In Liepāja, Lexus Driver Proves That More Expensive Isn't Always Smarter — Hits Opel and Flees Home

Another story unfolded on Liepāja's streets about how a more expensive car doesn't guarantee a smarter driver. A Lexus owner decided that the Opel in front of him was driving too slowly and began an overtaking maneuver. It turned out that overtaking wasn't his strongest suit — he clipped the Opel and then demonstrated his second talent: rapid escape.

As law enforcement representative Madara Šeršņova explains, the Lexus driver "couldn't handle his vehicle's controllability" — a diplomatic formulation for what we simply call "stupidity behind the wheel." After the collision, the man decided that the best strategy was to simply drive home and hope nobody noticed.

But our police aren't like in Riga — they work efficiently. They found the Lexus driver and determined he was in a 0.36 promille state of intoxication. Most likely the alcohol was consumed after the accident to calm his nerves, because as any Karosta resident who has seen the mythical basement chambers of the Tsar's fleet officers knows, stress can be serious.

Now the man faces three administrative penalties: for alcohol consumption after an accident, for leaving the scene, and for not maintaining safe distance. Maybe next time he'll stay home or choose public transport — there nobody has to worry about overtaking.