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Last night I flew in from Denver after helping at the EnRoute workshop there. I had parked my truck in the long term parking as always, well to the rear of the massive lot where there were fewer cars. Chances of getting a door ding were less there - or so I thought.
As the bus rounded the curve I saw four or five police cars, lights blazing, in the vicinity of my truck. I knew something was up and with that police presence figured I may be delayed getting to my vehicle. I figured it was a drug bust or something similar. I knew it was serious for someone. No big deal for me - even though it was really late.
I approached my vehicle and noticed it was parked diagonally... weird for I had parked straight in to my spot three days previous. Then I noticed the five cars next to me were also parked diagonally and pushed together rather hard along with my truck. As I approached a police officer intercepted me and I had to identify my truck before they let me approach. As I got around the rear of the scene I could see a mid sized car was wedged against the rear of the vehicles. This was serious after all.
Apparently his gas pedal had jammed and he had built up quite a speed before he used our vehicles to stop his vehicle. On closer inspection I could see our six vehicles had also been shoved forward into the vehicles in front of us.
Amazingly the driver and the passenger of the runaway vehicle were not hurt at all. The vehicles didn't fare nearly so well.
My truck has damage to all four sides with the rear being totally demolished. The rear bumper, tailgate and hitch assembly were laying on the ground. The box was rather twisted and crushed and the frame looked rather bent to me. My vehicle was the first one hit. Time will tell whether the vehicle is repairable.
The police let me gather my things from the truck and I hitched a ride back to the airport. Since it was late Saturday night (almost midnight) there was little to be done. I certainly was't driving my truck home. Janis made the hour and a half drive (one way) to fetch me from the airport.
Tomorrow we'll begin the process of figuring out what happens from here. The truck may be written off or they may decide it can be repaired - it's not my decision.
Thankfully no one was hurt. The other vehicles will be repaired or replaced as needed. Life goes on.
After I got over the initial shock of the situation it dawned on me just how bazaar and freakish the accident had been. If I had been fifteen or twenty minutes earlier back to my truck I could have easily been wedged between the cars instead of simply having an unusual story to tell and a slight inconvenience for a few days.
Life is good!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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My truck is (was) a 2006 Dodge Dakota four door, 2WD with the full load package. It has a large V-8 for towing. It only has 80,000 km (50,000 miles) on it. Janis has an identical truck. If it is totaled we will transfer Janis' truck to the company and we'll buy her a new, smaller, more economical car to drive as we no longer need two trucks. That was (is) the long term plan. Now it may be moved up a little.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Glad to hear that nobody was injured physically!!
quote:The truck may be written off or they may decide it can be repaired - it's not my decision.
Actually it IS your decision. If you feel uncomfortable with having a damaged vehicle repaired, then you have the right to have a cheque issued in the amount of the damage and still keep the vehicle, which you can then trade in for a new vehicle.
Been there and done that. It works.
Once had a one month old car totally hailed on. Insurance wanted to repair. I said NO. Got a cheque and the car and traded the damaged car and cheque for a new one.
Your call though Dan.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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So it IS a little squiggly now. Geez Dan, just glad you weren't a little earlier and standing behind your truck putting your luggage in the trunk. Close call actually. Glad you and the driver are okay.
-------------------- Deri Russell Wildwood Signs Hanover, Ontario
You're just jealous 'cause the little voices only talk to me. Posts: 1904 | From: Hanover, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Dec 1998
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Actually I was wondering if Dan's directional challenge may have held him up for a few minutes, could it be that saved his life? Glad you're okay Bud! Makes you think doesn't it.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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I had an appointment with the adjuster this morning... turns out the 'other guy' didn't have insurance. Luckily I had paid a little more money for 'underinsured protection' as we always do. As things became clear in my appointment this morning I became fully aware the fee for that added protection was a little money well spent.
Because of the holiday this week it may well be into next week before we find out if my truck is repairable. In the meantime I'll be driving a rented little import car and using Janis' truck when I need to tow the trailer or fetch some supplies... again no big deal. I'll have to spend a few hours sorting out the mess, but then again I'll also have some great stories to add to my collection.
In retrospect I realize my troubles are relatively minor - especially compared to the dude who caused the havoc. He's now personally on the hook for what I would estimate could be a hundred thousand dollars of damages or more... and the charges and fines that go along with that.
Keep your insurance up to date... and pay that little bit more for underinsured protection. It could save you a lot of grief in the long run.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Here in So. California ... it is very foolish NOT to have uninsured motorist on your policy. The area is full of illegals who don't have insurance, and if they get into an accident, they run back across the border.
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8827 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Does anybody have insurance? Jeanne has been involved in two accidents (not her fault) and both times it totaled her car (Mazda 626 and Nissan Maxima). Neither time did the other driver have insurance. One didn't even have a driver's license.
Luckily, State Farm replaced both cars and paid for a short stay in the hospital (broken breast bone). We even got our deductible back.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I was out on the road today and my curiosity got the best of me. I jammed down my accelerator to the floor and then reached for the ignition key. Switching it off instantly stopped my acceleration and slowed my car. I then braked to a stop. Steering was a little more difficult without power assist but still manageable. My second experiment was to simply kick the gear selector to neutral and I got the same result although the engine did roar a bit with no load. I had no loss of steering or braking.
I decided I wouldn't try what the fellow above did and try and slow my vehicle by taking out some parked cars. I think that would be an option I would be reluctant to use - especially if I had no insurance.
It makes me wonder what he was thinking...
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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It's time to turn the page once more... the truck is a write off. It turns out the frame now resembles a pretzel (adjuster's words) and the rear axle was broken in half. The driver's side was totally crushed - something I couldn't see from where I was standing.
It's just a good thing I wasn't between the vehicles when he came by !
I now am the proud owner of Janis' almost identical truck and we go car shopping tomorrow for her.
Life goes on.
-grampa dan
[ November 11, 2010, 12:18 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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congrats, Janis! (delighted it worked out as well as it did, safely!)
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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So glad you weren't around when the accident happened. Glad things worked out like they did!
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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