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Looks like they backed over it, laying the pole down, then drove forward, poking the pole through the undercarriage and standing it back up.
No, that bollard didn’t budge. She backed into it fast enough to shoot the SUV straight up the bollard, it clears the bumper, and BAM! — the SUV dropped down on the bollard. That bumper should have crumpled, but it was rugged and rounded enough to deflect the impact downward or, equal and opposite reaction, send the vehicle upward. Traffic bollards are still tough enough to stand up to SUVs, but not tall enough to be seen by the drivers.
This is the right answer. Bollards made of concrete and steel are designed to stop cars. There is no elasticity in that bollard. If she bent it, it would've stayed bent.
Check the bottom of the bollard, it looks visible damaged where it meets the ground, like it had bent backwards towards the camera.
I think the OP is right. It wouldn't need elasticity; it got bent down just far enough for the back end of the car to ride up on it, then when they pulled forward it dragged the bollard upright, at which point it punched through the floor.
My guess is the metal had begun to rust where it meets the ground, and then some freeze thaw cycles crumbled the concrete, leaving it weak right where it meets the ground.
Yeah there's not nearly enough damage to the back of the car for it to have hit so hard as to launch it into the air. Plus you can see yellow paint on the ground where the bollard was clearly laid over. OP is right.
The pole didn't bend, the ground just opened up.
Correct answer. You can see the ground fractured around the pole.
Not just the ground, it's also on the bumper at the point of impact. You can see the imprint it left when it was slanted at like 45 degrees.
The thing is it ended up almost perpendicular to the ground. No bend at all. To have the car pull forward and bend it back that way is a heck of an ask.
If you look closesly, it's a concrete filled pole and the ground seems disturbed. So she didn't bend it. She ripped it out of the ground and when driving forward it dipped back into it's hole and puncutured the underfloor.
Oooh, I like your answer better.
Oh good eye, I think you’re right especially from the paint on the bumper
So reversing the car should flatten the ballard again and get the car free? Or maybe the ballard only went to an acute angle and lifted the car up till the ballard poked through a weak point in the frame. Either way she's reversed into it at a decent speed.....and then completed her yoga class before calling for help.
I mean.... Theoretically if she had a strong enough drive train, and the car was overall very heavy, she could absolutely back up again.
However, given the height of the bollard vs the ground clearance of the undercarriage, I believe it would pinch the bumper downward and possibly prevent the car from going anywhere. It depends on how strong the bumper materials are, and if anything from the frame is in the way.
Source: my ass, but it's my best guess based on studying more crashes than I care to count.
Your ass is probably correct.
Also the bollard was initially pushed down by the rigid frame of the car. Now it is inside the boot. The inside of the boot will be pushing against it.
Now they're going to call roadside rescue and going to have to explain how they need a crane rather than a tow truck.
The bollard needs to be replaced at this point. May as well just cut it off. Hiring a crane is unnecessary.
I believe you are right except I don't think the pole moved at all. The ground seems in disturbed. And typically they are made to withstand being hit by a car. So more likely they backed up so fast that it sent the rear up on top of the pole and then just came crashing down on it.
Great point, I didn't look closely enough, it seems.
Yup. That's the only way this could have worked. Unless the car was jumped off a ramp first, Knight Rider style.
As @qooqie pointed out, the paint transfer on the bumper supports your theory.
Thank you for posting this. Until I read your summary, I thought it was a yoga mat that had somehow escaped from inside the trunk and was completely flummoxed.
That’s what she said!