TheSamba.com :: View topic - Ridinrusty's '61 Singlecab rollover accident repair and body

Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:07 am

for most of you that dont know me my name is aastin im 16 and have a 61 sealing wax red single cab and this is my story. when i was 15 i got a 1958 euro bug and me and my dad fixed it up and i drove it with my permit then later on my dad purchased a 61 sealing wax red single cab and i convinced him to let that one be mine, he agreed and the bug went into storage. me and my dad stripped the paint down to OG paint within 3 days of it arriving at our house we then started to fix all of the small problems that it had. i then got my license on wednesday and i started to drive it around town after a little of driving we found some problems and i took it to my uncles house to get fixed and after we fixed it i was driving it home going the speed limit and i went over the railroad tracks and when i did i guess i lost control of it and it hit the curb of the median and started to roll on its second roll i was flung out of the passenger door and the bus kept on rolling right over me for another 2 more rolls. i got up dazzed and confused and got my self to the median where i layed down and waited for the people that were now all around me to call the ambulance. when they arrived i felt ok just in pain when the put me on the stretcher they found i was bleeding on my back and i was rushed to the hospital where they did exrays and found that i only had minor injures only a couple small cuts on my back that needed to be stitched up. after they gave me 11 stitches they released me and i went home. and just think i didnt even have my license for a week and i had rolled my bus 4 times. i will post pictures of my bus before and after the accident later. thank you for reading.

Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:17 am

Ouch, that sucks.

The Bus rolled over you and you are ok? That sounds super lucky.

Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:19 am

yea im ok the bus rolled right over me but i was lucky enough that it didnt crush me

Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:28 am

Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:29 am

Sorry to hear this, but glad you're OK. Seatbelts?

Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:36 am

Nope no seat belts. And that pic was it during the stripping of the paint and before we buffed it.

Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:07 pm

58euro wrote: Nope no seat belts. Slap your Dad for me.

Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:11 pm

Super glad that you are ok Aastin. When I heard about this it made me think of some things that I have been wanting to do to my bus so I pulled the drag link off last night and am having another one shipped out today so I can get it back on the road this weekend. Sucks about the SC but really glad to hear that you didn't get any serious injuries.

Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:14 pm

Austin,
Glad to hear your ok!!
You can always replace that single cab.
And if your anything like your dad this won't be the last one
You own.
Cuñado.

Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:29 pm

Wow. Glad to hear that you are OK. Most people that are killed or seriously injured in a rollover are crushed by the vehicle, since they get thrown out in front of it while it's rolling.

Next bus you get, do us all a favor and install some seatbelts. VW's are relatively unsafe compared to modern vehicles, but your chances are much better if you stay inside the bus. You are the next generation of VW owner and caretaker, we need you around for awhile.

Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:30 pm

Dave24 wrote: 58euro wrote: Nope no seat belts. Slap your Dad for me.

X2!
Maybe the frame broke in half when you went over the railroad tracks...
Glad you're alive and I hope you learned something useful from your loss.
:)

Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:54 pm

Sobering, and I haven't even been drinking.

I'm still relatively new to the bus scene, but events like this remind me how much less forgiving these things can be compared to modern cars when something happens.

Careful out there.

jw

Tue Aug 14, 2012 1:01 pm

Glad you lived to tell about it.
Is the SC done, or is there a chance for resurrection?

Tue Aug 14, 2012 1:15 pm

Austin, glad you are ok my friend. When I heard about this, I thought the worst. I am glad you are ok, and i thank the Lord that you were not more seriously injured. Let us know if there is anything we can do for you guys. Hope to see you soon.

Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:05 pm

Austin, thank the good Lord your ok!!!!! I spoke with the Paramedics that treated you and they were amazed that you were not injured more than you are. Glad your home safe buddy.

Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:10 pm

I think that even if I had a seatbelt on it would have made my accident all the more worse because I would have been trapped in the bus for 4 rolls instead of 2, but I do know that I will have seatbelts put in my 1958 euro that I'll be driving now. And the bus didn't get as destroyed as I would of thought the bed gates are flattened and the passenger door is destroyed from where I flew outta it. And the treasure chest doors flew off and the spare wheel flew and hit the back door of a small car. The bus could be fixed but I don't think that that will happen.

Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:13 pm

The paramedics and the doctors were all surprised about the minimal damage I had most of them expected me to have died in the accident especially when all the witnesses called in that I had been hit by another car when they just saw me fly under the car and it roll right over me

Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:38 pm

Wow. Scary. Glad your okay.

Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:47 pm

Jesus. All my friends (and myself) all had accidents within the first year of getting our license, but this has to be a record. Sucks.

On a serious note, condolences on your single cab, and congrats on being alive. The mechanism of injury could have easily resulted in a fatality. You are very lucky.

I have rolled my bus as well, also no seat belts, but I was going about 50mph and rolled down an embankment. I wasn't ejected, but if had been, most likely I wouldn't be here right now.

So now you need to figure out why you lost control. Was there a mechanical fault? Or did the tracks pull the steering hard and you weren't expecting it? Single cabs in general handle a bit different than other buses, due to lack of weight in the rear. The rears like to swing out on fast turns, etc... ( not that you were making a turn, just an example).. But any VW requires practice when first driving, and each is unique. You have to get to know the car really good and anticipate what it can and might do.

No offense intended at all, but I would advise that you practice driving on a non-VW for a bit until you are comfortable with solo driving and have more road experience, then maybe try the VW again later. My 2 cents.

Tue Aug 14, 2012 4:26 pm

Wow, that is amazing that you survived this. Glad you're alright.

Every time I here of an accident it make me think of my track time. One in particular. I was back at the paddock asking the suspension guy where they bring the motorbikes that have crashed after each session. He asked me what had happened, I explained the circumstance of my crash. He than asked if I was OK.

Then, he asked me the wisest question of all:

"so, what did you learn?"

Survival is great, but an experience that you live through without learning anything is useless.

Gordo.