Sad News: Toyota’s chief test driver dies in LFA crash near Nürburgring
We are hearing sad news this evening that Toyota’s chief test driver, Hiromu Naruse, has died in a head-on collision when the prototype Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition that he was driving collided with two BMW test drivers travelling in a 3-series on the opposite carriageway.
The accident happened close to Toyota’s workshops near the Nürburgring.
67 year-old Hiromu Naruse, was one of the key engineers behind the birth of the LFA and personal driver to Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s President. He joined Toyota in 1963 and was an important figure in the development of Toyota’s sporting cars, from the 2000GT to the Lexus LFA.
Both Naruse and his passenger in the LFA were pronounced dead at the scene, whilst the driver and passenger of the BMW are said to have been seriously injured – one of them is tonight in a critical condition.
A very tragic incident and a sad footnote to the success of Toyota’s first supercar. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of all those who were involved.
Source: Spiegel
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