Here’s what we know as fact: Andy House did indeed drive a Bugatti Veyron into a salt marsh off of Interstate 45 near Omega Bay, Texas, in November of 2009. The Veyron had racked up some 1,200 miles on its odometer prior to the accident, and House apparently left the Veyron’s door open and the engine running as he exited the vehicle.
We also know that the Veyron was recovered from the marsh, and later sold (complete with evidence of salt water damage) at an insurance salvage auction. Here’s where things start to get as murky as the waters where the Veyron met its ultimate demise.
Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company, who had insured the Veyron, now alleges that the entire incident was staged in order to collect on an insurance policy worth an estimated $2.2 million. It’s basing these accusations on conversations with both House and Joe Garza, the man who captured the crash on video.
As the duPont Registry explains, there’s an anonymous informant involved, too, who claims that House offered cash to steal the Veyron and torch it, also (allegedly) for the insurance money.
The insurance company is also unhappy about the “excessive mileage” that House racked up on the Veyron, deeming it outside the scope of his collector vehicle policy. Finally, Philadelphia Insurance claims that the Veyron and a 2003 Ferrari Enzo were insured for private use only, but were actually purchased for House’s business, Performance Auto Sales.
The insurance company is asking a civil court to dismiss House’s insurance claim, or (at the very least) obligate the insurance company to pay out just the lien value on the Veyron.
Unlike the footage captured in the Zapruder film, this Texas mystery is likely to be resolved in the near future. We’ll keep you posted as to the outcome.