This morning while I was taking my two daughters and three other kids to school, a guy that was using his phone while driving crossed over into our lane and we hit him pretty much head on. His last minute slide kept us from hitting nose to nose and probably saved him a few broken bones. Luckily, the truck performed like a champ and none of us were seriously injured. My youngest daughter drew the short straw and was in the middle of the front seat without an airbag and with only a lap belt, so she hit the dash and got a cut over her eye, a swollen face and a big headache. Other than that it was just bumps and bruises and a lot of frayed nerves.
The guy in the other car definitely broke his nose cuz he looked like Ben Rothlesberger. I think he was ok other than being really freaked out about the whole thing, but they did take him to the hospital. Despite his stupidity for texting/phoning and driving, I kind of felt sorry for him. He was more freaked out than the kids. I'm sure I'd feel a lot different if one of the kids was hurt. Luckily, he didn't have a passenger or they'd probably be dead cuz I pretty much parked in his passenger seat.
I have to say that it was a very unique feeling to be coming around a turn with a guardrail on one side and an embankment on the other (i.e. no way out) and getting just a split second to realize you're about to hit somebody head-on at 40 mph. Even stranger was how soft the collision felt. I have to hand it to technology (and probably give a little credit for having a very large vehicle) because that truck absorbed everything and kept us all safe. Even the firemen were amazed at how little the passenger compartment compacted despite all the damage right in front of it. Scary stuff, but a great day considering everybody walked away.
Probably the most entertaining part was when they tried to separate the cars and the WakeWorld rig would not release its prey. It took them about 20 minutes to finally get them separated.
Oh, and my daughter was a hero at the high school because we shut down the road and half the school was way late, but had an excuse!
Long story on the sticker. I had to remove it for a special pass for getting in the express lane to go across the border because they don't allow "commercial" vehicles. I'm pretty sure the lady was just being a pain, so I kept meaning to put a new one on, but never got around to it. Now I'm glad I didn't wast the effort. Just like I'm happy about not cleaning off all the Big Bear mud from five weeks ago, fixing the crack in the windshield, replacing the burned out running light and fixing the fender my wife scraped up!
After looking at those pics... dude! I'm so glad everyone's okay. In my line of work I've seen far too many wrecks where people don't walk away. Seeing that sort of damage... wow.
It's weird how stuff happens. I drive them in the minivan every day, but last night I fell asleep on the couch before I put the trash out. So I ended up driving the truck in order to take the trash to the end of the driveway on my way to taking them to school. I don't even what to think about how the minivan would have done with that impact!
glad you and your family are safe and sound. So will the next WakeWorld Rig will be replaced with a another chevy? looks like the crash rating jut went up in my book after seeing the damage and you guys are all safe.
Good Lord! Glad you, and everyone else it OK. There was a fiery head on collision near my house this week where people weren't so lucky. It happened at highway speeds killing 3 and sending two others out on two life flights with burns over 60% of their bodies. The highway was shut down for 4.5 hours. YOU ARE LUCKY! A very good example of why I drive a full sized pickup! Just my opinion, people need to slow down, put the phones away while driving, and pay attention to the road.
Dang! That's 40mph? Any idea how fast the other guy was going? Cuz it definitely looks like a 100mph+ pile of twisted metal. Glad the Silverado kept your family safe. On a side note, is the Wakeworld Rig considered totaled or able to be repaired?
Holy Cow Dave:
That is a crazy collision. I am glad everyone appears to be ok. There will definitly be some sorenoess that creaps in ove rthe nex few days. Good thing you were in the truck and not something else. Our thought sand prayers are with you and the family.
Dang Dave, that fool got all the way in the other lane! Glad you guys are all safe.
I know that feeling of calm right before you hit. In HS I was riding shotgun as my dad was driving us home from snowboarding when we had a head on at approx 40mph. Same thing, big car wins! Still wanted to kill the idiot that tried to take my family out.
Truck is a total even from my house. Not repairable. Remember head on crashes you add the two speeds together. 40 + 40 is like hitting a tree that didnt move at 80, force wise.
Truck is a total even from my house. Not repairable. Remember head on crashes you add the two speeds together. 40 + 40 is like hitting a tree that didnt move at 80, force wise.
So on another side note: once the insurance, bumps, and bruises heel. what will you replace the Rig with??
Glad you're Ok Dave! I see a lot of these in my line of work and I'm always amazed why people are surprised I drive full size truck and SUV. Sometimes you just can't beat pure MASS when it really counts!
Good question, DC! I actually loved that truck! It has the 8.1 engine with the Allison transmission and can pull pretty much anything. However, now I'm wondering if I should downgrade the rig a bit to save gas. I still want a Silverado, 4WD, crew cab with an Allison transmission, but maybe I can get away with a smaller engine. I might even be able to live with a short bed, but I'm not sure about that one. I just started a new thread to get some engine advice at http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1668558.
Wow, crazy how somethings things just happen and nothing you can do about it. Glad you and the kids came out alright though! Idiots not paying attention infuriate me. No excuse for it.
I was in a head on a few years back but didn't have the luxury or seatbelts and whatnot. Was driving my '63 Falcon and a guy who worked at an repair shop test driving a customers car turned left in front of me at the last second. From 25-30 MPH I had about 20' to react. Cut left but would have gone into a car passing around him head on so cut back and plowed the side of his car. Just enough time to think "Oh crap this is gonna hurt." Everything went black on impact, came back in time to feel my face hit the steering wheel and it was lights out. Came to and managed to catch my teeth in my hand (hooray!), bleeding all out the back of my head from when I ragdolled into the roof above the back seat but landed behind the wheel (that ones a mystery). Knees were all messed up from them slamming into the dash and I couldn't walk (was trying to get out and kick some butt). I had ordered lap belts I was going to install that weekend (seatbelts weren't standard equipment in '63), but oh well. Was funny because it happened right in front of a police station and fire station. Talk about convenience!
Gasser for life...even though I actually test drove a diesel today! I couldn't pass up this deal. 2003 Ford F-350 (I can't get away from 1-tons) V10 with 25,000 miles on it. Not a scratch on it. I don't know how this guy kept it in this condition for eight years, but after test driving this, I was spoiled and everything else felt like a clunker. I used to have a 2000 F-350, so I guess I haven't come very far!
You're just making sure that the next time that happens (knock on wood that it doesnt) the outcome is going to be the same for you. Looks great though, get that thing whited out to match the Ghost!
Looks like you ended up with a nice upgrade on the truck. That thing is looking really good for being a 2003! Probably need a decent sized drop hitch for towing with that though.
Dave,
If you are going to be driving an F-350 then you are going to need a TLIFT system. It is by far the safest way to jack the F-250/F-350 up when changing a tire. All of my loggin trucks have them. I originally found out about these through the US Forest Service. Most US Forest Service trucks have these in their tool kits.
I actually changed the front tire on my boat trailer once by jacking up the rear of the truck using my Hi-Lift with the TLIFT, not ideal, but it got me home!
I saw that one last week. I tried to send it to my insurance company for a comp, but they said they wouldn't use it because it's one year different. Lame!
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