Skip to main content

Limo, meet locomotive: Sweet 16 turns into a literal trainwreck in Indiana

Amazing Limo vs Train Crash July 18 2015 Elkhart County Indiana
When people think of “crashing the party” it usually involves a group of rambunctious friends, cops, or perhaps Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson cruising a wedding. A Sweet 16 party in New Paris, Indiana took the term literally after the group’s stretch limousine bottomed out over train tracks. You can probably guess what happened next, but you should know right off the bat that nobody was injured in the crash.

A locomotive soon rounded the corner, horn blaring, but the stretched and stranded Chrysler 300 wouldn’t budge. With the occupants safely out of the vehicle, the train barreled forward, smashing into the limousine and pushing it down the track at the expense of a few railroad signs. A video posted by Studio Noe Productions starts well after the Chrysler got itself stuck, and it documents the impact from just feet away. If you ever find yourself in that situation, we might recommend standing a bit farther back.

Stretch limousine crash
Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to the operator, the train was hauling around “10,000 tons” of cargo when the accident occurred, making any kind of sudden stop all but impossible. According to the Minnesota Safety Council, the average 90-car freight train is approximately 1 mile in length, and when it’s moving at 55 mph, it can take a mile or more for it to stop after the engineer applies the emergency brake.

As for the elongated 300, it held up surprisingly well. The window and door on the receiving side were heavily damaged and the body is a tad crumpled, but the real-world effects are nothing like what Hollywood would have you believe.

As for the lucky youngsters inside the car, we hope prom night goes a little more smoothly.

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Rivian R2 vs. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Will the R2 be a better buy?
Side of the Rivian R2

The Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it could end up being the go-to EV for drivers who want a decently affordable electric car with a rugged look and feel. But when it finally launches to the public, it won't be the only option in its price range -- the Ford Mustang Mach-E could be one of its main competitors.

The Mustang Mach-E may not be quite as rugged-feeling as the Rivian R2, but it does have a lot going for it -- like an increasingly low price, sleek design, and comfortable interior. Is one of these EVs better than the other? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to note about the two cars is their design, as they’re pretty different. The Rivian R2 is built to be a little more rugged and outdoorsy, while the Mach-E instead has a sleeker and sportier look to it. Both cars look stylish and modern.

Read more
2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan gets new face, bigger battery
2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan front-quarter view.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan arrived during the 2022 model year as the flagship of Mercedes' EV fleet. But now that it's been on sale for a few years, it's time for this flagship to get a refit so that it can stay competitive with other six-figure electric sedans like the BMW i7, Lucid Air, and Tesla Model S. The updated EQS sedan is scheduled to reach dealerships later this year as a 2025 model.

One of the most controversial features of the EQS has been its unorthodox streamlined shape, which makes the EQS one of the most aerodynamic sedans around, but also means it doesn't look much like a traditional Mercedes. For 2025, the EQS takes a step closer to that traditional look with a new grille featuring chrome bars like on the Mercedes S-Class. It also sports the brand's trademark hood ornament.

Read more
Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations
The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Read more