It is a misrepresentation comparing Aircraft accident to a car on a hard shoulder.
OK, pulling over onto the hard shoulder, skidding on oil and hitting the barrier - still would not make the news.
They might be happy to have walked away, but for a precautionary landing I would hope to be flying the aircraft out when the weather picks up (been there, got the Tshirt!), the fields might look much the same at height, but a low fly past first should show most problems, certainly what I teach and something we can do that the glider pilots do not have available!