Fatal Car Accidents of the Rich and Famous

Fatal Car Accidents of the Rich and Famous
 

Contents
Introduction; Isadora Duncan; George Patton; James Dean; Jackson Pollock; Eddie Cochran; Porfirio; Rubirosa; Jayne Mansfield; Steve Prefontaine; Marc Bolan; Grace Kelly; Cliff Burton; Billy Martin; Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed; Cozy Powell; Dale Earnhardt; Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes; Randy Savage; Frank Ryan; Ryan Dunn; Dan Wheldon

Morbid Curiosity : Whenever we see a car crash, whether it’s the event itself or simply the aftermath, we can’t help but stare. If we attempt to deconstruct our fascination with road accidents, it can lead to some uncomfortable truths. Some of us are grimly drawn to the sheer devastation of the wreckage, and become transfixed as we scan it for body parts. Here the concept of ‘morbid curiosity’ can be applied – and not just to the weirdoes. In fact, most people are guilty of finding it irresistible to look. This phenomenon is surely the origin of phrases like ‘car crash TV’, or when something is described as, ‘like a car accident’, due to how horrible it is to look at.

Matters of Mortality : Others are gripped by sheer nosiness, with the need to be ‘in the know’ and equipped with information; after all, knowledge is power. Some become shocked; an accident can serve as a stark reminder that we are vulnerable, at any moment, to an identical fate. Here the accident provides a close enough encounter with death or injury to feel some degree of fear, and get a taste of our own mortality. When we hear of a celebrity, someone we think of as immortal and untouchable, perishing in such an unglamorous way, the fascination is tenfold. We become obsessed, and we want to see the photos in the press, news clips on television and discover every last gruesome detail. Today, we also want to blog about it and comment on Facebook and Twitter, too. We become emotionally invested in these people, and follow their every move. When they die their story abruptly ends, and their status is promoted from ‘star’ to ‘legend’ or ‘icon’. The death of a celebrity is always a hot topic; and the more outrageous and shocking the method, the better.
In Crash and Burn, infamous automobile accidents involving the rich and famous are explored. From princess and screen siren Grace Kelly to MTV star Ryan Dunn; their horrific last moments behind the wheel are retold, the wreckage is carefully picked over, and we examine the public reaction that cemented their legacy.

Author Biography
Jennifer Davies is a freelance writer, editor and photographer from East Sussex. After completing her degree in Creative Writing, she worked as an editor for a publisher for six years, while writing gig reviews for a local magazine in her free time. Today, she works as a freelance writer, and explores a range of subjects from true crime to the world of celebrity. She loves to write about folklore and urban legends, but also enjoys reporting on the rich and famous, dead or alive.