Guy Stuck in His Car Going 125 MPH With No Brakes

Imagine yourself jumping into your car for a quick run to the supermarket. As you approach your first stop sign, with the sun shining on your face and some fine tunes on the radio, you realize that your brakes aren't arresting your forward movement, but actually accelerating it. Eventually, your car reaches 125 mph - and then remains there - for an hour.

Well, that's exactly what happened in northern France on Tuesday, February 12, 2013. Frank Lecerf, of Pont-de-Metz, never expected a simple trip for groceries would lead him on a high-speed, hold on for dear life, police-escorted, toll-booth jumping, gonna poop my pants ride. But it happened.

The frantic, but level-headed Mr. Lecerf, upon realizing his predicament, called police to advise and consult. It was the best decision he could have made.

French officials launched into action dispatching an entire convoy of cruisers to clear paths for the out-of-control Renault Laguna. While staying in the fast lane (literally and figuratively, folks), the officers guided Lecerf safely through over 125 miles of traffic, three toll-booths, and, eventually, into neighboring Belgium.

Early on during the adventure, French officials contacted Renault engineers to find a solution, but none other than the time-tested "let er run out of gas" option worked. Shortly after entering Belgium, the family sedan ran out of petrol and Mr. Lecerf, after guiding the vehicle expertly through hundreds of perilous hazards, crashed into a ditch - he was unhurt.

The French have many faults, as do we all, but collective action is not one of them. I just hope they have enough collective sense to cast Keanu Reeves in the no-doubt forthcoming movie.