Falling Rock?...How About Falling Car Batteries???

[Craig T]

Merging into traffic at the top of the freeway onramp. I hear a bang and the car left of me swerved...Than another bang and the sharp jolt. OH $H!T! What did I hit??? I looked back and it appeared to be a large truck or marine battery. How the heck does that happen?

With tire rubbing and plastic dragging I limped it home. Luckily, no leaks and wheels appear to be straight. Looks like I'm covering a deductible and out one turbo for a couple weeks.


....There outa be a law.

[masraum]

wow, that sucks, but could have been much worse. At least it wasn't a direct hit. That could have been really ugly.

[rusnak]

I can only imagine the carnage if you'd hit it square. That sucks to see happen.

[porsche4life]

Yikes!!! I think I'd give it a good bath to wash off any potential acid spray!

Glad you were able to keep it under control and not do more damage!

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Yikes!!! I think I'd give it a good bath to wash off any potential acid spray!

Good idea! Thanks for the tip. I better go do that now while it's up.

[911boost]

A semi dropped a hunk of metal on the interstate and i swerved and it ripped the rear quarter panel extension right off my 964T, very similar to what you did. Blows...

[Chocaholic]

Not sure what your deductible is but you always have to weigh the claim vs policy cancellation or jacked up premiums. Insurance companies suck!

[onewhippedpuppy]

That sucks, but it could have been much worse!

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Not sure what your deductible is but you always have to weigh the claim vs policy cancellation or jacked up premiums. Insurance companies suck!

My deductible is $1,000, but the claims agent told me that AAA does not raise rates or cancel policies for comprehensive claims. They consider this "no fault". All the radiator brackets are broken, and it'll need an entire new bumper cover. My guess is it's $5,000 damage easy.

On the bright side...I'll get a free alignment.

[KNS]

I was cruising on the highway one day and watched a baby car seat come flying off the roof rack of car ahead me. Two cars between us went swerving to avoid the car seat bouncing across the road. I had nowhere to go and it hit me right about the same spot as your Turbo. Took out the fog light and put some scuffs in the paint. Wasn't worth calling the insurance company so I fixed it myself.

[pwd72s]

would you believe a sawhorse? still wondering how I was able to miss it. I know at my age that my reaction times have slowed. But this time I was lucky. Happened a few weeks ago.

Makes me wonder how many tons of unintentional debris are dumped on our nation's freeways every day.

[Fast Freddy 944]

Ouch! Its crazy about the junk left on highways, I've hit some large garbage bags on a highway before during rush hour, I couldn't swerve because I was in the middle lane, and both the fast and slow lane was bumper to bumper. lucky for me it was just leaves, and it made a cool leaf explosion. Cars around me were staring at me with bugged out eyes, lol! Good luck bro!

[intakexhaust]

Wow but amazing thats the only damage. Think of what could've been if it took a steering link out or the like, especially at speed.

My worst runover was from a large aluminum ladder that fell off a truck directly in front of me. On a crowded multi-lane, with that heavy traffic no chance to avoid and happened so fast. My Audi went right over it, dragged a few seconds with horrific sound. Couldn't believe my luck but zero damage, even the front spoiler survived.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by Fast Freddy 944

Ouch! Its crazy about the junk left on highways, I've hit some large garbage bags on a highway before during rush hour, I couldn't swerve because I was in the middle lane, and both the fast and slow lane was bumper to bumper. lucky for me it was just leaves, and it made a cool leaf explosion. Cars around me were staring at me with bugged out eyes, lol! Good luck bro!

Hey cowboy, there is only room here for one fastfreddy. Welcome aboard !
I knew of a guy who had a battery fall on him from the roof of a junk truck he was taking parts from in the junkyard. Shattered his foot . Figured it was appropriate for this thread .

[intakexhaust]

This thread sort of reminds me of the 'many' idiots who drive down the highways with a bed mattress on the roof. Countless times have seen them blown off. Worst are those who are well aware of the potential disaster but drive along with one hand reaching out the window HOLDING it. And they have a helper on the passenger side doing the same! Crazy.

[GH85Carrera]

The biggest issue I see with road debris is truck tires shedding the tread. It is way worse in the north east. Often huge chunks of rubber all over the road. In town I often see the morons that dump washers or dryers out the back because they were not tied down. I saw a dining room table fly out of one pickup and land in the median. No one was hurt and I sure hope the wife chewed out that idiot husband for loosing her table.

[berettafan]

holy smokes I can't believe it wasn't much worse! i'd think a large battery could easily take an entire corner suspension out!

[sammyg2]

I think this one tops the cake:

Man gets prison term in deputy's freeway death
July 12, 2008|Christine Hanley | Times Staff Writer

A Long Beach man was sentenced today to 26 years to life in prison in the death of a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who was crushed by a cement truck on the 91 Freeway after he swerved to avoid a stove that had fallen from the man's pickup.

Cole Allen Wilkins, 32, was convicted in May in the death of David Piquette, a 10-year veteran of the Sheriff's Department who was driving to work from Corona when the accident happened.

Prosecutors maintain that a murder charge was appropriate in the case because Wilkins was in the process of committing a felony -- he had stolen the stove -- when Piquette was killed.

Wilkins' attorney, Joseph Vodney, argued at trial that the case against his client was highly unfair, saying Wilkins didn't intend to harm Piquette.



The case dates to the early morning hours of July 7, 2006, when Wilkins was driving a Ford pickup loaded with appliances that were stolen from a home construction site in Riverside County. Piquette, a 34-year-old father of twins, was at the wheel of his county-issued Crown Victoria, on his way to work.

According to motorists who witnessed the incident, the tailgate on Wilkins' truck was down when the stove fell out as he drove west in the fast lane of the 91 Freeway in Anaheim.

At least two drivers traveling ahead of Piquette hit the stove but were unhurt. As other drivers including Piquette swerved to avoid the appliance, a cement truck landed on top of the deputy's car, crushing him.

According to prosecutors, Wilkins did not stop until a motorist who was driving behind him when the stove fell flashed his lights and honked his horn.

Wilkins gave the man a fake name and two fake telephone numbers and did not produce a driver's license or registration for the truck, prosecutors said. Wilkins also threatened the man and later gave a false name to California Highway Patrol officers trying to reconstruct the accident, authorities said.

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[rusnak]

We've sold I dunno, maybe 10,000 Christmas trees from our property, but I've been a landlord to a tree lot for maybe 14 years before that. Thank God we've never lost a tree on the road from a customer taking one home. We always used tree rope, and had experienced guys who know how to tie knots load and tie the trees down for our customers. When I see homeowner types wearing flip flops or dress slacks (it's either/ or) try to tie down an object on their car or truck, I think "That's a disaster waiting to happen". Too many lazy, careless, or ignorant people out there.

[sammyg2]

If they'd only change their shoes or pants ................