THE RENAULT FROM HELL

If this driver had no gray hair when he started out, he surely has a full head of it now.

MAN CLAIMS CAR ACCELERATOR ‘STUCK’ AT 125 MPH
Police pursued the man, who allegedly couldn’t help speeding, for 100 miles through France all the way to Belgium

By John Lichfield

Independent Print Limited
February 14, 2013

NORTH FRANCE — A terrified French driver has told how a jammed speed regulator caused him to career through motor toll stations and a national border at 125mph before he crashed into a ditch in neighboring Belgium.

Frank Lecerf, 36, managed to alert emergency services on his mobile phone as his Renault Laguna sped for 100 miles along the A16 motorway in northern France. Police sent an escort to clear other vehicles out of the way and ordered barriers at three toll stations to be lifted.

Mr Lecerf finally crashed into a ditch near the Belgian town of La Panne. "It is a miracle that I survived.

There is no other word," Mr Lecerf said. "Whatever happens, I am never going back in that car."

Mr Lecerf suffers from epilepsy.

His Renault Laguna 3 was especially modified for disabled drivers. The throttle and brake are operated by controls on the steering wheel.

Some doubts were raised yesterday about his version of events. Renault sources suggested the one hour car chase might have been a case of panic following a mistaken manipulation of the controls.

On Saturday, Mr Lecerf drove north to a supermarket. He set the speed regulator at 100 kilometers an hour (60 mph). The car accelerated to 160 kph (100mph). When he tried to brake, the speed rose to 200 kph (125 mph), Mr Lecerf managed to alert emergency services on his mobile phone. "My whole life flashed before me," Mr Lecerf told his local newspaper.