The Dutch boy who was the sole survivor of a Libyan plane crash that killed 103 people greeted an aunt and uncle with a smile Thursday after they rushed to his hospital room from Holland.
But a Dutch Foreign Ministry official said 9-year-old Ruben van Assouw still may not realize the full extent of his loss because he has not yet been told his parents and older brother were killed in the crash on Wednesday. They were returning home from a family vacation in South Africa to celebrate the parents' 12 1/2-year wedding anniversary -- a Dutch tradition.
"He's awake. He's talking. He is listening," the official, Ed Kronenburg, told The Associated Press after visiting Ruben in the hospital. "Of course he also sleeps quite a lot because he got anesthesia yesterday and is still a bit dizzy," he added.
"He hasn't been told yet, as far as we know, that his parents died."
Rescuers found Ruben still strapped into his seat at one end of a large debris field after the plane crashed while trying to land in the Libyan capital Tripoli, said Libyan safety official Col. Baloul al-Khoja. Kronenburg said they noticed he was still breathing. "That's why they noticed that he was still alive," he said.
Al-Khoja said Ruben was semiconscious and unresponsive, bleeding moderately from the wounds to his legs. As they began moving him around, the shock began to wear off and he felt the pain in his legs, but he did not cry a lot.
Ruben was found about half a mile from a big piece of the tail section, indicating he may have been sitting in the front of plane when it shattered into pieces.
The plane impacted in a large sandy lot before the runway, leaving a long, narrow trail of wreckage, more than 150 meters and about 25 meters wide. The tail, with its colorful Afriqiyah logo, is the largest piece of wreckage, surrounded by shredded plane parts and scattered personal effects.
A romance novel, "Zoete Tranen," Dutch for "Sweet Tears," lies open on page 225. Scattered in the dirt are a charred boot, a black high-heeled shoe, a vinyl motorcycle jacket decorated with Marlboro and Ferrari logos. A milk carton dribbles it contents into the sand. A carcass of a dog buzzes with flies.
No crater or gouge in the earth is visible. Near the start of the wreckage trail sits a car completely crushed. Trees off to the side have been shredded to chunks of wood.
The wall of a house on the edge of the lot is pockmarked by debris. Its owner, 54-year-old Ramadan al-Seid, said he and his family heard the crash and when they looked out the window saw a mass of smoke and dust, with an overwhelming smell of fuel. Then they heard the ambulances coming.
The 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe was sold for $8,700,000 in 1987. However, that car and many alike will not be included in this list because it is not available on the market today. It is hard to imagine someone would actually spend 8 million dollars on a car instead of using it for something more productive. However, if you have the money and the opportunity, you will definitely spend a small fraction of it to place a few of these supercars in your garage. Here are the 10 most expensive production cars on the market.
1. Bugatti Veyron$1,700,000. This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today. It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.6 seconds. It claims to be the fastest car with a top speed of 253 mph+. However, the title for the fastest car goes to the SSC Ultimate Aero which exceed 253 mph pushing this car to 2nd place for the fastest car.
2. Lamborghini Reventon $1,600,000. The most powerful and the most expensive Lamborghini ever built is the second on the list. It takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph and it has a top speed of 211 mph. Its rarity (limited to 20) and slick design are the reasons why it is so expensive and costly to own.
3. McLaren F1 $970,000. In 1994, the McLaren F1 was the fastest and most expensive car. Even though it was built 15 years ago, it has an unbelievable top speed of 240 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Even as of today, the McLaren F1 is still top on the list and it outperformed many other supercars.
4. Ferrari Enzo $670,000. The most known supercar ever built. The Enzo has a top speed of 217 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Only 400 units were produced and it is currently being sold for over $1,000,000 at auctions.
5. Pagani Zonda C12 F$667,321. Produced by a small independent company in Italy, the Pagani Zonda C12 F is the 5th fastest car in the world. It promises to delivery a top speed of 215 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.
6. SSC Ultimate Aero $654,400. Don't let the price tag fool you, the 6th most expensive car is actually the fastest street legal car in the world with a top speed of 257 mph+ and reaching 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. This baby cost nearly half as much as the Bugatti Veyron, yet has enough power to top the most expensive car in a speed race. It is estimated that only 25 of this exact model will ever be produced.
7. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo $555,000. The first true American production certified supercar, this cowboy is also rank 3rd for the fastest car in the world. It has a top speed of 248 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. If you are a true American patriot, you can be proud to show off this car.
8. Koenigsegg CCX $545,568. Swedish made, the Koenigsegg is fighting hard to become the fastest car in the world. Currently, it is the 4th fastest car in the world with a top speed of 245 mph+, the car manufacture Koenigsegg is not giving up and will continue to try and produce the fastest car. Good luck with that!
9. Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster $495,000. A GT supercar, the SLR McLaren is the fastest automatic transmission car in the world with a top speed of 206 mph+ and reaching 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. It is a luxurious convertible with a really powerful engine, which results in outstanding performances and style.
10. Porsche Carrera GT $440,000. A supercar with dynamic stability control and a top speed of 205 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. The Porsche Carrera GT applies the absolute calibers of a true racing car to offer an unprecedented driving feeling on the road.
