Utah man wins Lamborghini, crashes it same day

The Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 Roadster is seen Jan. 7, 2007, at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall in Detroit. / AFP/Getty Images

SANTAQUIN, Utah - A Utah man who won a $380,000 Lamborghini in a convenience store chain's contest crashed the sports car six hours after he got it.

The lime green Murcielago Roadster was set to leave for a Las Vegas body shop Wednesday for repairs, just days after Santaquin resident David Dopp won it in Maverik stores' "Joe Schmo to Lambo" contest.

"Yeah, I got it on Saturday and I wrecked it on Saturday," Dopp told KSL-TV.

He said he was taking friends and family on joy rides that evening on the outskirts of town. He said he took a curve at 40 or 50 mph when the vehicle hit ice or loose gravel and started spinning.

The car crashed through some fence posts before coming to rest in a field.

Dopp wasn't injured, but his wife said she was shocked.

"My heart pretty much fell out," Annette Dopp told KSL. "They said they were OK. Then (came), you know, that feeling when your heart drops and you're like, 'Oh, my gosh. What do we do now?"'

The 640-horsepower Lamborghini has front-end damage, a punctured wheel and scratches along the passenger side. The vehicle is insured.

David Dopp was videotaped last month jumping up and down and hollering in speechless disbelief when contest officials announced during a college football game that he won the car.

The giveaway, which awarded participants for using a rewards card at Maverik stores, was co-sponsored by nonprofit organization "teamgive," which raises awareness about rare neurological diseases.

David Dopp said it was strange seeing the flashy, exotic car in his humble driveway. He told ABC 4 in Salt Lake City that he plans to sell the vehicle to pay off bills and buy his wife another car — as soon as the Lamborghini's drivable again.

"It's going to be all nice and pretty here in a couple of months, I'm sure," David Dopp said.

[tsigili]

His insurance company, is not going to be happy with him.

[myoleman]

This guy should've sold it right after thanking the Lord for his good fortune. Now this Bat is used and damaged goods. It won't fetch the same price as before. Good thing it was insured.

[tmittelstaed]

When he "won" it and picked it up it became "used" Legally the moment a "new" car is sold by a dealer it becomes "used" If the body shop he used knows what they are doing then it will have the same value that it had the minute that a "used" Lam has, right after it's bought. Actually it probably will have more because now it's a famous car - not many people have taken delivery of a Lam and crashed it the same day.

[cbsblogger]

BTW CBS News I want to personally thank you for allowing years of open comments on your site from all users, without requiring as have some other sites such as Gannett where American whistle blowers are muzzled (and that's what we are) and are required to go on record with our names and addresses and FaceBook accounts.

I use the CBS news site strictly because of this open philosophy. What's next, should we use our FaceBook account and name and address to vote? Political opinions are our right but no one's business in a democratic society.

[cbsblogger]

Stupid people will never have much because they have no concept of frugality and responsibility.

Average conscientious empathetic thoughtful people will be robbed and plundered by shrewd thieving people. That's what the Federal Reserve and Wall St is all about.

Stealing from the fabric of America for only the benefit of these few thieving bxstards. They are ruthless, know the game and most don't. America has been plundered by such thieves.

[credibility2]

There should have been a stipulation that the contest winner had to undergo psychological analysis plus a driving class to further qualify for the prize. The winner was an imbecile and obviously not intelligent enough to handle a high performance vehicle like this. Hot rodding is idocy.

[tmittelstaed]

600K cars are idocy.

[Samlv]

Natural Selection in action.

[dgammons]

Anyone think he even knows how much his little mishap is going to cost him when he tries to sell a depreciated, previously wrecked, Lamborghini? Nice, expensive joy ride there buddy. On the flip side, I'd have probably done the same.

[Transatlantique]

Winning money, and getting prizes in this neighbourhood only opens doors that one may not want to see behind. One must be very cautious inheriting or winning anything because the freedom to enjoy can cause disaster. It is like having a magical power, or 3 wishes. The desire to buy material things is strong, but the buzz of those things wears off, and what is left is the person who had them.

To find happiness, once must have a sense of what one loves to do. Accomplishment is the only true happiness, and everything else is junk no matter how expensive it is. If a thing doesn't ultimately help one achieve the goal of accomplishment, then it isn't worth the money. One is rich when one is happy with what one already has. I've been there and done that, and believe me, it can go away in a heartbeat even though it may not seem so. The more one has, the more one has to lose.

[rwsmith29456]

Well said. Do me a big favor and don't give me anything too soon or too easily. Besides ruining me outright trying to keep and maintain an expensive house,car boat, etc., then I'd probably be worse off than I was before I got it

[pohd1]

For a few hours he was one of the 1% but now he has learned the cost of being a 1%er. It cost a lot of money to continue with the lifestyle.

[netjunkie1]

At least he's evolving...