The moment millionaire drives his $1m Bugatti supercar into lagoon 'after being distracted by a low-flying pelican'
By Paul Thompson
November 16th 2009
The owner of the most expensive car in the world has been forced to write off his $1m Bugatti Veyron after crashing into a lagoon.
Shocked Andy House has had calls from car enthusiast and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to commiserate about his very expensive loss.
The millionaire car collector skidded off a road in Galveston, Texas, and plunged into a saltwater lagoon.
He told police he had dropped his mobile phone as he sped alongside the lagoon while taking his newly delivered car out for a test drive.
When he looked up from picking up the phone he was startled by a low flying pelican which cause him to swerve off the road.
House escaped unhurt from the wreckage but could do nothing to stop his car - one of only 15 in the US - from submerging in the water up to its door handles.
Video footage of the crash was posted on YouTube by two car enthusiasts who had filmed the car on their mobile phone.
House has said since the crash his phone has not stopped ringing with people offering their sympathy.
He had paid ?750,000 for the car last month from a dealer in Arkansas and it only had 500 miles on the clock.
Gilbert Harrison of MCH Truck and Auto,who was called out to tow the vehicle, said House was taking his loss in his stride.
'He was calm,' Harrison said. 'If it had been me, I'd have been cussing, but he was calm. I imagine inside he was probably pretty upset.'
As well as being the most expensive road car in the world it is also the fastest with a top speed of 253 miles an hour.
X-Factor judge Simon Cowell is among one of the 300 owners of the super car.
By Paul Thompson
November 16th 2009
The owner of the most expensive car in the world has been forced to write off his $1m Bugatti Veyron after crashing into a lagoon.
Shocked Andy House has had calls from car enthusiast and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to commiserate about his very expensive loss.
The millionaire car collector skidded off a road in Galveston, Texas, and plunged into a saltwater lagoon.
He told police he had dropped his mobile phone as he sped alongside the lagoon while taking his newly delivered car out for a test drive.
When he looked up from picking up the phone he was startled by a low flying pelican which cause him to swerve off the road.
House escaped unhurt from the wreckage but could do nothing to stop his car - one of only 15 in the US - from submerging in the water up to its door handles.
Video footage of the crash was posted on YouTube by two car enthusiasts who had filmed the car on their mobile phone.
House has said since the crash his phone has not stopped ringing with people offering their sympathy.
He had paid ?750,000 for the car last month from a dealer in Arkansas and it only had 500 miles on the clock.
Gilbert Harrison of MCH Truck and Auto,who was called out to tow the vehicle, said House was taking his loss in his stride.
'He was calm,' Harrison said. 'If it had been me, I'd have been cussing, but he was calm. I imagine inside he was probably pretty upset.'
As well as being the most expensive road car in the world it is also the fastest with a top speed of 253 miles an hour.
X-Factor judge Simon Cowell is among one of the 300 owners of the super car.
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