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SeattleDownhill Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2009 Posts: 131 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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I think a little part of me just died... Sorry to hear about the van, but stoked that you're ok man! |
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shepherdsond Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2005 Posts: 439 Location: Bellingham, WA
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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I can understand why people want to see pictures of the inside - it's a scary thought about pasengers. I did get some other photos but they were taken with a disposable film camera that I had in my glove compartment. I will post those if they come out OK. When we visited the tow yard it was dark and I had no flash so unless I visit again I may not be able to get photos. It is possible that the rear bench seat area was not damaged as badly as I first thought. I do know that I was able to lift the bench seat to remove all the stuff underneath (spare parts!) and it was intact (the side that the ECU attaches to though had gone). I think someone in the back would at the very least have leg injuries from the kitchen being very forcibly pushed into the van and possibly head injuries from the exploding rear cabinet and of course flying glass. I think the rear table could do some damage. The safest place is probably the middle of the rear bench seat. The other danger that I have sometimes thought about is that if you have alot of stuff in the back piled high (I did not on this trip) it will be thrown forward into the back of the passengers heads. Head rests and shoulder seat belts seem like a good idea. |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12005 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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Projectiles(untied cargo, tools, spare parts, etc.) can do all kinds of secondary damage to passengers in a collision. Something I quickly realised in the 2 rollovers that I have been in (I was a passenger both times). |
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Crankey Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2004 Posts: 2656
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 11:39 pm Post subject: |
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wow that's amazing !! really glad you and your dog are ok !
take care and good luck getting your life back together !! |
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240Gordy Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2008 Posts: 2354 Location: Vancouver, BC
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:23 am Post subject: |
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syncrodoka wrote: |
Projectiles(untied cargo, tools, spare parts, etc.) can do all kinds of secondary damage to passengers in a collision. Something I quickly realised in the 2 rollovers that I have been in (I was a passenger both times). |
yes this is very important. I have way too much unsecured stuff in my van, tools, etc. Those photos of the fancy dash desks and all kinds of stuff in the back scare me. I guess people don't realize how little it takes to send stuff flying.
Nobody saw the story of the woman who was killed when her laptop went flying and hit her on the back of the head, she had left it on the back seat . . . _________________ Tencentlife said,
"So, now that you know what you're doing, go to town."
2010 GOLF TRENDLINE 2.5
1985 GL now with more! a 2.1L
H&R SPORT(RED) Springs FRONT , SLAM SPECIALTIES RE6 AIRBAGS REAR |
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GBA 88West LA Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2008 Posts: 1279 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:45 am Post subject: |
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my sincere sympathies, best wishes & regards to everyone involved _________________ 88 Westy GL Vanaru 07 2.5 EJ25/AA Trans/oiling plates, 1.14 3rd-.77-4th..solar powered cabin |
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theizzardking Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2008 Posts: 2097 Location: seattle
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:05 am Post subject: |
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glad to hear everyone and even the dogs are ok!!(they don't get seatbelts, poor guys!)
made my stomach turn just looking at it, good thing the story that followed was a semi-good one, all things considered!
anyone ever notice with 98% of these crash photo's you see, you can tell it wasn't the bus drivers fault, so the question is, why do people like to crash into us so much?
again, sorry for the loss of a loved one(the bus), but unlike the passengers on board they aren't replaceable, way to handle a bad situation and keep everyone safe!!! good luck with the insurance,finding a another syncro, and the build to come....sorry again and best wishes! _________________ "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin
'71 westie "the wanderer" |
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Dogpilot Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2005 Posts: 4205 Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:08 am Post subject: |
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When I was with NOAA, we lost one of our research King Airs. It had an engine issue and made an emergency belly landing at a school yard. Everybody would have survived the accident, but all the unsecured equipment in the cabin killed all the occupants. After that accident, we had to re-evaluate how we kept equipment in the cabin and the rack designs.
One more grisly aircraft story. We had a Neurosurgeon client. He was, like all doctors headstrong and a poor taker of advice. He was returning to the Fulton County Airport at night. He had declared he had low fuel to the controllers. They offered vectors to several fields in along his route. He refused them all insisting he could make the field. He almost made it, landing about 800 yard short of the runway, plowing through a parking lot. No fire, as there was no fuel onboard. The aircraft was in good shape relative to the incident. The doctor was dead as a door nail. It seemed he liked to listen to CD's on his trips and his CD player used AA batteries. He tossed all the spent batteries onto the glarescreen. Well as he pitched forward in his straps on the less than smooth landing, he managed to pound one of the AA batteries through his forehead. Apparently, this is not a "Brain Healthy Activity." Somewhat ironic, considering his profession. _________________ Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G |
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becida Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2004 Posts: 50 Location: USA
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6243 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:11 am Post subject: |
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Wow....Totally unbelievable! I'm sorry about the crash. I travel that road all the time too. As one who has been through a serious wreck in a Westy I know what you're going through. There was just a thread discussing the vanagon safety in a side impact and now we have our proof. I'm glad there were no serious injuries. It really shows how strong and well engineered these vans are.
If you need any help or advice I'm in Portland too. I was able to get more from insurance than I actually paid for the van and found a better replacement. Feel free to PM me and I'll help all I can. You're in for a little bit of a challenge.
Who is your insurance with?
Glad everyone was ok. -Rick _________________ 89 Westy 2.1 Auto
Last edited by PDXWesty on Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:49 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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240Gordy Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2008 Posts: 2354 Location: Vancouver, BC
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:39 am Post subject: |
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Dogpilot wrote: |
He was, like all doctors headstrong and a poor taker of advice. |
a few head pilots suffer them same malady?
the KLM guy that insisted on taking off in the fog at Tenerife comes to mind . . . _________________ Tencentlife said,
"So, now that you know what you're doing, go to town."
2010 GOLF TRENDLINE 2.5
1985 GL now with more! a 2.1L
H&R SPORT(RED) Springs FRONT , SLAM SPECIALTIES RE6 AIRBAGS REAR |
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Dogpilot Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2005 Posts: 4205 Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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True, giving pilots in general advice is akin to herding cats. However if you compare the flight hour flown or take off and landings per incident by member of Homo Sapiens by job class, doctors win hands down in killing themselves or taking a crowd with them. By far the largest number of fatals by job class I have worked, the doctors win. Lawyers just screw up the planes and blame everybody else. _________________ Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G |
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seattlenelson Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2009 Posts: 1 Location: seattle
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:54 pm Post subject: Destroyed Westy Vanagon |
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Hi! I just went through the normal insurance nightmare with my insurance company (and the one belonging to the guy that hit me) regarding the value.. I just kept saying NO. They finally turned it over to an independent appraisal company called BIG BLOCK in Portland, OR. They came up with a decent evaluation, and the problem was solved. Good luck and sorry it happened! ciao |
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GWTWTLW Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2008 Posts: 2174 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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That is the absolute key in Oregon (and probably most other states as well) is to invoke the independant appraisal clause. You still have to go through the process of them making (and you refusing) their offer. Once they get to the point where they aren't budging, go the independant appraisal route! It takes the process out of their hands and leaves it up the the 3rd parties to resolve. It may take a while to resolve but in my case it was a difference of about $13K in settlement value. _________________ 89 Syncro Westy - GW 2.5, now with a double knob job
@gwtwtlw |
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cnighbor1 Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2009 Posts: 1 Location: WalnutCreek CA
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:19 pm Post subject: wrecked Vanagon |
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If you need a replacement buy my 91 Vanagon Multi_Van 125,000 miles PS PW AT AC
Charles |
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CurtisS Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2006 Posts: 128 Location: Kingston, WA USA
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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I am seriously glad to hear that you are okay! That was a really wicked crash. I am with the others in that I cringed when I saw the middle section damage. This is where my daughter usually sits. I wonder if the door side would be more/less stronger considering there is a door frame?
Anyway, take care and let us know when you get a new Westy!
Ciao for now!
CurtisS |
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aquaboxa Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2009 Posts: 96 Location: Upstate NY
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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Glad to see you are okay! What a miracle... your beautiful syncro is a small price to pay for your life. _________________ '89 Vanagon Bluestar
a.k.a. "The Bermuda Rectangle" |
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j8 Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2003 Posts: 575 Location: Minneapolis, MN
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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holy smokes shepherdsond!
so very, very glad you and your dog are alright. your wife must have been really shaken to see that happen.
sorry about your van, but glad it wasn't you taking the brunt of it. _________________ Julia
'89 2WD Westy (No end to names...) |
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tschroeder0 Samba Member
Joined: April 14, 2008 Posts: 2096 Location: Boulder CO
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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I don't even have the words....that is incredible.
It says a lot that you kept your head and made some (obviously) very good decisions, I would take GWTWTLW up on his offer to help, he went through a load of crap with his insurance company to make sure he got what the vehicle was worth.
In the end it's just a van and can be replaced. Take care, Todd |
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pete000 Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Ocala FL
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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Did they lock up the guy who killed your Syncro I hope.
The Vanagon is quite a strong vehicle as these accidents show. _________________ 1990 Vanagon RS 2.1
1967 Deluxe 21 window
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Koni Shocks
H & R Red Springs
Addco Sway Bars Front-Rear
18 X 7.5 and 18 X 8 OEM Porsche Wheels
Recaro Power-Heated seats |
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