Was comming down the onramp to merge onto the highway when the lady in front of me almost came to a complete stop instead of accelerating to blend into the traffic. I tapped my brakes and the back end started to come around. No biggie, been here before. I just took her over slightly in to the iceberm, since shooting out across the hyway sideways was not something I was prepaired to do. As my passinger-side front wheel ever-so-slightly touched the iceberm, the tire dug in deep, wemt a small ways, and then the truck snapped around and slammed drivers-side FLAT against the iceberm, that turned out to be a not-so-soft iceberm, but a rock-soild ice WALL. I hit the wall flat-sidded so hard on the drivers side, that the truck the trucks two passengers-side wheels came up off the ground, to the point of the truck laying oh it's side on top of the icewall. The tail of the truck dug in, an the truck went nose-high pirouetting around, and slamed flat-down on the two front tires, now facing in the right direction. Still running, with the airbag light on, but no airbag. I guess I got the model with "just the light".
Besides the bodywork, some of the steering linkage is bent up underneath, the bed (or frame?) is twisted, the rearend looks like it's been bent and/or pushed sideways, the locks are ripped off of the tailgate, 3 rims and tires are shot, the automatic coulum stick don't want to go into park, drive, etc., & the key don't want to come out, so that is either a bent frame, trans mount, or shift linkage. I hit a solid icewall reallly, really hard. It ALLMOST flipped. I got slammed around inside the cab pretty good, DISPITE wearing a seat belt, WHICH I ALWAYS DO!
I'm REALLY sore allover, but i'm alive, and no one else got hurt. For what it is, it is the BEST of all possable curcumstances. It's JUST a machine. I've had others. I'll get more. That's what insurance is for.
This Is The Point Of Pirouetting:
Twisted Bed Or Frame:
This Is Where I Went Up On My Side Just Before Pirouetting:
And This Is The Mark It Made On Top Of The Ice Wall:
The insurance guy comes out tomorrow. But they said they will probibly total it, as it is a '96 with 120,000 miles on it. Probibly going to try to only give me $2,500, although bluebook in my estimation is $3,500. I got a good deal on it 4 years ago for $5,000, when it bluebooked at $6,300. I guess we will see...............
------------------ "I have never seen a greater monster or miracle then myself." ~Montaigne~ 1533-1592 "Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal." ~Albert Einstein~ 1879-1955 "They speak of my drinking, but never my thirst." ~Scottish Proverb~
My 11 year old daughter said "DANG! What ate his tire?" After looking at the rest of the photos, she's "Dang time three!"
Really glad you're OK, and taking this philosophically. That was a nice truck, we'll all miss it. I've had worse accidents, they're never fun. Hope it works out well for you.
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05:22 PM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
That's a shame. Looks like a nice truck. I'm glad you're ok, Bonnie.
I just HAD to quote that before you edited it.
Glad to hear you are ok, Boonie.
I'm still waiting for my 1st big one, tho the trip out thru the pine trees with a truck and 18 ft trailer about 15 years ago was pretty scary. My worst one tho, involved an F150 at about 50 mph and a big cow . Cow won--and it walked off into the fog too.
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05:57 PM
pokeyfiero Member
Posts: 16189 From: Free America! Registered: Dec 2003
Maybe you could tell them you will take the money and not fight it if they let you keep the truck. A little work and it won't look to bad and besides trucks look better when they have a little personality beat into them!
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06:00 PM
Toddster Member
Posts: 20871 From: Roswell, Georgia Registered: May 2001
did you ever find out what happened to the car that caused the accident?
I guess she just kept right on going. The insurance said it don't matter, anyway. It was my fault. I didn't have my car under control. Anyone can slam on their brakes anytime they want, at any speed. If you hit them, you were too close, or going to fast. Case closed.
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06:19 PM
PFF
System Bot
Boondawg Member
Posts: 38235 From: Displaced Alaskan Registered: Jun 2003
Maybe you could tell them you will take the money and not fight it if they let you keep the truck. A little work and it won't look to bad and besides trucks look better when they have a little personality beat into them!
THey often will just let you buy it for a couple hundred. Problem is the title is converted to salvage ( at least here )
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06:28 PM
Boondawg Member
Posts: 38235 From: Displaced Alaskan Registered: Jun 2003
THey often will just let you buy it for a couple hundred. Problem is the title is converted to salvage ( at least here )
Same here.
------------------ "I have never seen a greater monster or miracle then myself." ~Montaigne~ 1533-1592 "Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal." ~Albert Einstein~ 1879-1955 "They speak of my drinking, but never my thirst." ~Scottish Proverb~
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06:32 PM
Raydar Member
Posts: 40730 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
A big ol' prybar and that'l buff right out. You know someone had to say it?
------------------ Ol' Paint, 88 Base coupe auto. Turning white on top, like owner. Leaks a little, like owner. Doesn't smoke....... OK, we're trying to quit.
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07:37 PM
SCCAFiero Member
Posts: 1144 From: Boca Raton, Fl USA Registered: Apr 2006
The hit was hard enough to wake up the airbag module but not hard enough to deploy the bags. Either that or there was something wrong with the system. Either way they probably should not have gone off based on the location and direction of damage.
Glad you're ok.
By the way, statistically the average guy has a "big" wreck every 20 years, so you are doing fine there.
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07:37 PM
Patrick Member
Posts: 36442 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
Lived and drove around Anchorage for 3 years back in the 90's. Glad to hear that snow wall didn't total you. (Another month and you'd be hitting a slush mound. Remember, timing is everything.)
Seriously though, I'm glad to hear you're okay.
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08:02 PM
LZeitgeist Member
Posts: 5662 From: Raleigh, NC, U.S.A. Registered: Dec 2000
Glad you are ok and that no one else was hurt. Note to self .... Stay away from red Dodge pick ups.
quote
Originally posted by Boondawg:
This Is The Point Of Pirouetting:
Twisted Bed Or Frame:
This Is Where I Went Up On My Side Just Before Pirouetting:
quote
Originally posted by Boondawg: The insurance guy comes out tomorrow. But they said they will probibly total it, as it is a '96 with 120,000 miles on it. Probibly going to try to only give me $2,500, although bluebook in my estimation is $3,500. I got a good deal on it 4 years ago for $5,000, when it bluebooked at $6,300. I guess we will see...............
Dang, what a hit. I totaled my 99 Tacoma in 05, I got $12,000.00. Paid $18,000.00 in 01.
I have to say I think it is those overly defensive drivers out there that are the main problem, that is not the generally accepted thought, but it is mine.
Probably said best above. Be safe out there, there is always a block of ice or a set of tail lights with your name on it. 
