McLaren 675LT Crashes Into Parked Semi Shortly After Leaving Cars & Coffee

This 675LT crash can serve as a warning to others not to underestimate the power of a modern supercar.

In the interest of full disclosure, we do not have video of this McLaren 675LT crashing into a parked semi. Therefore, we can’t say for certain what the cause of the crash was. Did a child unexpectedly run out in front of the car? Did a drunk driver swerve into their lane? Did something fail on the car, making the crash unavoidable? We don’t know. So, all we can do is speculate based on the video recently shared on the Corynotsmart YouTube channel.

In the video we see the McLaren 675LT parked at what appears to be a Cars and Coffee type of event. To the driver’s credit, he drives very slowly through the parking lot. He doesn’t rev the engine, or smoke the tires or anything sensational. He slowly makes his way to the exit and waits for traffic to clear. Even when it does clear, he exits slowly at first and then gives it some beans as he drives out of sight. Moments later the car is destroyed after hitting a parked semi. What went wrong and what can we learn from this?

McLaren 675LT

The McLaren 675LT came out about a decade ago so it is no longer the hot new thing. But that doesn’t make it any less potent. The twin-turbo V8 engine makes a devilish 666 horsepower. And the lightweight supercar weighs in at less than 3,000 pounds. The result is a 0 to 60 mph time of less than 3 seconds and a top speed north of 200 mph. It is not a car to be taken lightly. Especially when you have your young son in the passenger seat. That is the real heartbreaking moment here. As the car is pulling out of the parking lot you can see the child waving out the window. He is unaware that in moments he is about to be involved in a serious crash.

The Speculation

We don’t know what happened. But we can take a guess. Judging by the heavy coats everyone is wearing, it seems to be a cold day. And the sky is overcast so there is no sun heating up the road. While we can’t tell for certain, the car seems to be running on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires. And if you watch carefully, at about the 1:43 mark in the video as the car is accelerating, it seems to momentarily break traction. Remember, all that power is going to just the rear wheels. The car apparently crashed shortly after leaving the show. The tires were likely still cold, the road was cold, and grip was down. The driver was probably giving the car too much power when it lost traction and spun into the parked semi.

The Lesson

Assuming we are correct in what happened, and even if we are not, there is a lesson here. Actually, a couple lessons. One is to get some proper driving lessons if you own a car like this. A more skilled driver may have been able to avoid this accident. Also, tires are critical. If you are going to drive your supercar in cold temps, put on the appropriate tires and don’t push the car as hard as you would in sunny and warm conditions. Thankfully this driver and young passenger escaped with their lives. But that is not always the case in crashes like this. Have fun out there but be smart.

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.