Some people are so stupid that they either need to be locked up for their, or other people's, safety or be given a lethal injection to remove them from the gene pool.
Two men, along with their dog (who is blameless in the affair), decided it would be fun to drive for half a mile along a frozen canal, despite putting their lives, and that of their dog, at risk.
Dumb and Dumber, aged 22 and 24 respectively, drove their vehicle along the Union Canal in West Lothian before the ice broke, plunging their vehicle into the freezing water. The two idiots (and their dog) then managed to get out of the car, meaning they have missed out on a Darwin Award each.
The pair are now due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court next month.
The Union Canal was built between 1818 and 1822 and runs for almost 32 miles between Edinburgh and Falkirk. Two of its construction workers were the famous bodysnatchers Burke and Hare.
'Stupid' motorist who drove for half-a-MILE down an ice-covered canal facing court
By Daily Mail Reporter
13th January 2010
Daily Mail
A pair of 'stupid' thrill-seekers face court after allegedly driving along a frozen canal in a car.
The pair narrowly escaped death after their vehicle broke through ice on the Union Canal in West Lothian plunging them into the freezing water.
Police branded the hapless driver and his passenger 'stupid' after they were spotted motoring along the frozen canal near Winchburgh on Monday afternoon.
The men are alleged to have driven down a slip road to a popular picnic and dog walking spot by the water, before edging on to the ice.
Enlarge
The men allegedly drove for half a mile on the frozen canal before their car crashed into the water
Enlarge
Tyre tracks leading to the spot where the 'stupid' thrill-seekers smashed through the ice
The black Peugeot got about half a mile down the canal before the fragile ice gave way and the front of the car smashed into the water.
With no other signs of broken ice around the car, the driver and passenger - aged 22 and 24 - are thought to have dragged themselves to the bank before fleeing the scene.
When police arrived after being called by a passerby, they found the car sticking out of the water with the front end submerged.
A map book joined rubbish floating around inside the abandoned Peugeot just yards away from a footbridge across the canal.
Police eventually tracked the two suspects down and charged them with reckless conduct.
Yesterday most of the car was under water, with just the open boot sticking out into the cold air, with tyre tracks still visible on the melting surface.
The pair are now due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court next month.
The submerged car lies in the frozen Union canal near Winchburgh in central Scotland
Lothian and Borders Police said it was 'an example of the type of stupidity' that they were dealing with thanks to the winter weather.
A police spokesman said: 'While it goes without saying that the vast majority of people have the good sense not to take their vehicles on to frozen waterways, this incident serves as an example of the type of stupidity that the emergency services occasionally have to deal with.
'There is no doubt that these two individuals had a lucky escape, and had the canal been deeper there could very well have been a different outcome.
'At this time we would like to join British Waterways in reminding people of the dangers of stepping onto frozen surfaces, let alone driving on them.
'The ice is now starting to thin, and there is always going to be the danger that it will give way, with potentially fatal consequences.'
Enlarge
The men got the vehicle on to the canal via a slip-road close to a popular picnic spot
Richard Haigh of the Chief Fire Officers Association Scotland said: 'As temperatures in some areas begin to rise, the ice will weaken and present an even greater risk to those who venture on to it.
'There have been a number of instances where people and animals have fallen through ice and lives have been lost.
'I would urge people simply not to take such unnecessary risks; stay off the ice and keep pets on a leash.'
The Scottish SPCA have warned dog owners to stay clear of frozen water even if their pet falls foul of the ice.
SSPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: 'We know that many dog owners would go to great lengths for their animals, but attempting a water rescue is extremely dangerous and likely to end in tragedy for the person rather than the pet.
'Never go in after your dog, no matter how desperate you might be for its safety. A dog is much more likely to make it out of the water than a person.
'Likewise, if your dog runs on to an iced pond, never chase after it.
The ice may be able to hold the weight of an animal, but it's much less likely to hold a human.'
dailymail.co.uk
Two men, along with their dog (who is blameless in the affair), decided it would be fun to drive for half a mile along a frozen canal, despite putting their lives, and that of their dog, at risk.
Dumb and Dumber, aged 22 and 24 respectively, drove their vehicle along the Union Canal in West Lothian before the ice broke, plunging their vehicle into the freezing water. The two idiots (and their dog) then managed to get out of the car, meaning they have missed out on a Darwin Award each.
The pair are now due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court next month.
The Union Canal was built between 1818 and 1822 and runs for almost 32 miles between Edinburgh and Falkirk. Two of its construction workers were the famous bodysnatchers Burke and Hare.
'Stupid' motorist who drove for half-a-MILE down an ice-covered canal facing court
By Daily Mail Reporter
13th January 2010
Daily Mail
A pair of 'stupid' thrill-seekers face court after allegedly driving along a frozen canal in a car.
The pair narrowly escaped death after their vehicle broke through ice on the Union Canal in West Lothian plunging them into the freezing water.
Police branded the hapless driver and his passenger 'stupid' after they were spotted motoring along the frozen canal near Winchburgh on Monday afternoon.
The men are alleged to have driven down a slip road to a popular picnic and dog walking spot by the water, before edging on to the ice.
Enlarge
The men allegedly drove for half a mile on the frozen canal before their car crashed into the water
Enlarge
Tyre tracks leading to the spot where the 'stupid' thrill-seekers smashed through the ice
The black Peugeot got about half a mile down the canal before the fragile ice gave way and the front of the car smashed into the water.
With no other signs of broken ice around the car, the driver and passenger - aged 22 and 24 - are thought to have dragged themselves to the bank before fleeing the scene.
When police arrived after being called by a passerby, they found the car sticking out of the water with the front end submerged.
A map book joined rubbish floating around inside the abandoned Peugeot just yards away from a footbridge across the canal.
Police eventually tracked the two suspects down and charged them with reckless conduct.
Yesterday most of the car was under water, with just the open boot sticking out into the cold air, with tyre tracks still visible on the melting surface.
The pair are now due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court next month.
The submerged car lies in the frozen Union canal near Winchburgh in central Scotland
Lothian and Borders Police said it was 'an example of the type of stupidity' that they were dealing with thanks to the winter weather.
A police spokesman said: 'While it goes without saying that the vast majority of people have the good sense not to take their vehicles on to frozen waterways, this incident serves as an example of the type of stupidity that the emergency services occasionally have to deal with.
'There is no doubt that these two individuals had a lucky escape, and had the canal been deeper there could very well have been a different outcome.
'At this time we would like to join British Waterways in reminding people of the dangers of stepping onto frozen surfaces, let alone driving on them.
'The ice is now starting to thin, and there is always going to be the danger that it will give way, with potentially fatal consequences.'
Enlarge
The men got the vehicle on to the canal via a slip-road close to a popular picnic spot
Richard Haigh of the Chief Fire Officers Association Scotland said: 'As temperatures in some areas begin to rise, the ice will weaken and present an even greater risk to those who venture on to it.
'There have been a number of instances where people and animals have fallen through ice and lives have been lost.
'I would urge people simply not to take such unnecessary risks; stay off the ice and keep pets on a leash.'
The Scottish SPCA have warned dog owners to stay clear of frozen water even if their pet falls foul of the ice.
SSPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: 'We know that many dog owners would go to great lengths for their animals, but attempting a water rescue is extremely dangerous and likely to end in tragedy for the person rather than the pet.
'Never go in after your dog, no matter how desperate you might be for its safety. A dog is much more likely to make it out of the water than a person.
'Likewise, if your dog runs on to an iced pond, never chase after it.
The ice may be able to hold the weight of an animal, but it's much less likely to hold a human.'
dailymail.co.uk
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