2002 Mercedes Benz S 500Billy Joel owned a 2002 Mercedes Benz S 500 but crashed it in 2003. He swerved off the road and hit a tree in Sag Harbor around 10:30 at night. This wasn't the first accident Joel had experienced in the early 2000s, and it wouldn't be his last either. Fortunately, even though the singer was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance and then airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, he recovered quickly and returned to his musical pursuits and daily life.Joel's crash is perhaps a fitting demonstration of the safety features packed into the S 500. The car utilizes ABS brakes and stability controls that automatically kick in when handling limits are surpassed. These automatic features likely slowed Joel's car significantly as he careened off the road. Similarly, the S 500 includes front and side-impact airbags as well as overhead airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners that all act in concert to secure the passengers in an optimal position to survive and recover from a collision. Safety isn't the only reason to drive a Mercedes, though. The S 500 was a luxury vehicle that used a 5-speed automatic transmission and a 5.0L V8 engine that produced 302 horsepower. Driving in luxury and style is a must for many celebrity personalities in the modern world, but mixing in the safety features required to protect the car's occupants is simply common sense thinking!