Some Information On Payman Engheta Death From A Friend
A friend of Payman Engheta posted this comment over the weekend. He went to the scene of the accident and talked to some people, so I thought it worthy of reposting.
Payman Engheta was a close friend. I loved him dearly. I just visited the site tonight where the car crash occurred and talked extensively with some witnesses. There were many flowers and candles at base of the tree where the crash occurred. Plus, there was an 8 x 10 picture of Payman’s face in a picture-frame nailed to the tree.
There were about 25 people on the patio of the restaurant called “Cavi at the Big Oaks” when the accident occurred. They say Payman frequented Cavi. The restaurant is a popular destination for motorcyclists. Payman rode his motorcycle to the restaurant and ate there several times. This time, Payman was in his Lamborghini automobile driving the curvy Bouquet Canyon Road where the restaurant is located.
When he drove past the people they heard that he both downshifted and stepped on the gas. According to the witness who described the situation, the rear tires spun out from the acceleration, making long black tire marks on the road. He said the car likely accelerated from 40 mph to 80 mph over a short distance and that he hit the tree going about 80 mph. (Again, I am reporting verbatim from an eyewitness.)
There is dirt and gravel strewn from the un-paved driveway of the restaurant. The combination the tires spinning out from acceleration, the curve in the road, and the dirt and gravel from the driveway, made the rear-end of the car, where the heavy engine is located, spin to the left. The front tires went off the right side of the road over a 2-foot dirt embankment. With the front wheels sunken into the soft dirt, the acceleration of the car, and the heavy engine in the back of the car, made the rear of the car whip violently to the left.
Unfortunately for my wonderful friend, a fairly large tree was in the wrong place. The driver-side door of the car slammed very forcefully against the tree. The tree sunk about 3 to 4 feet into the drivers-side door. The car hit so hard, that the three-inch think bark was ripped from the front of the tree where the main-impact took place about three-feet wide and five feet high swath. The car literally “wrapped around” the tree with such force, that there is a large gash in the bark of the tree on the opposite side of the impact, where the rear of the car bent around the back side of the tree.
A nurse was eating at the restaurant. She said, “breathe, breathe.” He seemed to respond to the nurse by taking deep breaths. He was cut out of the car and airlifted by helicopter to Providence Holy Cross Hospital where I am very sad to say he later died of his injuries.
I visited the site because I just had to know what happened and how my friend’s life was so tragically taken. I also thought others who loved him would like to know more about what occurred.
We love you, Payman. We love your family and they will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Popularity: 3%
3 Responses to “Some Information On Payman Engheta Death From A Friend”
Comments
Read below or add a comment...

Please, this is not a flaming post (what ever the internet jargon is) nor am I being inconsiderate. I have post previously that it is a tragedy. But even before this post came out, I kind of knew the reason behind the crash. With a powerful car, you’ll be surprise how fast an accident can occur. Even in my car, with cold tires and a little bit of brain lapse, a gentle turn with hard acceleration in a rear wheel drive car (or mid engine Lambo) will break the rear end loose fast. Once the car spins past a certain angle, it is hard to regain control. So if you have your foot in the accelerator hoping you can correct the car attitude, and you can’t do it… crash. Unfortunately, he hit a tree. There was another similar car crash in Orange county where a woman died test driving a Corvette. I think it is the same scenario.
tle,
I found the story about the Corvette, and you’re right it’s quite similar. Here is the OC Register story.
Seems like with these cars you need to pray if you spin out you don’t hit a tree. Side impact protection might not be what it needs to be. Thankfully, I have the Quattro system. Although pretty much all Lambos nowadays are all wheel drive, aren’t they? Maybe that doesn’t even help in these situations.
Audi Quattro is all-wheel drive which helps with traction pulling away from a stop. However, once you loose traction quattro or not, physic takes over. So, if you are at the beginning of a spin, fish tail, let off the throttle, turn into the spin. If you are still spinning then feet into the brake pedal (or both feet in, clutch and brake if you have a manual gear box). At about 40 mph most car will spin about one and a half turn and stop in good dry pavement if this technique is used. (Not intended as advice but this has happened to me before but in a controlled environment ie. an autocross event)