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Driving While Sneezing: SUV Flips, Catches Fire Outside Nashville

Talks about a bad way to end the day. A man driving just outside Nashville, Tennessee got involved in a serious crash after his SUV rolled over when he sneezed.
SUV flips after driver sneezes while driving 38 photos
Photo: YouTube / Inside Edition
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Inside Edition has the video of the accident, but you will also find it at the bottom of the page. The good news is that the driver didn’t receive any significant injuries, though he did appear dazed. As one would be in such a situation.

He tells the media outlet that he felt an allergy attack coming on and, before he knew it, he sneezed. He then lost control of the car, which rolled over on its side, on the deserted road. It took 8 other men, all of them passers-by, to turn the car back on its wheels and remove the driver from inside.

The bad news is that the SUV then caught fire. Footage shows smoke coming out from under the hood and, in almost no time, flames engulf the front part of the vehicle. We assume it was totaled.

“Sneezing can be dangerous when you're behind the wheel of a car,” Inside Edition says. “Your eyes close involuntarily when you sneeze, and according to one study, when you sneeze while driving you travel at least 50 feet.”

According to the same media outlet, police urge drivers to try and avoid sneezing at the wheel. If they have allergies, they should make sure to keep a considerable distance between themselves and the other cars in front, and to pull over when they feel an allergy attack coming on. Moreover, they shouldn’t drive if they have a cold and are prone to sneezing.

Apparently, about 2,500 accidents occur each week because of sneezing, the publication says. It doesn’t specify where exactly that happens and doesn’t offer any credible source for this bit of information. But here’s one man who will make sure to pull over next time he feels a sneeze coming on.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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