While details are scarce at present--the investigation is ongoing--it appears that two 2006 Ferrari F430s belonging to Gotham Dream Cars, being used in a Dream Car Sprint program at Met Life Stadium, were on their way back from a fuel run when disaster struck. Both cars lost control, under unknown circumstances, with one heading into oncoming traffic and striking a motorcycle, killing its rider, 57-year-old Stephen Lange. A report from NorthJersey.com says the drivers of the Ferraris were Joseph Meyer and Joseph Ferretti. Ferretti is reported to be the driver of the car that struck Lenge.
While Gotham Dream Cars isn't speaking openly about the incident, when contacted, the company responded with the following statement:
"At approximately 7:30 am, Sunday, May 13th, two Gotham Dream Car employees drove two of our vehicles to be refueled and were involved in a three vehicle incident off a service road at the Meadowlands. This incident was off-site from our event and no customers were involved.
"Unfortunately there was a fatality from a motorcycle rider involved in the incident.
"First and foremost, we offer our condolences to the family and friends of this individual.
"The incident is under investigation, so we cannot comment any further until the investigation is complete and more details are available."
During our time at the Dream Car Sprint, we met and spoke with Rob Ferretti, the chief operating officer of Gotham Dream Cars. It's not clear at this time if the named "Joseph Ferretti" is related to Rob Ferretti. Jon Ferretti, the company's operations manager, also shares the name--though Gotham Dream Cars declined to confirm any relation between the Ferrettis employed by the company or the Ferretti involved in the accident.
We also met with the founder and president of Gotham Dream Cars, Noah Lehmann-Haupt, during our visit with the Dream Car Sprint. Both Lehmann-Haupt and Rob Ferretti were enthusiastic about the supercar experience, but both were also very cognizant and vocal about the safety concerns involved in driving supercars like those offered in the company's various experience programs. This incident serves to put a sharp, sad point on their very real concerns, even though the accident happened with company employees behind the wheel, in support of the event.
According to the NorthJersey.com report, no charges have been filed, but an investigation is ongoing. Police say the F430s were traveling at a high rate of speed when the accident occurred. The speed limit along Berry's Creek Road, where the accident occurred, is 25 mph.
