Topic: Car got totaled today--Pretty "Impressive"

[ekpent]

  Well my much beloved 2000 Chrysler Town and County Limited that had taken me on a 168,000 mile ride was fatally wounded this morning around 9:30. Was going through a 4 lane intersection this morning on green when an older lady hit me broadside at around 50mph right in front of my front wheel and tore everything complete off, fender, headlights, radiator the whole shebang. She never even saw the light. The poor old van died in a haze of steam and smoke, gently bleeding red fluid from its underbelly. Funny thing is the UPS man just today dropped off $240.00 worth of parts for her a friend was going to install. Guess there going back to Advance Auto.
   I am fine as is she. I do feel a few sore spots from the seat belt and other areas but do feel lucky she missed my drivers door or you guys may have been picking my pile.   Got my Ford 250 pick-up out of storage and now need to feed that beast    Just for fun will snap a few pics at the grave yard she is at next week as it does look pretty "impressive"   
   Please be careful out there Folks because everything can change in an instant.

[Bob Wessner]

Sorry to hear about your ride. Glad you're OK.

[MoMo]

glad you are OK Eric,  a split second later and???...Larry

[demon78]

That's  terrible man, Heal.
Bill the demon.

[78 k550]

Glad to hear your ok. I hope your not too sore.

Paul

[Bailgang]

Glad to hear you're OK and I hope you don't wake up too sore tomorrow morning.

[Kevin D]

Glad to hear you are all OK, just a few milliseconds separate an injury accident from a hit or a miss.
Today is your lucky day, buy a lottery ticket and a round at the bar!
Maybe grandma should call a taxi from now on.

[brooze72]

Glad to hear you are all OK, just a few milliseconds separate an injury accident from a hit or a miss.
Today is your lucky day, buy a lottery ticket and a round at the bar!
Maybe grandma should call a taxi from now on.

+1:)

[78 k550]

Take some Advil before bed that will help.

Paul

[dave500]

good your fine,you just never know.

[754]

Just keep track of any aches and pains, might ght feel it in the morning.. Keep a log.

Did you say C U Next Tuesday....under your breath..I would have..

[grcamna2]

It's a shame to hear about your car Eric,I hope the woman who caused the accident didn't get to badly beat up;I'm glad to hear that you could walk away from it.
                                                   Bill

[RAFster122s]

Eric,
Glad you are OK. Hope that continues to be true.
Heal up quick and good luck getting the truck back on the road. Drive safely.
It isn't paranoid when they are out to get you. 

David

[70CB750]

Very glad you OK!

[ekpent]

  Thanks Guys  !! Appreciate the support. No new aches or pains this morning so its back to the rock pile and keep on going. Losing a car you really like after 14 years though with a lot of good memories with the kids, trips and other adventures kind of leaves a little bit of an empty feeling but in the end it is simply just a piece of metal that was destined eventually to the recycle bin anyways. The most important thing is both her and I were very lucky.
   Now I just have to put my big boy pants back on and not get paranoid riding my bike around   
   

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Glad you and the other driver are OK Eric!!  I heard there was a fatal crash on Sprinkle yesterday and when I first started reading ur post I was thinking...  Anyway, glad that you don't have to go thru that crap too.

Let me know if there is anything you need.

[Johnie]

Good health to you Eric...glad it was not the drivers door...so you still have that pretty face, aye? 

[flybox1]

Glad you're ok, Eric! I hate those intersections...

I know how you feel about those cars.
The wife and I had a '99 (Dodge GC) with 260k mi on it.  Car went thru 4 kids, 3 moves, and countless camping and fishing trips.  Love the usefullness of these cars.
Just replaced it with a '12. 

[ekpent]

Well off to Advanced Auto with $250.00 and 49lbs worth of parts that came in on the afternoon of the morning crash      Think they will believe this story, looks like they lost some money on this deal.
  I had dropped the full coverage on this van a couple years ago. Looks like the value was not too great anyways. My friendly insurance man is doing what they call a mini tort for me since I was not at fault where he can collect $1,000 for me from the other insurance company after I supply the police report and then it looks like I will be able to sell the rest of the vehicle for scrap. Help pay the $166.00 tow bill    at the body shop where it sits now. My only other plan is to snatch the battery and hopefully get the $500.00 tires I just bought a few months ago. Maybe the cat converter too if it just goes to a metal shredder. I would need to borrow a trailer for that.

[grcamna2]

I had an old Volvo 240 that I restored and it did get hit hard enough to total it.
I stripped out what I wanted and then bought another car the exact same year and model.I do my own work and I've been running on parts from that Orig. Volvo since 2001.I still have the remanufactured steering rack w/ 3000 miles on it waiting for my orig.(87') one w/ 460 K on it to finally 'give out'. She's a good old car and I've been the 2nd owner since 2001.I'd like to run a million if it's possible.

Salvage what you can Eric & save all that good stuff from the crusher.

[dhall57]

Good to here it was the T/C mini van that got totaled and not you Eric. I've had 2 of them in the late 80's and early 90's when my two boys were small and they are the perfect vechicle for hauling them around and their friends and all their stuff to games, going to the beach etc.etc.

[seanbarney41]

Eric, take the insurance money and get yourself something fun to drive.  I just got done borrowing my friends little volkswagon VR6 while my van was broke down...that little thing would spank any of my 750's on the top end.  Glad to hear you are ok.

[ekpent]

Eric, take the insurance money and get yourself something fun to drive.  I just got done borrowing my friends little volkswagon VR6 while my van was broke down...that little thing would spank any of my 750's on the top end.  Glad to hear you are ok.

Thanks Sean. Accident happened at West Main and 10th Street over by 131. Keeping my eye out for another mini van sad to say. Being in the antique biz and buying all this cycle junk etc I need a light duty good mileage little hauler.

[ekpent]

Well, went back this morning and paid my tow bill and grabbed the battery and a couple of souvenirs like the grill emblem etc.  Maybe most of that will BUFF right out     
  Called a couple of local junk yards to see how much they will pay letting me keep my new tires and very soon this chapter will be closed.
  In an ironic twist to the plot I found out over the Holiday that my wife's ex-husband who I am now friends with and we ride a little together totaled out his car on Thursday, a nice red V8 Grand Prix type of newer little hot rod. Is she trying to get rid of us both for some reason 
  Thanks again for the well wishes, appreciate it.   Eric

[Stev-o]

Good to hear your ok. Does not look totaled?!

Time for a Vette?!!

[grcamna2]

It does almost look like that van could roll again...for a few $.

[bill440cars]

         Kindas behind seeing this, sure glad you are okay. We have a 2005 Model of that minivan and it sure does good for us. Has  the Stow-a-way Seats and That is great, cause your seats are always with you and while they are up, there is great storage below them. As far as getting it back on the road, like some have wondered, it would depend alot on the frame up front and the driveline, since it is front wheel drive. May be messed up, in that respect. Got our 2005 model last year and have replaced the radiator, rear hatch lift cylinders, hood release lever and cable, right headlight assy (was cracked) and installed a trailer hitch, with a easily installed wiring harness. Good luck on finding another ride. 

[ekpent]

I have hardly ever had the seats in the back in it Bill as the car is used to haul furniture etc in my antique business but that stow and go would be nice to have.
  As for the totaled out declaration an air bag were deployed and the engine right now is almost touching the ground and has been moved over to the far side of the firewall. The frame, radiator etc up there is toast. Permanently stuck in a neutral.Lots of other major issues. Getting t-boned from the side sheared and moved everything over well. Car was probably only worth a few thousand before the incident. Should I put it on Craigslist and say "Ran before parked"      TC needs a little TLC

[bjatwood]

Glad your alright Eric, cars can be replaced you can't be!

[bill440cars]

I have hardly ever had the seats in the back in it Bill as the car is used to haul furniture etc in my antique business but that stow and go would be nice to have.
  As for the totaled out declaration an air bag were deployed and the engine right now is almost touching the ground and has been moved over to the far side of the firewall. The frame, radiator etc up there is toast. Permanently stuck in a neutral.Lots of other major issues. Getting t-boned from the side sheared and moved everything over well. Car was probably only worth a few thousand before the incident. Should I put it on Craigslist and say "Ran before parked"      TC needs a little TLC

          Yeah, I imagined that it was pretty much destroyed in the front, the way it was hit. I mean, with the drivetrain all in the front, it is all right there and gonna get messed up. And, Yeah, I like your CraigsList comment is funny, I laughed at that.    Just tell em to get some of that wax that they show advertisement of, by waxing a car in the wrecking yarsd, to make it look better. That'll bring it around!      

[grcamna2]

I have hardly ever had the seats in the back in it Bill as the car is used to haul furniture etc in my antique business but that stow and go would be nice to have.
  As for the totaled out declaration an air bag were deployed and the engine right now is almost touching the ground and has been moved over to the far side of the firewall. The frame, radiator etc up there is toast. Permanently stuck in a neutral.Lots of other major issues. Getting t-boned from the side sheared and moved everything over well. Car was probably only worth a few thousand before the incident. Should I put it on Craigslist and say "Ran before parked"      TC needs a little TLC

That van gave it's life to save your ass.

[Tews19]

Glad you came out unscathed Eric. If you do get another minivan I have an Odyssey. .. It's great and you can fit a bike in it if needed.