Wrecked my truck! (PICS)

[jeffgrant]

Wow. Just wow.

Glad he's OK, and sorry about the truck, but it's only "stuff".

As to the "boss's son" thing, well, sometimes there ARE perks to being the boss's son, and that's just the way it is. Nothing wrong with it, in my opinion, as long as it's not being unfair to anyone else.

I don't see any value in treating this the same as if he were just another employee... not sure you could, because he's NOT. If any of them have a problem with that, well, I'm not sure what to say. If it is going to cause problems for your workforce, then maybe a quick public announcement would be in order... "after all, he's my son." People should get that.

You'll know if he's learned his lesson just by interacting with him. Typically, a near-death situation like that does get the whole "mortality" point across pretty effectively.

Personally, I think the biggest measure will be what he offers to do for you to make things right.

I'd suggest sitting down with him and have a mature, frank, and open conversation about this. Let him know the issues that have come up with this; cost of the truck, increased insurance, perception by other workers, re-enforced or new business policies, selling the H1, etc.

Knowing you, and your character, I'd bet he doesn't fall far from the tree, and you guys will come so a reasonable agreement on how to make things "right".


Good luck, and I'm sorry you have to maybe sell your H1... that really sucks.


$0.02

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

Seems to me one option is to say, "Son, I'm grateful you were not injured worse. Congratulations, you've just purchased a truck."

If his father was not the boss, he would have lost his job for taking a work vehicle out without permission, especially for social reasons. Since you are probably not going to fire him, I'd work out a payment plan over four years to pay the blue book value of the truck.

Since you said he is 25 and living on his own, why should you be the one to have to sell your H1 because someone else broke your truck?

what he said. Remove the family connection from the picture and what is the response?

Nothing good happens at 4am unless it is in bed...

[lm6y]

Man, I'm glad everyone was O.K., that could have been REALLY ugly.

There are some real hard-asses on this board! Unfortunately, I agree with them. There's no doubt you love your son, you show your family off every chance you get. Nothing wrong with being a proud Dad. But I think your wife might be onto something. At 25, your son is an adult, and his actions have caused your company a loss, and you must make a personal sacrifice to cover it with the H1.

My Boss would fire me, and then sue me for the value of the truck, and I wouldn't be able to blame him.

But like others have said, give him a hug, and sit down and let him figure out how to make it right on your end. My son makes me want to wring his neck half the time, but I'd gladly give my last breath to save him though, so I understand your dilema.

[Don Plumley]

When it comes to my two kids, I'm probably a bigger wimp than most. It's easy to give long-distance parenting advice.

But, the core issue I see here is "Boss' son". When you think of great family businesses that are ultimately squandered by their children (think Mondavi), there's something about a sense of invincibility and lack of accountability that comes to mind. To be 25 and learn that you are bullet proof is a bad lesson. I'm not saying he didn't learn something. But to not have a severe consequence when it is work-related has a way of messing with the synapses.

And what message does it send to your employees? If one of your line workers crashed one of your vehicles, would you simply ask them to pay the difference between your insurance and the value? Even if you beleived you would, everyone else will feel that the boss' kid got preferential treatment. That's a tough environment to work in. Remember, this was not your Ferarri he wrecked, it was a work truck that your business depends upon.

My $0.02 - YMMV.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by nostatic

what he said. Remove the family connection from the picture and what is the response?

Nothing good happens at 4am unless it is in bed...

Now Nost, in our line of work, sometimes we are on the way home.

Rob, glad the kid is OK, bummer on the truck. DON'T get rid of the H1, just pick up a used truck.

[the]

Originally Posted by gprsh924

I'm surprised at how badly the cab caved in. I have seen a lot of rollover pics on the Xterra forum I am on and I have never seen anything that bad.

Ford roofs are for decorative purposes only.

I've seen several Explorers flipped on the side of the road after a high speed lane change/avoidance maneuver, and have always been surprised at how flattened out they end up.

[trekkor]

If you were to see that truck in a junkyard, it would be be easy to believe the driver died.

I'm very happy to hear he came away mostly OK.


Doesn't the insurance cover everything?



KT

[Dottore]

Count your blessings on this one.

Forget the business angle.

Your only son just cheated death.

That's a great opportunity to get closer to him.

[kaisen]

It's just a truck. It's replaceable. Luck was smiling on your family that day.

[glewis80SC]

Originally Posted by nostatic

what he said. Remove the family connection from the picture and what is the response?

Nothing good happens at 4am unless it is in bed...

+1, my 21yo has to be in by 2am, there is NO reason to be out past that besides that is when all the drinks hit the road. That roof coming in is what we call Passenger Space Intrusion or PSI and with LAFD it meets going to a Trauma center no matter the injury. They are VERY lucky, hopefully he does not feel he can survive something like that again.

[911Rob]

Wow, great posts to ponder over here; this is not an easy situation.
Thank-you all for your good wishes for my sons health, we truly are happy that he is OK.

Fortunately nobody knows except me that he wasn't suppose to be using the truck; because he's my son, he uses it all the time, but we had an agreement that it wasn't for social purposes. I got lazy and started leaving it at the site and the keys with him.

I regret not teaching him how to drive, because I never have. He's only driven my Porsche once. My GFs dad taught me how to drive when I was 16; helmut, gloves, old studebaker on a gravel road.

He hasn't driven since the accident and its definately shaken him; he also offered to pay for the truck; I asked "How?" and he gave me his plan. The insurance company paid for most of it and he's paying the balance; I have a 'free ticket' with no effect for my 33 years of no claims. I love this boy very much; to the point that I'm not afraid of tough love, but as posted, he cheated death that night. We've hugged alot since then; he's an apple of my eye; nick-named "mini-me". He laughs, smiles and enjoys life very much and for me that's what I always wanted. My clients, business partners and his co-workers are always complementing me about how respectful he is; he refers to our clients as Mr. and Mrs., etc.

I'm thinking that I'm just gonna keep hugging him and this one goes under the wire. As for selling the H1 its no big deal to me; I've always had a truck and the H1 was just an expensive toy, I could replace the truck tomorrow and keep the H1, maybe I still will, but my wife would appreciate it if I cut back a little on the toy department? She doesn't like it that I help him out so much, which I do because we talk or see each other everyday; he's my sledding partner and my buddy. We can hang a whole weekend together and we just click, I love having him near me.

A good friend of mine helped me enjoy him more by releasing my expectations and just allowing him to follow his own path; its difficult, but the results are good; we're both happier that way, but dang!..... he's a McKibbon!

anyway, I'm thinking on this more, thanks again!

[9dreizig]

You are one lucky dad!!! I'd punish him as if you caught him just borrowing the truck without incident.... the accident takes care of itself as far as punishment goes..
Forgive but don't forget, the kid knows he did wrong and was super lucky..

[Bill Douglas]

Sheeee yite.

I'm pleased your son is OK.

I suspect when everyone has cooled down you will just be pleased your son is fine and a truck is just a, well a truck. Better than a grieving family. Maybe pat him on the back and say "I'm pleased you have got your major accident out of your way (everybody has one) and get on with your life."

[911Rob]

My Grandmother and Mother were pregnant at the same time; Grandma had twin boys my age that I grew up with like cousins; we are very close. My Uncle Glen had a boy, Jessie the same age as my son, Blake. Jessie died in a motorcycle accident when he was 21. His death effected me very much. I dont take my time with my son for granted, thats for sure. I cant even think of losing him, no, no, no. I am very thankful.

Blake Robert McKibbon; "mini-me":
Last summer, holding his niece, my grand-daughter, Bryn:

[911Rob]

another angle.... very, very lucky! Thank God.

[911Rob]

[onewhippedpuppy]

I'm glad you both realize how lucky you are. As someone else said, I would have guessed that that truck was involved in a fatal accident.

If it were me, I'd make him pay off the balance. He wrecked the truck, he should pay the price. He should have to take responsibility for his actions, it's a good lesson in life.

As for the Hummer, if you want to sell it, sell it. But there's some smoking deals out there for new trucks. Of course, I think I'd look at a different brand, those pictures are inexcusable.

[herr_oberst]

Thats a handsome kid you have there Rob, and I am glad he's OK, and just as importantly I am glad his friends are OK, too. (That cute little toddler in the picture needs an uncle, not a memory)

If that were my truck, I'd buy the carcass back from insurance and have the kid take the running gear out and sell it to someone with a project. That will help him to allay some of the costs of replacing a nice rig. On the plus side, big 4x4 pickups are cheap right now.

(As to the H1, all I can say is what are you doing with that in the first place.)

[911Rob]

I tried to get the truck but can't; here the gubmint runs our Provincial insurance (I.C.B.C.) and once they write off the vehicle that's it; only certain businesses can buy it from the wrecker. They do this to prevent wrecks going back on the road, etc.

I was thinking about doing a father & son repair/restore project follow up, My son was eager to do it too; but it was kiboshed. Incredible how fast the insurance company paid out; like now!

My son is paying off the balance; it was his idea, in fact he offered to pay off the entire truck fwiw.

[mattdavis11]

Thank goodness everyone came out alive.

As for the H1, sell it, buy a Land Cruiser, and never look back. It's a better vehicle on and off road.



It barrel rolled several times. Nobody was hurt.