My weekend crash and another late contest.

[andromedaslove]

Seriously..... yesterday morning about 7:30am I was driving down 95 to go to the rail trail for a 6 mile run. I should have just stayed my behind in bed, but since there was no thunder or lightning I guilted myself into getting out and running anyway. Right at the overpass for the international airport going about 70 mph (the speed limit) my tahoe started hydroplaning and I couldn't keep it under control. The car started spinning, and I hit the guardrail with the passenger side of my front, facing the opposite direction in South bound traffic. Then my rear somehow swung around and smashed the guardrail too. Finally I came to a stop with my front end facing the guard rail and my rear end sitting in oncoming traffic. Thankfully, I am ok, the kids were at home with their dad, and no one got hurt. Because it is a Chevy I had OnStar and I was able to call for help, my cell phone got lost in the crash. (I have found it since) Unfortunately, I am really afraid they are going to total my car. Every door is jammed (even the drivers side) and I am afraid I have bent the frame.

I wanted to show you guys some pictures and explain that I will probably be a day or two late on the photo contest while I get some insurance and car stuff taken care of. Along with resting my neck which seems to be the only part of me that hurts.

Dana

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm glad you didn't get seriously hurt. Don't worry about the contests, just take care of yourself. Let us know if there's anything we can do.

 

[Gdad]

Yikes! Glad to hear you got thru that with what sounds like minor injuries. Take care of yourself.

 

[sk8belle]

Just glad you are OK and in one piece.

 

[AndrewWG]

Dana,

That must have been a very scary experience. Don't worry about us. Just get your stuff taken care of and rest that neck. Glad to hear that noone got seriously injured.

Take Care.

Andy

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Scary. Sounds like an E-ticket ride and then some. I'm glad you're OK. Another good reminder (like anyone needs one) to always wear your seatbelt.

It's really flat where I live and we get heavy rains. I was driving my Civic about 20 years ago when it decided that it was time to change lanes without consulting me. Fortunately, no one was there. Ever since then, I've made wet road traction and rain channeling major factors in tire selection.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Good to hear you are mostly good for wear, Dana. Such a bummer. You can feel so helpless when going through that. Good wishes your aches feel better soon and for goodness sake, do not concern yourself with the photo stuff.

 

[MICKEY88]

I agree with the others, take care of yourself,


glad you weren't seriously injured, see a dr. whiplash is serious business...



don't worry about the contest, I think everyone will understand,,

 

[jann1033]

wikes! feel better soon

 

[boBQuincy]

At least you are ok for the most part. Tahoes can be repaired or replaced, good Disboard Photo group people can not!

Hydroplaning is scary! Like Mark, after one incident years ago I am very particular about what tires I buy now.

Hope your neck feels better soon,


boB

 

[Groucho]

Mark beat me to it, that's a good reminder of why to always wear your seatbelt. Glad you're OK!

Tires are critically important parts of the car that usually go overlooked. Most tires are designed to be jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none. Or, they're designed for long life - which is like megapixels on a digicam, it sounds good on paper but generally, tires last longer by being made from harder rubber that doesn't stick to the road very well. I like a nice soft rubber on my tires, and running pure summer tires in the summer and winter tires in the snow (if you're in a snowy area) makes an enormous difference, too.

But beyond the type of tire, there's still a lot more. If your tires are worn, you're a lot more likely to aquaplane. The wider your tires are (and SUVs usually have fairly large tires), the more likely they are to aquaplane. AWD or FWD don't help keep you from aquaplaning (though they can help get you back under control.) And, of course, aquaplaning danger goes up as your speeds rise.

Going under an overpass can be a little more dangerous, depending on how they're laid out (I have no idea about that place), if the road dips down, since the water will accumulate. Most roads are "crowned" which means that they're high in the middle and slope off to the edges, to help the water run off the road, so anywhere the road isn't crowned can be much more of an aquaplaning danger.

Your car doesn't look that bad in the photos but it's hard to tell. Having the car totalled is not necessarily a bad thing, few repair shops ever get the car back to 100%, and it may affect resale value, since anyone could look it up on Carfax and see that it was in a bad accident. If they do repair it, make sure they use genuine manufacturer body parts, not cheap replacements.

 

[garris3404]

I'm glad you're OK! Best wishes for getting your car fixed/replaced. Take care of yourself. Thanks for all you do!

 

[PhotobearSam]

OMG, that must have been scary I am happy that you are ok. How awful for you and what a headache to now have to deal with the insurance and stuff.


Glad you're ok...

 

[cazzie]

Scary stuff, I'm glad to hear you are ok. Hope your neck starts to feel better soon.

 

[Amy]

Yikes! Glad to hear you weren't seriously injured. Take care of yourself; the photo contest should be the least of your worries right now.

 

[Master Mason]

I'm glad your ok, as was said, get the neck looked at quickly. The car is just a machine to get you from one place to the other, it is the person driving it that is important.

 

[YEKCIM]

Glad you walked away from that one; from your description, it sounds like it could easily have been LOTS worse. Don't worry about the contest(s). Very small potatoes, compared to getting your life put back together. We can wait! And, while I'm at it, please accept my sincere thanks for all the work you do, making the contests happen each week.

~Ed

 

[Sha]

I hope you are ok! that is frightful. I had an accident coming up on 2 years ago. Neck whipped a little more to the left... watch for numbness and tingling, and any weakness... may happen slowly. Praying for the best though... with that wonderful rain we got, it was going to cause more accidents with the tar/oil that had built up on the road and made it so much slicker. Car is getting checked before I run up to Jamestown next week. Tires are due for a change too. Take care of yourself and rest!

thanks for all you do on here.... i enjoy it a lot.

 

[klmall]

Sounds so scary!!! So glad you came through relatively unscathed; cars are replaceable but humans aren't! Similar thing happened to me many years ago when I was pregnant driving to work and I vowed never to risk my life for my job - a vow I have diligently kept!

Rest and take care of yourself!

 

[Ratpack]

Glad you are OK, I am sure no one here will mind the contest being late or even if you want to postpone anymore until you get things settled.

By the way, love the color of the vehicle. Especially with the front and rear tags!!!

GO NOLES!!!