Local man loses control of Viper, crashes into tree

McALLEN — An area man lost control of his dark-gray 2006 Dodge Viper and collided with an oak tree.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene near the intersection of North Sixth Street and Nolana about 8 a.m. Friday.

The driver attempted to pass another vehicle when the Viper fishtailed and he lost control of the vehicle, McAllen police Sgt. Jose Arenas said. The vehicle then smashed into an oak tree along the road, causing significant damage to the driver’s side of the car.

“That’s what happens when you have that many horsepower under the hood and you don’t know what you're doing,” Arenas said.

Emergency personnel used special equipment to tear into the vehicle to free the driver.

“That’s two years of my salary right there,” Arenas said. “That will cause a lot of tears to a lot of car buffs.”

Police would not release the identity of the driver, but said his injuries appeared to be minor. The Viper is registered to Chris Burns of McAllen, records show.

A 2006 Dodge Viper convertible is valued at $71,235, according to the Kelley Blue Book Web site.

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Jared Taylor covers Edinburg, the Delta region and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.