Westy Sycnro RIP

SeattleDownhill · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject:

I think a little part of me just died... Sorry to hear about the van, but stoked that you're ok man!

shepherdsond · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:54 pm Post subject:

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.

syncrodoka · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:59 pm Post subject:

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).

Crankey · Samba Member Joined: July 11, 2004 Posts: 2656

wow that's amazing !! really glad you and your dog are ok !
take care and good luck getting your life back together !!

240Gordy · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:23 am Post subject:

GBA 88West LA · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:45 am Post subject:

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

theizzardking · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:05 am Post subject:

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"

Dogpilot · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:08 am Post subject:

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

becida · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:09 am Post subject: Insurance

Go to http://gerry.vanagon.com/files/auto-insurance-madness.html to read about dealing with a totaled syncro Westy.

Sad to see the pictures and really glad you walked away.
_________________
Rob
Traveling...

PDXWesty · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:11 am Post subject:

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
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

240Gordy · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:39 am Post subject:

Dogpilot · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:15 pm Post subject:

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

seattlenelson · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:54 pm Post subject: Destroyed Westy Vanagon

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

GWTWTLW · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:24 pm Post subject:

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

cnighbor1 · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:19 pm Post subject: wrecked Vanagon

If you need a replacement buy my 91 Vanagon Multi_Van 125,000 miles PS PW AT AC
Charles

CurtisS · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject:

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

aquaboxa · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:47 pm Post subject:

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"

j8 · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 3:15 pm Post subject:

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...)

tschroeder0 · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject:

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

pete000 · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:35 pm Post subject:

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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