Ferrari crash leaves driver, 71, dead and the supercar split in half after high speed collision with a Mazda SUV and a Toyota in a canyon above LA

  • Robert Nicoletti, a 71-year-old retired dental salesman from Orange County, California, was driving his red Ferrari on Friday afternoon
  • Nicoletti was passing through Santiago Canyon, in the hills above Los Angeles, when he lost control and smashed into a Mazda SUV and a Toyota
  • Nicoletti’s Ferrari was sliced in half and he was thrown from the vehicle and killed; the other two drivers were unharmed
  • Police said they do not believe alcohol was a factor, but they do believe excessive speed could have contributed 

By Harriet Alexander For Dailymail.com

Published: 16:07 GMT, 18 December 2022 | Updated: 17:16 GMT, 18 December 2022

Shocking footage shows the aftermath of a three-car smash in California on Friday, which left a Ferrari sliced in half.

Robert Nicoletti, a 71-year-old retired dental salesman from Orange County, was killed when his red Ferrari crashed into a silver Mazda SUV and a blue Toyota.

The other two drivers were unharmed.

Police said they do not believe alcohol was involved, but high speed could have been a factor, as Nicoletti’s Ferrari accelerated to prevent a Tesla behind from overtaking.

The crash happened in Santiago Canyon, near the town of Silverado in the hills above Los Angeles.

California Highway Patrol said they were called around 3:40pm.

They found a scene of shocking devastation, with the cars mangled and smashed – and the 2015 Ferrari cut in two.

Debris scattered the road, and dirt thrown up from the hillsides.

The red 2015 Ferrari is pictured sheared in half from the accident on Friday

The red 2015 Ferrari is pictured sheared in half from the accident on Friday

Firefighters are pictured on the scene in Santiago Canyon, above Los Angeles

Firefighters are pictured on the scene in Santiago Canyon, above Los Angeles

Firefighters are pictured on the scene in Santiago Canyon, above Los Angeles 

Parts of the red Ferrari are seen scattered all over the road. The driver reportedly accelerated to prevent a Tesla from overtaking

Parts of the red Ferrari are seen scattered all over the road. The driver reportedly accelerated to prevent a Tesla from overtaking

Parts of the red Ferrari are seen scattered all over the road. The driver reportedly accelerated to prevent a Tesla from overtaking

Wreckage from the cars is seen all over the road, with the silver Mazda and blue Toyota

Wreckage from the cars is seen all over the road, with the silver Mazda and blue Toyota

Wreckage from the cars is seen all over the road, with the silver Mazda and blue Toyota 

Parts of the red Ferrari can be seen to the left, many meters from the crash impact

Parts of the red Ferrari can be seen to the left, many meters from the crash impact

Parts of the red Ferrari can be seen to the left, many meters from the crash impact

The car was turned into a heap of almost unrecognizable metal

The car was turned into a heap of almost unrecognizable metal

The car was turned into a heap of almost unrecognizable metal

The Ferrari was in the middle of the road, with the Mazda and Toyota spun off to the side

The Ferrari was in the middle of the road, with the Mazda and Toyota spun off to the side

The Ferrari was in the middle of the road, with the Mazda and Toyota spun off to the side

The Mazda and Toyota were damaged in the front, but the Ferrari was almost unrecognizable.

The Tesla did not stop. 

Anselmo Templado, a public information officer for the California Highway Patrol, said that Nicoletti sustained fatal injuries when he was ejected from the vehicle, due to the force of the impact. 

He said that Nicoletti was going too fast and unable to navigate the curve.

‘Speed was probably a factor,’ said Sgt. Kris Ulibarri with the CHP’s Santa Ana office. 

‘We’re still investigating, but as you can see the Ferrari is split in half.’ 

:

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk