No charges over Ronaldo smash

Exclusive: John Scheerhout

June 16, 2009

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CRISTIANO Ronaldo is in the clear after a road smash which wrecked his £200,000 Ferrari.

The Manchester United star - who is heading to Real Madrid for a record £80m - was the subject of a careless driving investigation after crashing the brand-new car into the side of a concrete road tunnel in January.

Police have now decided the Portuguese player will not face any charges over the smash which tore one wheel off the 599 GTB Fiorano and crushed the front and side.

A source said: "Ronaldo gave us a written statement saying he had simply lost control of the car and the only evidence we have in relation to what happened is that he had a crash.

"In light of that, it would be inappropriate to prosecute him for any driving offence."

At the time of the smash, on the A538 Wilmslow Road, which runs underneath Manchester Airport, the striker had only had the 205mph Portuguese-registered, left-hand-drive supercar for a couple of days.

United's goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar was travelling behind in his Bentley.

No other vehicles were involved in the smash but police identified several witnesses.

Ronaldo was spoken to at the scene and breathalysed in line with standard procedure but the result was negative.

Officers said at the time that the car's specialist ceramic brakes could have been affected by an initial impact with the kerb inside the tunnel.

A police spokesman confirmed: "No further action will be taken against the driver of the Ferrari 599 GTB."

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Showing comments 1 to 19 and replies | View All

Steve (16/06/2009 at 08:00)

If that is what happens to a 599 GTB Fiorano when its involved in a collision at the speed limit of that road I don't want one.

Free Red, Manchester (16/06/2009 at 09:57)

He swerves to the left, he swerves to the r-iii-ght, that boy Ronaldo, his driving is, er, poor (lol)

Esso Blue. G. Barry, it's a Done Deal. Next, Manchester (16/06/2009 at 10:00)

Undue care and attention happens when you hit the curb if the car isn't at fault. What would have happened had he hit a pedestrian.

nicked-name, greater manchester (16/06/2009 at 10:10)

he has skipped the country anyway

token male, lush green cheshire (16/06/2009 at 12:36)

Good job it was not a french underpass.

token male, lush green cheshire (16/06/2009 at 12:38)

He was actually invited to appear on BBC top gear, did he refuse?

Mancun IAN , Levenshulme, Manchester (16/06/2009 at 12:42)

If it was me i would have been fined and banned from driving for 5 years.

Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (16/06/2009 at 13:16)

My understanding is when he gave a statement to the police he complained that he only hit the wall because it wasnt back 10 yards.

mufc skint and we know it , dunham massey (16/06/2009 at 13:18)

i will have to remember next time i get pulled for speeding the excuse will be (i simply lost control of the accellerator pedal) i will be home and dry then lol

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (16/06/2009 at 13:39)

Well that's a surprise I didn't expect that, Money definitely talks. If that had been you or I, we wouldn't have seen the light of day for a long time and also we'd have been fined to the hilt

but No! not a footballer

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (16/06/2009 at 13:41)

Esso Blue, we know what would have happened had he hit a pedestrian just look at the Plymouth Argyle player who killed them children and crippled their dad through dangerous drink driving, he got a rediculously lenient sentence

Blue Dude, Manchester. (16/06/2009 at 13:43)

Most top clubs employ a Mr Fixer to do all this from arrange a babysitter, get the TV licence people off a players back, fix the plumbing in the rental flat and get the little lad off criminal charges..

Well done mr fixer - take a bow son !

Peter Barnes, Manchester (16/06/2009 at 14:03)

...one law for the rich and famous, ... and another law for the rest of us...

Pushkin (16/06/2009 at 14:12)

That wall was never 10 yards back!

wotaboutawaterbottleweeble, north wales (16/06/2009 at 14:18)

Re: token male, lush green cheshire - for "good job" - should that not read "pity" ?

RT, UK (16/06/2009 at 21:55)

'Simply lost control of the vehicle'

If a vehicle is being driven properly then it would not be simple to lose control of it.

How light the law deals with careless driving now or is it just for the few?

Frequent Flyer, Altrincham (16/06/2009 at 22:21)

...one law for the rich and famous, ... and another law for the rest of us... Peter Barnes, Manchester
16/06/2009 at 14:03 - LET ME GUESS - A CITY FAN !!

Laura Norder, Didsbury (17/06/2009 at 11:05)

If it was me i would have been fined and banned from driving for 5 years." - Mancun IAN , Levenshulme, Manchester

Why? What legal precedent do you base the above statement on?

I'm guessing you are a sad 'bitter' - get over it.

More to the point: what public interest would be served if Ronaldo was to have been prosecuted?

Ted Striker, Banned from being Cunning for no apparent reason it would seem... (17/06/2009 at 14:59)

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