Posted: Sunday, May 27, 2012 4:02 pm | Updated: 9:27 am, Tue May 29, 2012.
Green Valley News | 0 comments
The driver of a Dodge Viper sports car was injured Sunday when he missed a curve on Arivaca Road and landed in a mesquite tree, according to Green Valley Fire District officials.
Jeffrey Binder, 33, of Phoenix suffered two badly fractured legs and it took about two hours for GVFD crews to cut him out of the car.
The car went off the road just after noon at milepost 4, north of Arivaca. The driver, who was the lone occupant, was flown to University Medical Center in Tucson with non-life threatening injuries. A Pima County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman said speed may have been a factor.
GVFD Battalion Chief Brian Wilford said the design of the high-performance car presented unusual challenges during extrication.
“The use of carbon fiber and fiberglass, built on a very strong frame, required different techniques than the standard automobile extrication, and because of the injuries sustained by the driver, fire crews had to not only use extreme caution while cutting the driver out but also ensure that he received the necessary trauma care throughout the incident,” Wilford said in press release.
Arivaca Road from Interstate 19 to Arivaca is a popular 23-mile drive with gently rolling hills and a curving road that is generally in good condition.
The Dodge Viper has a V10 engine and is designed to go well over 150 mph. A new one starts in about the $90,000 range.