Finally caught by a drunk driver. :(
09-08-10, 02:17 PM
#1
Lives on the Forum
Thread Starter
Finally caught by a drunk driver. :(
Well,
After 22 years of succesfully dodging drunks, one of them finally caught me. He was driving a bronze Olds Alero, and swerving all over the freeway. Couldn't even keep it in his lane, and driving very agressively. To get around a car in front of him, he actually darted into an on ramp, ran out of time, and just ran the guy right out of his lane. I remember thinking "this guy is going to kill somebody".
This was in shoulder to shoulder traffice on Labor Day evening, about 5pm. After watching his mad skilz for a bit, I began to take action to distance myself from him by moving from the fast lane over to the slow lane (3 lanes to work with here). Of course, I signaled for every lane change, and every one was a separate move with about a ten second pause between each lane change. I am a perfectionist above all else when it comes to driving.
About a minute later this guy is filling my mirrors, literally inches off my rear bumper. I again make an attempt to put some distance between us, and move to the center lane. He moved up beside me and begins dodging into my lane as I had seen him doing to others. So I move over to the far left lane.
To get into the far left lane I had to speed up a bit, as traffic was moving faster. So I end up passing the truck (pulling a boat) that was in the center lane, and then the idiot driver takes the center lane in front of him. Right beside me again, just a bit behind! A few seconds later I feel him hit me in the right rear corner and the world begins to rotate as he puts me into a spin....
Over two decades of winter driving tends to develop good reflexes, so I immediately turn the wheel to go with the slide that has developed. This keeps my car from flipping, but there was no way that I could prevent the front of my car from going under the wheels of the SUV that was slightly ahead and to the right of me. Her left rear wheel went right over my hood, and then my windshield was full of a view of her undercarriage as she began flipping and rolling down the freeway....
After that, I was hit again (lightly) by at least one other car (a big Buick), before everything came to a stop. All three lanes closed down and stopped, and I see the idiot in the Alero cruising down the empty freeway a few seconds later making good his escape.
I moved my car over to the far right shoulder to get traffic moving again, then run accross to the fast lane to check on the people in the crushed SUV. I could hear the screaming easily over all the other noises. Inside, I find a woman and a girl of maybe 8 or 10 years of age. Blood is everywhere from broken glass, they're covered in it. I got her to stop screaming, and to turn off her ignition to reduce the chance of a fire. And then there is a guy at my shoulder who identifies himself as an EMT.
The cops arrive a couple of minutes later, take one look at my car and start thinking thoughts of Fast and Furious. I was treated very badly. They calmed down a bit when I showed them the dent in my rear quarter from where the guy hit me, but still made me feel like a criminal. All this despite the fact that there were 8 or 10 witnesses screaming about the guy in the Alero, and confirming that he hit me and caused the spin.
When it was all said and done, no tickets were issued. They also let me know that there did not appear to be any serious injuries involved (thank God). I grabbed some duct tape out of the back and taped my front bumper up so it wasn't dragging, and then limped my way home.
I was only 1/2 mile from my exit!!! Well, the car still drove straight, stayed straight under braking, and wasn't leaking any fluids. I'm hoping that the frame is still straight so that I can just replace body panels and such.
Still having nightmares, cold sweats, and shaking. Don't really like driving at all right now. But I know it will get better with a little time.
I've already received a few PMs from people that have heard about this, and I greatly appreciate the kind words. I have also received an offer for parts from ManInBlack to help me rebuild her, and that makes me feel a lot better, let me tell you. THANKS MAN!
Here's a few pictures of the damage. All that is missing is the small dent and broken tail light from where the idiot hit me in the right rear quarter.
After 22 years of succesfully dodging drunks, one of them finally caught me. He was driving a bronze Olds Alero, and swerving all over the freeway. Couldn't even keep it in his lane, and driving very agressively. To get around a car in front of him, he actually darted into an on ramp, ran out of time, and just ran the guy right out of his lane. I remember thinking "this guy is going to kill somebody".
This was in shoulder to shoulder traffice on Labor Day evening, about 5pm. After watching his mad skilz for a bit, I began to take action to distance myself from him by moving from the fast lane over to the slow lane (3 lanes to work with here). Of course, I signaled for every lane change, and every one was a separate move with about a ten second pause between each lane change. I am a perfectionist above all else when it comes to driving.
About a minute later this guy is filling my mirrors, literally inches off my rear bumper. I again make an attempt to put some distance between us, and move to the center lane. He moved up beside me and begins dodging into my lane as I had seen him doing to others. So I move over to the far left lane.
To get into the far left lane I had to speed up a bit, as traffic was moving faster. So I end up passing the truck (pulling a boat) that was in the center lane, and then the idiot driver takes the center lane in front of him. Right beside me again, just a bit behind! A few seconds later I feel him hit me in the right rear corner and the world begins to rotate as he puts me into a spin....
Over two decades of winter driving tends to develop good reflexes, so I immediately turn the wheel to go with the slide that has developed. This keeps my car from flipping, but there was no way that I could prevent the front of my car from going under the wheels of the SUV that was slightly ahead and to the right of me. Her left rear wheel went right over my hood, and then my windshield was full of a view of her undercarriage as she began flipping and rolling down the freeway....
After that, I was hit again (lightly) by at least one other car (a big Buick), before everything came to a stop. All three lanes closed down and stopped, and I see the idiot in the Alero cruising down the empty freeway a few seconds later making good his escape.
I moved my car over to the far right shoulder to get traffic moving again, then run accross to the fast lane to check on the people in the crushed SUV. I could hear the screaming easily over all the other noises. Inside, I find a woman and a girl of maybe 8 or 10 years of age. Blood is everywhere from broken glass, they're covered in it. I got her to stop screaming, and to turn off her ignition to reduce the chance of a fire. And then there is a guy at my shoulder who identifies himself as an EMT.
The cops arrive a couple of minutes later, take one look at my car and start thinking thoughts of Fast and Furious. I was treated very badly. They calmed down a bit when I showed them the dent in my rear quarter from where the guy hit me, but still made me feel like a criminal. All this despite the fact that there were 8 or 10 witnesses screaming about the guy in the Alero, and confirming that he hit me and caused the spin.
When it was all said and done, no tickets were issued. They also let me know that there did not appear to be any serious injuries involved (thank God). I grabbed some duct tape out of the back and taped my front bumper up so it wasn't dragging, and then limped my way home.
I was only 1/2 mile from my exit!!! Well, the car still drove straight, stayed straight under braking, and wasn't leaking any fluids. I'm hoping that the frame is still straight so that I can just replace body panels and such.
Still having nightmares, cold sweats, and shaking. Don't really like driving at all right now. But I know it will get better with a little time.
I've already received a few PMs from people that have heard about this, and I greatly appreciate the kind words. I have also received an offer for parts from ManInBlack to help me rebuild her, and that makes me feel a lot better, let me tell you. THANKS MAN!
Here's a few pictures of the damage. All that is missing is the small dent and broken tail light from where the idiot hit me in the right rear quarter.
Last edited by Kentetsu; 09-08-10 at 02:42 PM. Reason: Spelling correction
09-08-10, 02:27 PM
#2
Speechless.
Thankful you're OK.
Sad for your car, but glad it wasn't worse.
I hope the asshat put himself solo into a bridge abutment later that night - such people shouldn't be allowed to live, much less drive. I wonder how many people he's killed/maimed in his career?
And yet another reason not to drive and SUV; damn things are simply geometrically unstable.
Thankful you're OK.
Sad for your car, but glad it wasn't worse.
I hope the asshat put himself solo into a bridge abutment later that night - such people shouldn't be allowed to live, much less drive. I wonder how many people he's killed/maimed in his career?
And yet another reason not to drive and SUV; damn things are simply geometrically unstable.
09-08-10, 02:47 PM
#4
Sin City Rotary
damn I hate seeing **** like that, I bet Dep Barney Fieth would have popped you for cruising 10 over the posted limited or your car was a tad too loud in his opinion where was he to get that fool off the road is what I say
09-08-10, 03:00 PM
#5
Glad to hear you're alright!
Cars can be rebuilt.
Just gives you a chance to make your car even better than it was before!
Don't be too hard on the cops....they see a lot of ****. It's their job to be skeptical.
Good luck to you bro....I hope you're feeling better soon.
Cars can be rebuilt.
Just gives you a chance to make your car even better than it was before!
Don't be too hard on the cops....they see a lot of ****. It's their job to be skeptical.
Good luck to you bro....I hope you're feeling better soon.
Trending Topics
09-08-10, 03:53 PM
#9
first off thank God you or anyone else wasn't seriously injured. drunk drivers cause an astronomical amount of accidents and injuries every year. me being a police officer and working nights i see a lot of drunk drivers. every one i catch gets arrested and the car gets towed. NO BREAKS! the last drunk i had was going 78/40 and took me on a small pursuit. when she finally stopped i told her that why she was being stopped and DENIED SPEEDING!!! she did admit however that she was drunk and when at the station blew nearly three times the legal limit.
sorry to hear that the cops treated you so poorly. makes cops look bad and that hurts. i do have a few spare hoods if you need one. if you feel like coming into ohio, yo ucan have the hood for free. i also have a spare hood latch that you can have and i have passenger headlight bucket and turn signal assembly and lens that you can have.
sorry to hear that the cops treated you so poorly. makes cops look bad and that hurts. i do have a few spare hoods if you need one. if you feel like coming into ohio, yo ucan have the hood for free. i also have a spare hood latch that you can have and i have passenger headlight bucket and turn signal assembly and lens that you can have.
09-08-10, 03:57 PM
#10
Lives on the Forum
Thread Starter
09-08-10, 03:58 PM
#11
Lives on the Forum
Thread Starter
Thank you so much Billy. You've always been such a help to me. With a little luck, I think I'll be able to source the replacement parts locally. Thanks for the offer though...
09-08-10, 04:00 PM
#12
Lives on the Forum
Thread Starter
first off thank God you or anyone else wasn't seriously injured. drunk drivers cause an astronomical amount of accidents and injuries every year. me being a police officer and working nights i see a lot of drunk drivers. every one i catch gets arrested and the car gets towed. NO BREAKS! the last drunk i had was going 78/40 and took me on a small pursuit. when she finally stopped i told her that why she was being stopped and DENIED SPEEDING!!! she did admit however that she was drunk and when at the station blew nearly three times the legal limit.
sorry to hear that the cops treated you so poorly. makes cops look bad and that hurts. i do have a few spare hoods if you need one. if you feel like coming into ohio, yo ucan have the hood for free. i also have a spare hood latch that you can have and i have passenger headlight bucket and turn signal assembly and lens that you can have.
sorry to hear that the cops treated you so poorly. makes cops look bad and that hurts. i do have a few spare hoods if you need one. if you feel like coming into ohio, yo ucan have the hood for free. i also have a spare hood latch that you can have and i have passenger headlight bucket and turn signal assembly and lens that you can have.
And about the police officers; I have an uncle who retired as a seargent from the police force. Great guy! But they are human, and like any other grouping you will find nice guys and real ********. Right now I'm not feeling much love for the entire group, but I know that will pass with time...
09-08-10, 04:06 PM
#13
I need a new user title
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Yaizu, Japan
Posts: 2,646
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just glad no one was seriously hurt. Cars can be rebuilt; people... that's a bit tougher.
Looking around, I don't think I have anything here that would help you much with the rebuild, so I can only wish you luck. Hope to see her tearing it up at autocrosses again soon. Hopefully none of the suspension stuff is damaged.
Looking around, I don't think I have anything here that would help you much with the rebuild, so I can only wish you luck. Hope to see her tearing it up at autocrosses again soon. Hopefully none of the suspension stuff is damaged.
09-08-10, 04:28 PM
#14
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Posts: 30,884
Received 2,635 Likes
on
1,865 Posts
yeah glad you're ok!
i actually think that'll buff right out.... actually though it looks like he missed the bumper which means he might have missed the lower frame rails.
i actually think that'll buff right out.... actually though it looks like he missed the bumper which means he might have missed the lower frame rails.
09-08-10, 06:18 PM
#16
Sir Jason the Awesome
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Delaware
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah, cars can be replaced, people are priceless. Had a friend about a month ago who was on her way home. SOme guy that was drunk in the oncoming coming land swirved and hit her head-on. The other driver died, and she was left with very serious injuries. Just talked to her boyfriend two days ago. She is doing ok, in a wheeling chair during her physically therapy. She'll turn out ok and will make nearly a full recovery. But I hope that peopel wise the f*&k up and learn to either stay put, call a friend, or a cab, or don't drink.
09-08-10, 06:57 PM
#18
if the frame is tweaked just a bit, a good bodyshop should be able to straighten right up since it doesn't look like severe damage.
i have a header panel, hood and light buckets with motors and a front bumper with lower valence.
just let me know and there yours
i have a header panel, hood and light buckets with motors and a front bumper with lower valence.
just let me know and there yours
09-08-10, 07:07 PM
#20
Lives on the Forum
Thread Starter
I tell you what, I was so depressed when all of this happened (and I'm usually the kind of guy the nothing gets to). Your outpouring of support is litteraly bringing tears to my eyes as I read this.
After this happened, all I could think of was getting home to see my boys and my wife. Just glad to be alive and well. But it is such a relief to know that my car will live again, despite her injuries.
This forum just rocks. And like the old Bud Light commercials say, "I love you man"!
After this happened, all I could think of was getting home to see my boys and my wife. Just glad to be alive and well. But it is such a relief to know that my car will live again, despite her injuries.
This forum just rocks. And like the old Bud Light commercials say, "I love you man"!
09-08-10, 07:23 PM
#21
Sin City Rotary
want to apologize for my gobber post earlier and say .... wow .... you folks are the best of the best a brother rotorhead is down and everyone was willing to help thats awesome. I had heard about the first gen Rx7 folks and thought it was hyped up a tad .... but I am glad to say I was wrong this thread as well as another I saw a month or two ago where a fellow broke down and ppl he had never actually met but knew them on here went out of their way to help him out if I recall correctly even letting this person crash on their couch for a couple days
awesome you guys are just awesome
again my apologize and thank god everyone walked away and will be ok
awesome you guys are just awesome
again my apologize and thank god everyone walked away and will be ok
09-08-10, 07:51 PM
#22
Wow. When you said there was bad news I immediately thought your junkyard 12a let go. This is way worse. Glad to hear you weren't injured and that nobody was killed.
If you wind up needing a replacement FB (or anything for that matter) let me know. It looks like your car will buff out though
Also you can be my co-driver in the TII for the autocross if you want.
If you wind up needing a replacement FB (or anything for that matter) let me know. It looks like your car will buff out though
Also you can be my co-driver in the TII for the autocross if you want.
09-08-10, 07:53 PM
#24
Lives on the Forum
Thread Starter
want to apologize for my gobber post earlier and say .... wow .... you folks are the best of the best a brother rotorhead is down and everyone was willing to help thats awesome. I had heard about the first gen Rx7 folks and thought it was hyped up a tad .... but I am glad to say I was wrong this thread as well as another I saw a month or two ago where a fellow broke down and ppl he had never actually met but knew them on here went out of their way to help him out if I recall correctly even letting this person crash on their couch for a couple days
awesome you guys are just awesome
again my apologize and thank god everyone walked away and will be ok
awesome you guys are just awesome
again my apologize and thank god everyone walked away and will be ok
Proof of Karma right there man! https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-general-discussion-207/big-thank-you-916965/Anyway, here is the picture of the rear quarter where the idiot tagged me. As my uncle (the retired cop) said, it wouldn't take much damage to cause the spin. This is the same move that cops use to stop people who don't care to be stopped.
09-08-10, 08:01 PM
#25
Sin City Rotary
pitt manuever on a car that doesn't weigh anything wouldn't need much energy to spin it. Honeslty I am nervous when I drive my SA too many dipsticks out there behind the wheel of bigger vehicles.