Tom-In-Ohio]

At this point in time, I could care less about how and why this tragedy happened. Instead, my heart goes out to all the victims and their families. I extend my deepest condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy.


I pray that this is the LAST time I read about a fatal crash on Club Cobra. Be careful, guys !!!


Tom

[Whaler]

I echo what many here are saying. My condolences to all the families involved.

A horrible and tragic accident for all involved.
Be careful out there with these cars and be responsible. Whether it be driving it safely or simply watching out for others and driving defensively.



Here's a pic of Steve's car at March 2002 LJVM COLISEUM Noah's Ark Autocross and then at June 2002 Danville Parks and Recreation Airport Autocross






Photos by Ken Neher




Tim

[Ikestaa]

Condolences to the friends and families that have lost so much.

[rbutton]

I have meet Steve a number of times. He was a very careful driver and had a lot of miles on his car. I first met him when we both should happen to pull into a NJ Turnpike rest area with our cars. Me coming down from Maine to visit my wife, he bring his daughter back from camp up in NY State. Imagine our surprise as we talked to find we were both heading to NC! His daughter loved riding in the car and Jim loved taking long drives in it.

So to me it was out of character for him to be speeding! He was a good driver that had enough miles on his car to know what it can do. As others have noted he was a family man, loved his kids and was willing to take time off work to be there for his daughters!

I do not care what the report says. I do not believe Steve was speeding. Something happened, and now he is gone. I just know the character of the man and speeding would not be in character for Steve!

- Ralph Button

[Jamo]

Ralph
Probably just some assumptions by the officers due to the type of car...

[Turk]

None of us were there.
Anyone one of us with Cobras could have been there just as easily.
Tragic loss to the community and to the family.
Please drive carefully, and better illumination for night driving!!
Even if we install unsightly driving lights or better headlights. I have been there!

May God Bless..

TURK