Yesterday morning, Houston lawyer and prolific car collector John O’Quinn was killed in a traffic accident. Reports indicate that O’Quinn, as well as his assistant, Johnny Lee Cutliff (also killed), were not wearing their seatbelts when their Chevrolet Suburban hit a tree.
A police report says that O’Quinn was driving the Suburban, which bounced over a median before impacting a tree on Houston’s Allen Parkway
O’Quinn, a plaintiff’s attorney who garnered fame – and fortune – in tobacco and breast implant cases in the early 1990s, was planning to open a massive car museum to show off his collection in downtown Houston. The vehicles he amassed are considered by many to be the preeminent private collection in the world.
A longtime staple at collector car auctions, O’Quinn was not known for being shy about spending his money on vintage automobiles. He was known to regularly purchase up to 20 vehicles at a single auction and was considered, by some collectors, to be a formidable bidding opponent. The collection, which is overseen by a full staff, includes such vehicles as Pope John Paul II’s 1975 Ford Escort (for which O’Quinn paid $690,000 at auction), several vehicles owned and used by British royalty, three Batmobiles and numerous other classics valued at around $1 billion.
10/29, 3:10 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
I should tell my dad…he wanted to get a suburban…
10/29, 3:11 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Rest in peace, and my condolences to his family. Always a little sad when someone leaves us behind.
10/29, 3:27 PM
posted by:
ajm11
idrinorbarsaku – There is nothing wrong with the Suburban as a vehicle. You should try waiting to find out what happened to cause the crash before you blame the vehicle. For all any of us know, the driver could have had a medical emergency, or blowout of one of the tires and lost control. This is not about a specific vehicle problem.
As for the Mr. O’Quinn, may he rest in peace. My condolences to his family.
10/29, 3:32 PM
posted by:
Zesty Honda
You would think he would have been more protected in a large vehicle like a suburban. Go figure.
10/29, 3:40 PM
posted by:
ajm11
Zesty Honda – It all depends on what you hit. If he hit a Tractor Trailer combo not much will protect you.
10/29, 3:52 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
UH alumnus, benefactor John O’Quinn dies
By Cougar News Staff
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Published: Thursday, October 29, 2009
Updated: Thursday, October 29, 2009
UH Law Center alumnus and prominent Houston attorney John O’ Quinn died Thursday in a one-car crash on Allen Parkway. Quinn and a unidentified victim died after their SUV crashed into a tree on Allen Parkway, after the car lost control, police said.
“I’m stunned. The community lost one of its biggest assets,” Rick Laminack, who worked with O’Quinn from 1987 until 2006 said to the Houston Chronicle. “He was a great lawyer who shared a lot of his wealth with people who needed help.”
It is still unknown who the driver of the vehicle was.
Houston Police Lt. L.J Satterwhite said to the chronicle, the car was heading west when it skidded across the median on the 2000 block of the parkway and slammed into a tree.
The car ended up along the service road that runs along the south side of Allen Parkway. Workers had to chop down the tree before removing the SUV.
Investigators are looking at possible causes for the accident, including excessive speed and rain-slicked pavement, Satterwhite said.
Quinn was born in 1941 in Houston and graduated from the University of Houston Law Center. He was partner at his law firm at The O’ Quinn law firm and served as a Texas trial lawyer. He represented clients suing breast implant manufacturers, medical facilities, and tobacco companies.
http://www.thedailycougar.com/uh-alumnus-benefactor-john-o-quinn-dies-1.2043521
10/29, 4:02 PM
posted by:
ajm11
Ouch.
10/29, 4:06 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
three batmobiles.. wow…..
10/29, 4:08 PM
posted by:
Dingleberry Divas of Dallas
My condolences to his family too. The rain is bad here in the Conroe / Houston area.
I also just read this on the Houston Chronicle’s website.
Everyone be safe out there!
10/29, 4:18 PM
posted by:
Zesty Honda
^Ouch is Right! RIP!
10/29, 4:37 PM
posted by:
05Z88Path
Cougar News. haha. Not the kind of news you were expecting Johnny?
10/29, 4:45 PM
posted by:
05Z88Path
Just saw pics of the crash…the tree looked like it replaced the passenger seat. You’ve got to be really moving to cut up a Suburban like that…
10/29, 5:27 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
All that money he spent collecting cars he could have devoted to philanthropic causes — what a butthole.
10/29, 5:39 PM
posted by:
ajm11
howsmydriving – It was his money and he could with it what he pleases. If you have as much money as he does please by all means devote your money to philanthropic causes. If you don’t have the much to do that find some way of making a difference. Don’t call the man an a$$hole because he did what he wanted to do with his money. Have some respect.
10/29, 6:23 PM
posted by:
EMINEM
Rest in Peace
10/29, 6:38 PM
posted by:
twobolt
Rest in peace indeed!
But I always love comments in the news that blame this on the car: “…after the car lost control”. It’s like “a cigarette started the fire” as opposed to “John was smoking in bed and fell asleep”, “the bullet killed the officer” as opposed to “the suspect discharged the pistol at the officer, killing him”, or the “the ground took his life after he jumped off the water tower” instead of “Bill committed suicide by …”, or ….
10/29, 6:40 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
Thanks LLN for the accurate reporting of the Suburban “plow(ing) into oncoming traffic.”
10/29, 7:22 PM
posted by:
gbb
Wow, the ambulance was too fast this time.
10/29, 11:18 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I don’t think Zesty is DeasterTJ. He was respectful to the deceased.
10/29, 11:29 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
beatus, what the heck did I miss… or what post was deleted… that brought up Deanster?
And hey Deanster, if you’re still reading we miss you buddy.
10/30, 1:37 AM
posted by:
Zesty Honda
video of crash; http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6693964.html
10/30, 4:33 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Seatbelts are there for a reason people!
10/30, 4:49 PM
posted by:
reedfast
for a car c.ollector, you’d think he would know to put on his seatbelt. Not wearing one is just plain stupid
10/30, 4:53 PM
posted by:
stang67
I saw it on the news last night. The stretch of road is a dangerous section. Neighbors have complained about it to the city and have asked to do something about the high number of accidents.
10/30, 5:07 PM
posted by:
2WheeledSpeed
All those amazing cars he owns makes me wonder why he chose to drive a Suburban?
10/30, 5:43 PM
posted by:
NRG
The question is, why did he go over the median? Did he fall sleep? Was he drunk? Did he have a sudden onset of a medical condition? Why give us an update without the reason why this happened LLN?
10/30, 5:50 PM
posted by:
2WheeledSpeed
Apparently he has a history of reckless driving (And at least one conviction for drunk driving), and the roads were wet, AND he was in a big ol’ Suburban. I don’t know, but I’d bet he was going a little faster than he should have, or was drunk, or both.
10/30, 6:11 PM
posted by:
armstealer
RIP
10/30, 6:12 PM
posted by:
armstealer
Yes, why a suburban? Maybe it was armored?
10/30, 6:56 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Maybe he was just an arrogant c*cks*cker who figured nothing bad could ever happen to him?
Just sayin’…
10/31, 2:14 AM
posted by:
wideopenthrottle
Sorry to hear this, my condolences to the family and friends.
10/31, 9:56 AM
posted by:
A4
Wear your god damn seat belt.
10/31, 3:02 PM
posted by:
reedfast
Trick or treaty
Smell my feeties
I’m not wearing my seatbelt so i’m dead meaty.
just some holiday spirit for you.
11/01, 3:24 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
You know, I just realized something…
About a year ago, I was chatting about cars with some filthy rich guy in Texas who owned or had previously owned many cars that most of us only dream about. He told me about the subtle differences between two different Enzos, and how he preferred the older one for reasons I don’t recall. Another thing that he mentioned was how he came about his wealth: inheritance, stocks and his job, but mostly the first two. He also told me that even with all his fancy cars, he preferred to drive a Suburban, because it was comfortable, big, and didn’t draw attention. I believe this is the same guy.
I just put two and two together about ten minutes ago. I’m floored. He was a genuine yet outspoken person. And now I realize who I was talking to. Wow.
May he rest in peace.
11/01, 3:27 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Oh, and Johnny, it was a few threads back when Zesty was going after Idrinor. I mentioned Zesty could be Deanster, and you agreed.
11/02, 2:36 PM
posted by:
Z06ified
The Suburban is one of the safest vehicles on the road. Not wearing a seatbelt is one of the most unsafe, and dumbest, things you can do.