From what I can make out, it looks like the white car is pushed to the left by the earth and water, which leaves it clear – just barely – of where the enormous boulder comes to rest. So yes, lucky. All things considered. Though I suspect the experience was a little stressful.
As a commenter at Althouse notes, if you watch at the top centre of the frame around three seconds in, you can see trouble brewing.
Witnesses later stated that the white car was driven by a Caucasian male of extraordinary height and build, dressed in a white shirt, slacks and braces, and that prior to the landslide he was seen pursuing a Lotus Esprit. Some observers reported that he may have had metal teeth.
If you follow the links that David gives you can see that the first impact on the car that pushed it out of the path of the boulder must have been a combination of water and debris as the car is pretty well destroyed in the front right quarter. I'd take that in preference to the alternative. Didn't know that the Taiwanese were also aficionados of dash-cams.
Apparently there was at least one other boulder hidden in the mud and debris ahead of the big one. Check out the first of the 2 still photos. There is a smaller boulder in front of the car, which sustained pretty heavy front end damage. It must have been hit by that one in the picture, or another that may be out of the camera range.
Something will happen.
Bloody hell. It definitely did.
The guy in the white car was very, very lucky...
Posted by: carbon based lifeform | September 01, 2013 at 14:12
From what I can make out, it looks like the white car is pushed to the left by the earth and water, which leaves it clear – just barely – of where the enormous boulder comes to rest. So yes, lucky. All things considered. Though I suspect the experience was a little stressful.
As a commenter at Althouse notes, if you watch at the top centre of the frame around three seconds in, you can see trouble brewing.
Posted by: David | September 01, 2013 at 14:19
I love the way the car behind backs away slowly, stops for a minute, then backs away some more.
Posted by: carbon based lifeform | September 01, 2013 at 14:23
There is of course a gif. More information here.
Posted by: David | September 01, 2013 at 14:35
Yikes! I was too busy watching the hazard lights to see if there was one of these:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=falling+rocks+traffic+sign&client=safari&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=v1cjUtHvMaaU0AXHt4GQCg&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=672#biv=i%7C2%3Bd%7CqqE3oUTMjsdWCM%3A
Posted by: JuliaM | September 01, 2013 at 16:07
It’s the first time I’ve seen a giant boulder actually teetering. Outside of a cartoon, I mean.
Posted by: David | September 01, 2013 at 16:18
Witnesses later stated that the white car was driven by a Caucasian male of extraordinary height and build, dressed in a white shirt, slacks and braces, and that prior to the landslide he was seen pursuing a Lotus Esprit. Some observers reported that he may have had metal teeth.
Posted by: sackcloth and ashes | September 01, 2013 at 21:39
I think that person may have somehow pooped everybody's pants.
Posted by: Mr. Saturn | September 02, 2013 at 05:47
Wile E Coyote had been tipped-off that Roadrunner was in that car
Posted by: present & correct | September 02, 2013 at 13:25
Now *that's* a level 10 code brown situation.
Posted by: jeepers | September 02, 2013 at 17:05
I’m trying to imagine the conversation when the poor chap gets home and his significant other asks, “What kind of day did you have, darling?”
I mean, if he explains what happened, he’ll be accused of exaggerating.
Posted by: David | September 02, 2013 at 17:12
If he only would have stopped at the McDonalds drive thru, it would have saved his car xD
Posted by: Paul | September 02, 2013 at 17:38
That was what you would call a lucky escape.
Posted by: David Davis | September 02, 2013 at 20:00
If you follow the links that David gives you can see that the first impact on the car that pushed it out of the path of the boulder must have been a combination of water and debris as the car is pretty well destroyed in the front right quarter. I'd take that in preference to the alternative. Didn't know that the Taiwanese were also aficionados of dash-cams.
Posted by: Ed Snack | September 03, 2013 at 01:55
Ed,
Apparently there was at least one other boulder hidden in the mud and debris ahead of the big one. Check out the first of the 2 still photos. There is a smaller boulder in front of the car, which sustained pretty heavy front end damage. It must have been hit by that one in the picture, or another that may be out of the camera range.
Posted by: Spiny Norman | September 03, 2013 at 05:23
I have expected some giant monster or alien to emerge from the hillside. Just a giant boulder? Meh.
Posted by: Rob | September 03, 2013 at 11:56