Todays excitement .

[fastfredracing]

Been in this business a long time . This is the stuff I always worry about .
This kid just picked up his car . My shop is about 100 yards from the main highway .
He had just turned onto the highway when this happened . His dad was right in front of him, but never saw it happen .

I heard the impact, and went down to see. I had no idea it was even him at that time . I saw all the cars balled up, firetrucks, ambulance , and a concrete truck . This happened right about 4 pm.
About an hour later, his dad texted me saying , " lucky he is alive, he didn't even make it across route 8"
Man, the thoughts that run through your mind when something like this happens . I only installed a a catalytic convertor, and valve cover gasket on this car, so I was pretty sure it was not my wrongdoing, but Id be lying if I said I was not worried . I had also test driven the car before he came to pickup , I test drive everything ..
I know all these guys really well, and was happy to just get a phone call, that the kid, got out , and walked away from this mess . He didn't even want to go to the hospital, but the ems , police , and his Dad, more or less forced him to get in the ambulance and go get checked out .
He got hit by a concrete truck head on and witnesses are saying it was not his fault, so I am assuming the concrete truck lane drifted into him . It is a 4 lane highway with a center turning lane, not marked, and right at the bottom of a small rise . I see a handful of really nasty accidents here every year. I've had many close calls myself . I have witnessed 2 fatal accidents, and one really gruesome one personally where the lady died later . I was one of the first people on scene, on that one
and all I can say, is hats off to first responders . That image lives in my mind
So thankful everyone is o.k. I don't know if I could live with myself if something like this was my fault .

[wdfifteen]

Wow. Good that you hadn’t done anything safety related, but still - it goes through your mind. Hug you kid, hug your SO, be glad it wasn’t someone closer to you.

Good that they made him go to the hospital. You are so full of adrenaline after something like that, that you are in no position to say, “I’m OK.”

[Evans, Marv]

We have individuals and citizen groups complaining about traffic safety on local roads and intersections all the time and tryiing to get imporvements made. Is this one of those situations? Glad the kid came out of it OK. A cement truck isn't anything to trifle with.

[fastfredracing]

This is one of those situations . It was not so bad 20 some years ago when I moved here, but the area is growing, and the roads are easly twice as busy as they were back then. This is not an uncommon occourence at this intersection at all .
I think I am going to start sending e mails, and going to the township meetings .
My guess, is ... they are awaiting for a large development rumored to come on my road, and make them pay for the traffic study and traffic signals .
Im not sure how many fatalities are enough to trigger this, but at least 7 or 8 in my 2 decades here .

[pwd72s]

Jesus! The fact that he walked away speaks highly of today's safety design...if it had been a '60's car that we wax nostalgic about, it may have been worse.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Was that an Altima?

[908/930]

He was quite lucky to walk away from that. Should buff out.

[Baz]

Traffic safety tutorials should be aired by auto insurance companies instead of the DUMB stuff we see.

Bring in celebrities. Famous rock stars and actors, comedians, etc. make it entertaining but informative.

No, it won't prevent accidents from happening - but it may help prevent some.

I also think traffic enforcement could crack down more on bad drivers. Pull 'em over and say "WTF, you dummy...knock off the stupid stuff!" Maybe give 'em a rap in the head....

[A930Rocket]

Wow, that was a close call.

I don’t work on cars for living, but when I work on mine, I’m thinking I need to do it right, so I don’t hurt myself or anyone else.

[Tobra]

Scary picture, engineering is really something to let you walk away from a face off with a cement truck

[Bill Douglas]

Poor kid. But luck was on his side to survive THAT.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Baz

Traffic safety tutorials should be aired by auto insurance companies instead of the DUMB stuff we see.
..

You can say that again.

[Tobra]

You don't like any of the insurance characters, not even the 6 foot tall bird with sunglasses?

SCCA does safety thing for new drivers, I think it is the Sheriff's Department sponsors that,but CHP guys are there too. They all train out there at Mather AFB

[fastfredracing]

I just texted with Dad this morning. Kid is sore as all get up , but he got checked out, and CT scans, and all is good . He got 6 stitches in his leg, but was home before 9 pm last night .
Dad told me that his mom had died 17 years ago on this day . I don't know if you believe in guardian angels or not, but someone was watching over this kid .
Tip of my hat to the mighty Altima for taking a blow from a concrete truck like that, and not compromising the passenger compartment .
So glad to hear I am not responsible for this . It was really weighing heavy on my mind for a few hours before I found out all the details .
I sometimes forget how important my job is . Its often just another car, another brake job, another muffler, another clutch etc, but I have someones safety, or life in my hands every day . Something as simple as forgetting to tighten a lug nut, or not making sure a hood is latched could end up a disaster .
Should I text him and let him know that this voids the warranty on the convertor ??

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

.

I responded to a scene just like this two weeks ago. The driver was a 17 yo probationary driver and walked away shaking like a wet dog in winter but otherwise unharmed. Incredibly lucky kid.

[john70t]

1). Impulsive excitement/delirium. "Ooh cool! New car again! Yahoo. Let's fn go!!"

2). Lack of selfishness/self-awareness/self-preservation. "I gotta catch up with dad, even though this a dangerous situation I will take the risk. He might get mad at me or not slow down and leave me behind."

3). Fatigue. That is when most accidents happen in combination. Combine with low visibility or too bright sunshine in the eyes driving west.

4). Concrete truck driver maybe had an attitude. "This is the 4,846th stupid driver I've had to deal with today. I'll get close to scare them so they will learn.". Or not. It was all too sudden to react to. Nowhere to dodge to. Or crappy brakes and full load.

[GH85Carrera]

The converter may well be just fine, depending on where it bolts up.

Yea, that shows how modern cars are very safe in a collision. They may be ugly, but the crash protection is much better.

[LWJ]

It is a great reminder of how fleeting life can be. Wonderful he escaped with only a few stitches.

[MBAtarga]

I think the concrete truck company (insurance) is going to be buying the kid a new car - and perhaps paying for the kids college tuition as well.

[john70t]

Send the kid a photo of expensive vintage cars piled up in a junkyard, waiting to be crushed and melted down.
Or a thousand acres of military planes.
A million parts and a hundred million man hours plus. All gone.
The dealership down the next block is full of vehicles waiting for someone to take them.

He hopefully gets to walk around for the rest of his life.
Life is short. A learning lesson. Reset.
Metal is expendable.