An abrupt end to our camping season

[xaugievike]

Well....I should be sitting by a campfire enjoying some nice fall weather right now. We were going to try and take advantage of a 3-day weekend and get one last trip in for the 2013 season. Unfortunately, a drunk driver had other plans. (Me on the left)



I had just picked my daughter up from school and we were but 1/4 mile from home and hooking up when the oncoming vehicle began swerving wildly from curb to curb. I saw it coming but really had nowhere to go. I got myself slowed nearly completely and just took it in the nose.

Fortunately and thankfully my daughter and I were completely unharmed -obviously that's the most important thing....the truck can be fixed/replaced, and we will have more fun trips as a family soon.....

But I'm just sitting here stewing about having the weekend taken from us. Huge thanks to the firemen, paramedics, and police out there that read this. Your brothers that arrived to help us were friendly, helpful, and professional.

So to the rest of you out there.....post up some trip photos when you get back! Show me some good times!

Have fun out there and be safe everyone.

[Go_Dogs]

I have learned that bad things WILL happen to bad people. It may not as fast as we would like, but 'Someone' else will take care of it.
Take care of yourself, and trust that justice will ultimately be served.

[OH48Lt]

Glad you all didn't get hurt, that's the main thing.

A year and a half ago I had just purchased a new Ford Focus, had it for less than a month, and got hit by a drunk driver on a country road. I swerved to avoid him and avoided a head-on crash, but he still managed to side-swipe me and rip off the drivers side mirror and do other minor damage. This was at 12 noon. Then he TAKES OFF !! Oh no, you aren't getting away that easy.... I follow him, all the while talking to 911 on the phone. The cops finally stop him 3-4 miles away. He's high as a kite, his drivers license is suspended for about 20 years after forever, no insurance of course. Many Many previous DUI convictions. To top it off, I was the third car he hit between 11 AM and 12 noon, he fled from all of them. My insurance paid all but the $250 deductible of the $1800 damage. I filed a claim with Ohio BMV, which blocks him from ever getting a drivers license or license plates until he pays me, but he doesn't care about that. He managed to get another car, I think it was in his sisters name. Somehow the windshield got broken on that car one dark night, and both taillights busted.....

Wanna know the worst of it? He blew off the court, went warrant, and 9 months later he was arrested. The prosecutor dismissed the DUI, he pleaded to a Leaving the Scene, and he walked. No jail time, 1 year probation, fine was $400-something. Unbelievable.

There, I feel better now.

[Dtaylor]

Glad you guys are ok. I would have probably been mad enough at his stupidity I would have commenced to whipping some a$$. I do not tolerate stupid very well as it never ends without someone getting hurt

[BobsYourUncle]

xaugievike wrote:

Front is punched pretty good, but fenders look fine, panel gaps are normal. Definitely torched I think the tranny cooler (front-most piece in front of the radiator). May have also punched the radiator too. Coolant was everywhere. There's a lot up there though, we will see I guess.

Your truck is pretty much the same up front as mine, aside from the GMC / Chevy difference.

Here is a picture of mine with the front end off of it.



You can see the trans cooler at the bottom front.
The next radiator you see there is the intercooler rad.
Then if you look behind that one you can see the engine radiator.

Mine got a new intercooler rad and rad support but the other two were ok.

[Dakzuki]

Actually that was a very good learning moment for your daughter.

A) She has now experienced a wreck and will be more prepared next time....unfortunately there likely will be a next time.

B) She now knows the dangers of driving drunk by personal experience.

Glad nobody was hurt. Hopefully the perp will learn her lesson but it's too often not the case. Hope everything works out for you.

[crickeydog]

Crickeydog wrote:If we're ever hit by a drunk driver, I swear I'll spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to make the drunk driver's life totally miserable and to pay, and pay, and pay some more in restitution. Heaven help the drunk/impaired driver who hits us and totals our truck or causes injury or death. The world won't be small enough for that person.

Crowe wrote: Then you will spend the rest of your life a miserable, bitter, angry person. I am in no way, shape or form justifying drunk driving. In my eyes it's premeditated murder. Life's too short to spend it trying to get revenge.

Crowe, I appreciate your thoughts. But, I'll be a most happy happy happy person in making the DUI driver miserable for life that ever hits us.

To the OP: Keep us informed on your truck repairs and some pic's afterwards. Hope you get a happy ending to this sorry mess. And I sincerely hope she (DUI Driver) gets hers...for a long, long, very long time to come.

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

[FunnyCamper]

wow. that is all horrible. glad everyone is fine. stuff happens 🙂 we hate it, but it sure happens.

[Desert_Captain]

Even if the insurance (hopefully hers), repairs your vehicle "good as new" it has taken a serious hit in value. You are entitled to compensation for the diminished value. Two identical vehicles, one having been in a wreck, as Car Fax etc will clearly show, have a huge difference in value. Insurance companies don't like to hear it but they owe you big time above and beyond the cost of repairs. If you let it slide you will take a big financial hit down the road when it is time to sell or trade. Talk to a lawyer before settling anything. Good Luck. :C

[sele]

So glad you and yours are ok. Life can't be replaced objects can.

[JEBar]

xaugievike wrote:
Yes they arrested.....her.......on the spot after she tried to kick one of the paramedics.

not a good way to win friends and influence people .... there is little doubt that her actions will come back to haunt her when court time rolls around

Jim

[xaugievike]

Fortunately she is insured it appears.....so that's good.

Curious to hear about my truck (which, by the way, fared WAY better than her half-ton did).... Front is punched pretty good, but fenders look fine, panel gaps are normal. Definitely torched I think the tranny cooler (front-most piece in front of the radiator). May have also punched the radiator too. Coolant was everywhere. There's a lot up there though, we will see I guess.

[Crowe]

Glad you are OK. You are right-the truck can be replaced. It's too bad that there doesn't seem to be any rentals available that are set up for towing. Stinks that your weekend was ruined but considering what might have been just consider yourself lucky.

If we're ever hit by a drunk driver, I swear I'll spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to make the drunk driver's life totally miserable and to pay, and pay, and pay some more in restitution. Heaven help the drunk/impaired driver who hits us and totals our truck or causes injury or death. The world won't be small enough for that person.

Then you will spend the rest of your life a miserable, bitter, angry person. I am in no way, shape or form justifying drunk driving. In my eyes it's premeditated murder. Having just had a car totaled by someone who ran a stop sign I can understand the anger that can be felt. Life's too short to spend it trying to get revenge. I will once again quote Carrie Fisher:

"Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."

No amount of revenge or money can ever change what happened or bring anyone back. Punishment yes, getting even-waste of precious time.

Yesterday morning I was the victim of a very serious case of road rage. Bad enough that the local PD went to the guys house and "spoke to him". I could have pressed charges but it meant potential multiple court appearances, he said/she said scenarios, lots of legal fees, etc., for something I might not win. Same as the accident that totaled my car. Completely the other person's fault, I was injured, could have sued and maybe gotten something. I've chosen to get over it and move on. I have better things to do with my time. Karma will catch up.

My airbags didn't go off either even though the impact was primarily the right front corner. Maybe they need a certain hit for them to deploy - I don't know.

Mine never deployed, either. Has to be mostly head-on for them to deploy, and you must be going a certain speed for them to deploy. If you weren't injured, you are better off with them NOT deploying.

[BobsYourUncle]

Wow! That's a real "Deja Vu" for me. 😞

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. Bummer......

In 6 days it will be one year ago that I got hit by a drunk driver. I can sure feel your pain with having your truck smashed like that.
But like others have said, thank God you were ok. Thats the most important thing.

The repair bill on my truck came in at just under $20,000. Eek! But they did a fantastic job of fixing it and I cannot tell it was nearly totaled.

My airbags didn't go off either even though the impact was primarily the right front corner. Maybe they need a certain hit for them to deploy - I don't know.

Yours can be fixed so it will be good as new too! Mine was.

[Trlrboy]

Glad you and the kiddo are OK but on the bright side, we've never actually seen two Chevys kissing like that.

[noe-place]

Looking forward to finding out if she even had insurance and it repairs your truck.