Sen. Doyle crashes cars on car sales lot
Toolbox
By Susan Allen Times Argus Staff - Published: August 7, 2007
Although seatmate Sen. Phil Scott is the professional race car driver in the Legislature, it was Sen. William Doyle who accidentally found himself in a Demolition Derby last week on the lot of Twin City Subaru in Montpelier.
Doyle said he visited the dealership on Thursday afternoon to test-drive some cars. On his final test drive, he had trouble with the brake and ended up speeding over bushes and then into three used cars on the lot, causing considerable damage. Doyle said an ambulance was called to the scene, but he waved off any medical attention.
"To be honest, I was not scared. I was embarrassed," Doyle said Monday, recounting the accident. "I felt badly for the Subaru people."
A salesman was in the car with Doyle at the time, but was not injured.
Doyle said he was having lunch with his wife, Olene, on Thursday and decided to test drive cars. The senator did not have his driver's license with him, and was told by Twin City sales staff that he could only drive vehicles on the dealership lot, not out on the road.
Twin City General Sales Manager George Koulouris, who confirmed the account, noted that the speed limit for testing a car on the lot is 10 miles per hour.
Doyle said he first drove two larger cars – an Outback and a Legacy – before asking to drive something smaller. He said the salesman suggested Doyle would be happier with the larger vehicles, but he pressed to drive the smaller Impreza.
"They said the larger car's a better fit for you," the senator recalled. "I was stubborn enough to say let me see the smaller one."
Doyle said the brake and accelerator pedals were located more closely together on the Impreza than in the larger vehicles. And he noted that his shoe size is unusually wide, making it more difficult to negotiate the pedal system.
"When they're so close together … I just couldn't brake," he said. "I just thought it would be a piece of cake."
Doyle accelerated at an estimated 30 to 35 miles per hour – three times the limit on the lot – before driving over bushes and striking three used vehicles: an 2005 Outback, an 2004 Outback, and an 2003 Baha, Koulouris said.
"I've been here 25 years," said Koulouris, asked if there have been other accidents on the lot. "I've never seen anything like it."Koulouris said the damage assessment on the vehicles was still under way, but damage was considered "heavy."
Doyle, who is responsible for the damage, sounded sheepish about the incident, and praised the Twin City staff for their response.
The senator had undergone back surgery about six weeks ago. He said the accident did not impact his recovery.
"I feel as strong as a bull moose," he said.
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