Jerry Seinfeld Cheats Death As Brakes Fail, Car Flips

EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. — Jerry Seinfeld was in a harrowing rollover wreck but was unhurt after the brakes on one of his vintage cars failed.

Seinfeld was driving alone when the brakes on his 1967 Fiat BTM stopped working Saturday evening, East Hampton Town Police Chief Todd Sarris told the New York Post. Seinfeld tried the emergency brake, to no avail, and then swerved to keep the car from careening into an intersection, Sarris said.

The two-door sedan flipped over and came to a stop just yards from the highway, Sarris said, adding that the comic's maneuver "probably avoided a very serious accident."

The wreck was attributed to mechanical failure, and no summonses were issued, Sarris said. Seinfeld, 53, did not require medical attention and returned to his East Hampton home.

"He was a little shocked when he walked in and it started to dawn on him what happened," said his wife, Jessica.

The comedian took the crash in stride.

"Because I know there are kids out there, I want to make sure they all know that driving without braking is not something I recommend, unless you have professional clown training or a comedy background, as I do," Seinfeld said. "It is not something I plan to make a habit of."

The sitcom star, who co-wrote, co-produced and starred in last year's animated "Bee Movie," is an auto aficionado. He told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in November that his favorite car in his collection is a 1955 Porsche Spyder.

(This version CORRECTS careering to careening)

Comments

[gigglechick]

what's the deal with cars without brakes~?!

(glad he's okay.)

[galaxian]

According to the writer here, "The comedian took the crash in snide."
Nice Freudian slip.

[PerryWhite]

And "...then swerved to keep the car from careering into an intersection..." which is kind of what happened to Michael Richards.

[msfiskvletterman]

4/3/08
10:14am
Alexandria, VA

Glad to hear he's OK. No joke.

[aznurse]

I'm surprised the headline didn't say "Jerry Seinfield flips out"

[johnnygoodwud]

no brakes, or hand brake, 'hey what's up with that'? as an owner of a vintage porsche myself, people sometimes forget these cars are 50-60 yrs. old, and things can go wrong at the most unopportune time. i agree with jerry the 550 porsche spyder, (same type james dean was killed in ) is absolutely tops, and probably now close to one million dollars.

[Heidfeld]

Have any of you FIAT bashers seen the new 500? It is beautiful and gets at least double the gas milage that anything from Detroit (or anything from Japan in that price range).

FIAT was stuggling and few years ago and has turned itself around, what about Ford and GM?

I bet some of you in here would love to be able to buy a Fiat, so get over yourselves.

[katlade]

Sure we would - break problems and all.

[MajorKong]

Given the choice, I'd rather have an Alfa Romeo.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

.....owned by Fiat, at least, once in the past.....?

[TonyGarbanzo]

That's gotta hurt

[MagisterLudi]

surviving a crush in a Fiat... this IS a miracle. Bu buying a Fiat.. not very smart. It's like buying a vintage Ford Pinto and wondering why it explodes.

[JohnBarleycorn]

I had a Fiat 128 Spider. Great little sports car, when it ran.

Crapped out on my one night on I287. I was in the fast lane, going up a steepish grade, in a heavy rain storm, with 60' trucks all around me.

I miraculously escaped injury (and certain death) but that was the day the cars fate was sealed.

*crunch*

Jerry should stick to his late model Porsches, that or just accept the reality of his tiny peen.

[TinyEarl]

So, oh cheater of Death, what ho? Your favorite car in your collection is a
1955 Porsche Spyder?

Isn't the Spyder the exact car that James Dean was driving when
crushed by a farmer named Turnipseed driving a tractor?

That name must be an urban myth. But I'm fairly sure the Spyder
was the machina del morte.

Jer... we need you... wear that skydiving helmut
you made mock of. MIght be of some use. Then again, maybe not.

Two skydiving helmuts. Yeah, that's it. And it would give you a great look.

[jpalaska]

Actually, Mr. Turnupseed was driving a 1950 Ford Custom Tudor.

[noasalira]

I'll say it...very rich man, wife grasping for fame with mediocre cookbook...breaks fail....the wife..the wife

[MagisterLudi]

idiotic comment.

[Bobby]

I'm glad for Jerry. I've been there, and done that. The car flipped 6 times. I was airlifted out. I was in a coma for 6 days. Fractured skull and a severe neck injury, plus a broken collarbone. It happened about a year ago, and I am almost fully recovered. Thanks to the doctors and my family. Jerry was VERY fortunate.

[situationcritical]

Happy to hear you are alive and well, and able to make this post today!

[Bobby]

Thanks. For awhile there I was VERY incoherent. I almost felt like a politician.

[stop7997]

Newman!

[MagisterLudi]

LOL

[Bobby]

Remember the episode where Newman was driving his mail truck on Kramer's highway and the truck caught on fire. Oh, the humanity!

[avraamjack]

.
Can he not afford a new car?
.

[seamusnh]

I can hear his uncle from the show now "Jeeeeery! A "fiat" Jeeeeery? A fiat?"

Fiat - F I A T Fix It Again Tony