Alright folks, now that all the dust has settled, it's time I shared my December 2022 accident.
TLDR: I hit an abandoned vehicle in the Peachpass lane (no lights) at 80 mph and broke TF out of my arm. Lexus LX570 saved my life.
On December 14, 2022, I was driving to work just before 6 am. For the most part, I have a reverse commute. And if I leave early enough, I don't hit hardly any traffic. Still, I would ride the in the Peachpass lane just in case there was an accident (ha - joke's on me!). Like most days, I had cruise control set at 80 mph. I was near the Suglarloaf Parkway exit when I hit something - I never saw it before impact. It felt like I hit a wall. I had no idea what I hit.
At no point did I lose consciousness. I remember almost every detail. It felt like slow motion. Upon impact, I recall being elevated in my seat, held by my seatbelt, until the LX came to a stop. I remember a BUNCH airbags deploying. I'm sure it was only a second or 2, but from the point of impact until the vehicle came to a stop was, dare I say, comfortable. Except for my arm.
I'm not sure how it happened. I suspect it was a combination of me holding the steering wheel with my left hand, bracing myself upon impact, and the steering wheel airbag pushing my arm out. And my wrist hitting the grab bar on the A-piller. Whatever it was, my arm broke. Both the radius and ulna. I felt this IMMEDIATELY. Felt like my arm was on fire. I was wearing a jacket, so I couldn't see it. But it was like I had 2 elbows.
After coming to a stop, it smelled funny (I guess the airbags?). I knew I had to get the heck out of there. I flopped out of the passenger side, look up, and a man wearing a high vis long-sleeved green shirt was standing there and helped me to the side of the road. I immediately realized I had nothing on me. No wallet, no phone. Everything was in the my LX. So I went back in. Grabbed my phone which was still in the mount (details on my RAM Mount setup can be seen here A-Pillar Phone Mount | IH8MUD Forum). Grabbed my wallet from the center consul. And my backpack with my work laptop from behind the passenger seat (it was completely undamaged!). I limped back to the side of the road and laid down. I then snapped this photo and sent it to my wife.
I told her I just got in a car accident and pretty sure I broke my arm. Waiting on ambulance. She didn't believe me at first. It probably only took 10 or 15 min, but it felt like an eternity. The State Trooper stayed by me until the ambulance arrived. Up to this point, I still had no idea what I hit. I asked him and he said it was an abandoned vehicle.
I load myself onto the stretcher, and at this point, the adrenaline is starting to wear off. Hands down the most excruciating pain I've felt in my 40 years on this rock. The paramedics cut my shirt and pants and seem surprised that other than my left arm, I'm completely fine. They put my arm in a splint. That was AWFUL. Once the pain subsided slightly, I try to lighten the mood with a joke. I asked the paramedic "who do I look like??" No response, this guy was laser focused on taking care of me (as he should have been!). I said "Lou Ferrigno!" (my shirt was gone and my pants were shredded. I really did look like the Hulk! Attire-wise, anyway) No reaction lol. In hindsight, they probably thought I was drunk.
I get to the hospital and my wife meets me. They took x-rays and confirmed the breaks. Because the ulna pierced my skin, they said there's an increased risk for infection. I was rushed into surgery and was under the knife around noon. Post op experience was terrible. Lots of pain, they couldn't seem to keep at bay. My dad was able to stay with me, which was super helpful and much appreciated. We left the next day. Here's the bodily damage:
TLDR: I hit an abandoned vehicle in the Peachpass lane (no lights) at 80 mph and broke TF out of my arm. Lexus LX570 saved my life.
On December 14, 2022, I was driving to work just before 6 am. For the most part, I have a reverse commute. And if I leave early enough, I don't hit hardly any traffic. Still, I would ride the in the Peachpass lane just in case there was an accident (ha - joke's on me!). Like most days, I had cruise control set at 80 mph. I was near the Suglarloaf Parkway exit when I hit something - I never saw it before impact. It felt like I hit a wall. I had no idea what I hit.
At no point did I lose consciousness. I remember almost every detail. It felt like slow motion. Upon impact, I recall being elevated in my seat, held by my seatbelt, until the LX came to a stop. I remember a BUNCH airbags deploying. I'm sure it was only a second or 2, but from the point of impact until the vehicle came to a stop was, dare I say, comfortable. Except for my arm.
I'm not sure how it happened. I suspect it was a combination of me holding the steering wheel with my left hand, bracing myself upon impact, and the steering wheel airbag pushing my arm out. And my wrist hitting the grab bar on the A-piller. Whatever it was, my arm broke. Both the radius and ulna. I felt this IMMEDIATELY. Felt like my arm was on fire. I was wearing a jacket, so I couldn't see it. But it was like I had 2 elbows.
After coming to a stop, it smelled funny (I guess the airbags?). I knew I had to get the heck out of there. I flopped out of the passenger side, look up, and a man wearing a high vis long-sleeved green shirt was standing there and helped me to the side of the road. I immediately realized I had nothing on me. No wallet, no phone. Everything was in the my LX. So I went back in. Grabbed my phone which was still in the mount (details on my RAM Mount setup can be seen here A-Pillar Phone Mount | IH8MUD Forum). Grabbed my wallet from the center consul. And my backpack with my work laptop from behind the passenger seat (it was completely undamaged!). I limped back to the side of the road and laid down. I then snapped this photo and sent it to my wife.
I told her I just got in a car accident and pretty sure I broke my arm. Waiting on ambulance. She didn't believe me at first. It probably only took 10 or 15 min, but it felt like an eternity. The State Trooper stayed by me until the ambulance arrived. Up to this point, I still had no idea what I hit. I asked him and he said it was an abandoned vehicle.
I load myself onto the stretcher, and at this point, the adrenaline is starting to wear off. Hands down the most excruciating pain I've felt in my 40 years on this rock. The paramedics cut my shirt and pants and seem surprised that other than my left arm, I'm completely fine. They put my arm in a splint. That was AWFUL. Once the pain subsided slightly, I try to lighten the mood with a joke. I asked the paramedic "who do I look like??" No response, this guy was laser focused on taking care of me (as he should have been!). I said "Lou Ferrigno!" (my shirt was gone and my pants were shredded. I really did look like the Hulk! Attire-wise, anyway) No reaction lol. In hindsight, they probably thought I was drunk.
I get to the hospital and my wife meets me. They took x-rays and confirmed the breaks. Because the ulna pierced my skin, they said there's an increased risk for infection. I was rushed into surgery and was under the knife around noon. Post op experience was terrible. Lots of pain, they couldn't seem to keep at bay. My dad was able to stay with me, which was super helpful and much appreciated. We left the next day. Here's the bodily damage:
Last edited:
