autoblogcom freelance writer frank filipponio involved in fatal shelby gt500 wre

When I read the original story about a 2007 Shelby GT500 Convertible driver losing control and leaving the roadway killing a pedestrian in Newport Beach I saw the driver was a 37-year old man named Frank Filipponio not thinking anything about who that person really was.



hen I read the original story about a 2007 Shelby GT500 Convertible driver losing control and leaving the roadway killing a pedestrian in Newport Beach I saw the driver was a 37-year old man named Frank Filipponio not thinking anything about who that person really was.  It did cross my mind at the time that someone with a similar name wrote over at AutoBlog.com and it now has been confirmed that the driver was freelance writer Frank Filipponio who blogs at AutoBlog.com.

Frank was driving a Vista Blue 2007 Shelby GT500 Convertible press fleet vehicle in Crystal Cove State Park probably to give a review of the vehicle for AutoBlog.  When he was driving the car around 7pm Wednesday May 2nd he lost control of the vehicle while attempting to shift between gears and went off Pacific Coast Highway killing a 48-year old female pedestrian walking on the path parallel to the road.  According to police no drugs or alcohol was involved in the crash.  Frank was treated for a few minor injuries at the hospital and was later released. More photos of the accident after the jump.

Please say a prayer for the 48-year old woman and her family.