Source: Daily_Mail
Louis Saha Ferrari crash: Premiership footballer 'lucky to be alive'
Everton striker Louis Saha has escaped unharmed after crashing his Ferrari on a country road last night.[LNB]The former Manchester United ace, 32, was on the Altrincham Road, in Wilmslow, Cheshire, when he lost control of his car shortly before 9pm.[LNB]Police sources have indicated the damage to the vehicle was 'extensive'.[LNB] Luxury: Louis Saha pictured with his ?170,000 458 Italia Ferrari[LNB] Amazingly the Frenchman - who was in the car alone - escaped without injury and did not need hospital treatment.[LNB]A Cheshire Police spokesman said: 'We can confirm there was a road traffic accident on Altrincham Road, Wilmslow, at 8.54pm. Fortunately there were no injuries.'[LNB]A source added: 'The car was extensively damaged. He is lucky to be alive.'[LNB]Action: Saha played for Everton against Sunderland on Saturday[LNB]It is not known what Ferrari he was driving but the star does own a ?170,000 458 Italia model, of which all 1,200 were recalled by the manufacturers in September last year as a design fault could cause them to catch fire.[LNB]The first incident occurred in July, when the driver noticed the rear panel of his 458 Italia was on fire while he was driving in Paris. A passer-by used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames.[LNB]A few days later the engine of an Italia driving up a mountain pass in Switzerland caught fire. In August last year a 458 in China and one in the US burst into flames.[LNB]After sending its engineers around the world to investigate the reports of 'thermal incidents', Ferrari asked the owners, including around 50 in Britain, to bring them in for modification work. [LNB]Eric Clapton, the rock star, and Chris Evans, the broadcaster, are also among the car's owners.[LNB]Ferrari said the problem had been traced to adhesive used in the wheel-arch assemblies. In certain circumstances the glue could have begun to overheat, smoke and even catch fire.[LNB]In extreme cases, the melting of the adhesive could lead the heat shield - the liner protecting the engine - to deform and move closer to the exhaust, causing the lining to catch fire. [LNB][LNB] Explore more:People: Chris Evans, Louis Saha Places: Paris, Switzerland, China
