- A Mercedes sedan drove into Detroit’s terminal Friday night.
- Six people were treated for minor injuries at the scene.
- The driver exited uninjured and was arrested immediately.
Parking illegally at the airport is rarely something that leads to an arrest. That’s what happened to one gentleman at the Detroit Airport this weekend, sort of.
According to the Wayne County Airport Authority, a Mercedes-Benz sedan drove through the entrance of the McNamara Terminal around 7:30 p.m. and struck a Delta Air Lines ticket counter before coming to a stop fully inside the terminal. The driver went straight to jail.
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Despite the severity of the impact and the chaotic scene that followed, the driver was able to exit the vehicle on his own and appeared uninjured. Authorities say six people were treated at the scene for minor injuries, though none required hospitalization. Airport operations resumed normally shortly afterward.
What Just Happened?
Videos of the scene show the car breaking through the doors, smashing glass, and ultimately coming to rest at the ticket counter. Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang followed by screams as security rushed in.
One traveler told the NY Post the response was almost instantaneous, with officers arriving within seconds. “Our team is gathering information, and we hope to have an update shortly,” said Detroit Metro Airport to WDIV.
The Wayne County Airport Authority says that the cause of the crash is unknown, but they’re still investigating. It’s clear from the videos that the driver in question was shouting after getting out of the car. What’s less clear is what he was saying, or what state of mind he was in at the time.
From a vehicle standpoint, it’s hard to ignore how much punishment the car absorbed while protecting its occupant. Although officials have not confirmed the exact model, we don’t think it’s an S-Class, as some have reported. Judging by the shape of the taillights, it looks more like the smaller C-Class. Then again, in situations like this, with low-quality images or video, it’s easy to confuse the S-Class with the C-Class or E-Class.
Either way, all Mercedes models have long been ahead of the curve when it comes to crumple zones, reinforced passenger cells, and multiple airbags designed to manage high-energy impacts. While no car is built for this kind of incident, the outcome underscores how far passive safety has come. We’re just happy that everyone involved walked away.