Mercedes S-Class driver confuses carpooling with gym

The driver of the S-Class survived with only minor injuries, but the car may have been totaled

Authorities in San Bernardino, California, found themselves dealing with an unusual holiday season accident that was easily one of the strangest of the year. We’re seeing quite a few luxury cars debut on the water in 2024, but unfortunately, this one took a particularly strange turn.

Fitness enthusiasts may have been frightened out of their wits when a black Mercedes S-Class crashed through the wall of a fitness center and jumped straight into the pool. Fortunately, no one was swimming at the time and no one else in the fitness center was injured.

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It’s unclear how the driver of the Mercedes lost control of the car, but the California Highway Patrol wrote on Facebook that it was using the incident to remind motorists of the dangers of distracted driving and to tell locals to “put down their phones.” “Don’t eat while driving.” driving” and “focus on the road, not the passengers. “

The Mercedes, which appeared to be an S580, was heavily damaged due to the driver having little understanding of what “ridesharing” meant. The front end is already in better shape, with at least one wheel and several suspension components destroyed. Of course, most damage is caused by the car accidentally entering the water.

While it’s possible to save a water-damaged car, repairing a high-end luxury sedan like the S-Class, with its myriad systems and complex electronics, can cost more than sending a child through college, especially if the engine is damaged. . It operates when the car hits a pool of water, meaning it can be hydraulically locked. Therefore, the insurance company may decide that this is best called a write-off.

Redlands firefighters and paramedics treated the driver of the Mercedes at the scene, and he escaped with minor injuries.

Photo: Redlands Fire Department and San Bernardino CHP