cruiser100
Comfortably Numb
March 16, 2017, 8:28am
I was headed to work, turning left at a light (I had the green) off a two lane road onto a five lane highway (four travel lanes and a turn lane). I was the third vehicle to turn and about 2 to 3 car lengths behind the vehicle in front of me. Three of the four travel lanes had cars stopped at them as I proceeded through the intersection. As my view cleared to my left I saw a white SUV barreling toward me in the lane next to the turn lane - I knew I was screwed - "f**k" was the last thing I said before impact. I woke up to smoke in the cabin, airbags that had gone off, and a drivers door that wouldn't open. I'm not sure how I got the door open, but it was enough for me to slip through and fall onto the pavement...
Both me and the other driver, a 20 something female, went to the ER and we ended up in rooms next to each other. My wife spoke with her for a few minutes and said she was very apologetic. I found out via the police report that she was driving a 2016 Jeep Patriot, well, what used to be a Jeep Patriot. I remember seeing pieces of it all over the road as it rested about 100 feet away down a small embankment. Thankfully, neither of us sustained life threatening injuries, but I may have some long-term/permanent issues to deal with. AI did find out that she fractured her wrist.
The lady did admit to the police that she ran the light, said she didn't see it. I'm glad I was the only one in the truck...
My girl (the truck) did a damn good job protecting me considering how hard she was hit. Unofficial estimate was 40-45mph.
Some close-ups of the carnage:
Notice the sheared axle, snapped shock, lower control arm ripped from it's mount, and the top of the spindle in embedded in the tire - among other things.
Front on pic showing how bad the frame is bent. ARB bumper was shifted over about 3 inches and creased in two places. Front cross member is bent and the weld seam for the upper control arm mount is cracked on the passenger side. Drivers door doesn't shut and all kinds of other parts are busted up.
She was a great ride and the whole family enjoyed the hell out of her for 10+ years. Now on to the next project:
I was headed to work, turning left at a light (I had the green) off a two lane road onto a five lane highway (four travel lanes and a turn lane). I was the third vehicle to turn and about 2 to 3 car lengths behind the vehicle in front of me. Three of the four travel lanes had cars stopped at them as I proceeded through the intersection. As my view cleared to my left I saw a white SUV barreling toward me in the lane next to the turn lane - I knew I was screwed - "f**k" was the last thing I said before impact. I woke up to smoke in the cabin, airbags that had gone off, and a drivers door that wouldn't open. I'm not sure how I got the door open, but it was enough for me to slip through and fall onto the pavement...
Both me and the other driver, a 20 something female, went to the ER and we ended up in rooms next to each other. My wife spoke with her for a few minutes and said she was very apologetic. I found out via the police report that she was driving a 2016 Jeep Patriot, well, what used to be a Jeep Patriot. I remember seeing pieces of it all over the road as it rested about 100 feet away down a small embankment. Thankfully, neither of us sustained life threatening injuries, but I may have some long-term/permanent issues to deal with. AI did find out that she fractured her wrist.
The lady did admit to the police that she ran the light, said she didn't see it. I'm glad I was the only one in the truck...
My girl (the truck) did a damn good job protecting me considering how hard she was hit. Unofficial estimate was 40-45mph.
Some close-ups of the carnage:
Notice the sheared axle, snapped shock, lower control arm ripped from it's mount, and the top of the spindle in embedded in the tire - among other things.
Front on pic showing how bad the frame is bent. ARB bumper was shifted over about 3 inches and creased in two places. Front cross member is bent and the weld seam for the upper control arm mount is cracked on the passenger side. Drivers door doesn't shut and all kinds of other parts are busted up.
She was a great ride and the whole family enjoyed the hell out of her for 10+ years. Now on to the next project:
