By John Lichfield
i-Independent Print Ltd
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 neighbouring 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 kilometres 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.
Copyright 2013 Independent Print Limited