MANNING, Ore. (AP) — A 19-year-old man told investigators he caused a three-car crash when he fainted while holding his breath as he drove through a tunnel northwest of Portland, Oregon State Police said.
Daniel J. Calhon, of Snohomish, Washington, told investigators he fainted Sunday afternoon while holding his breath in the Highway 26 tunnel near the community of Manning, according to a news release. His car, a 1990 Toyota Camry, drifted across the centerline and crashed head-on with a Ford Explorer.
Both vehicles struck the tunnel walls before a pickup hit the Camry.
Calhon and his passenger, 19-year-old Bradley Meyring, of Edmonds, Washington, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, as did the two people in the Explorer: Thomas Hatch Jr., 67, and Candace Hatch, 61, from Astoria. All four were taken to hospitals.
BuDo wrote:Is that even possible?...holding your breath till you faint?...Won't your body's natural inclination to breath overcome your own will?...
If someone can resist the desire to take a breath. They can! But the body has to make you faint... due to lack of oxygen. Well.."If you're Lucky" you will start breathing again.
TheDrop wrote:I ont understand, why was he holding his breath?
It's kinda something kids usually do, I guess. When I was a kid I always tried to see if I could hold my breath from when we entered the tunnel till we were out again. Same thing as when people dive in movies - I would always try to hold my breath equally as long. It's just sort of a game, I guess you could say.