On Tuesday, July 23, the driver of an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile lost control of their wurst on wheels and collided with another car.

The Frankmobile driver, or “Hotdogger,” is likely a recent college grad. They were on I-294 in Chicago when they overcorrected and hit the other vehicle. The iconic sausage ended up flipping on its side. A flatbed was recorded towing the Wienermobile away.

I noticed this particular Frankmobile looked comically more compact than the versions I grew up watching cruise around the country. It turns out that this is a “Little Smokie” mounted on a Mini Cooper S hardtop.

The most recognized modern Wienermobile is 27 feet long and weighs 14,000 lbs. They’re built on a GMC or RAM truck chassis. The Mini Cooper S version was released in 2008 to commemorate Oscar Mayer’s 125th anniversary.

“Frankly,” I’m surprised the Mini Smokie is still around, considering the reliability issues plaguing the Gen 1 New Mini (2002-2008).

CBS Mornings reported that in 2023, more than 2,000 applicants vied for “Hotdogger” roles. The drivers are brand ambassadors on a one-year assignment. According to the Hotdogger job description, the roles are reserved for recent college grads who will hit the road promoting Oscar Mayer at various special events.