Bad accident, Tolstoy details, and lots of pictures Update!

[Dolamite02]

Here's the link to pictures The Bug is dead. The continuation of that phrase, Long live the Bug, will occur when she begins her, hopeful, rise again. Bear in mind that writing all this was fairly therapeutic, and was written as though the reader had no knowledge of VW's. On to Tolstoy...



Some of you know already, though most of you don't. This past Friday, I was heading back in to Fort Worth from Colorado with my folks and was involved in a pretty bad car accident on I-20. I am perfectly fine, not a scratch, and no one else was involved (directly).

We had swung through Lubbock, picked up the Bug and my truck, and headed out on the road with our 3 vehicle caravan, myself in the lead towing the VW, my folks behind in the van.

The drive was long since we had been on the road since the day before and I was looking forward to getting home and rewiring the car. The remnants of tropical storm Erin were making their way across the state, dumping rain on us almost the entire way across Texas. With slick streets and a precious cargo behind me, I was being especially careful with my driving. My efforts though proved to be in vain as I climbed a hill and entered a left curve.

Cresting the hill in the right lane, I had a clear lane before me for about a quarter mile, and saw a very slow moving pick up in the left lane. At the same time, a car came screaming past on my left side, right behind the slow truck, whipped around him, and threw on his brakes. Not a brake check. Not a slow down. This was a full, nose down, brakes on stop, right in front of me and for absolutely no reason. As best my folks and I have conjectured, the driver probably threw 'em on to give the finger to the slower truck.

Unfortunately, with Speedy McDumbass suddenly in front of me, I had to maneuver into the left lane to avoid piling into the guy’s back seat. As I did this I hit the brakes, almost to the point of locking though not quite, and that's when things went south.

It's important to consider that the Ranger has virtually all of it's weight in the front where the engine is and none in the rear while conversely, the Bug has none in the front and all it's weight in it's rear. This is not the most ideal towing situation ever. The other player in this is the fact that the Bug, when being towed, has no brakes; it's just a trailer. Unfortunately, it's one whose front wheels have to turn left and right as the truck/car turns. All of this comes into play here.

Braking hard, I jump into the left lane, and as I straightened out the truck, the rear of the Bug continued to swing to the left, which pushed the truck's nose to the left >. I straightened again, but the Bug reversed its swing, pushing the truck to the right <. Straightening it out a third time, I did finally lock the wheels which caused the entire set up to swing counter clockwise while in an almost straight line. Briefly heading down I-20 backwards, now looking into oncoming traffic, the front right wheel of the Bug touched the rain soaked center median and dug in. The Bug rolled as it entered the median ditch, with the back of the truck finally coming to a crashing stop on top of it.

I looked up across the highway to see my parents, sprinting toward me having just seen their son slip across an interstate and between the roaring traffic of big rigs. As I looked to my left, I saw the remains of my car, upside down in a muddy, watery ditch.

Seeing that, I felt the sudden surge of adrenaline which had undoubtedly been coursing through my body already. I flipped out. So many thousands of hours of work on the car. So much money. So much love, and care, and now she sat before me, new floor pans looking skyward for the first time. Her hood's been crushed, as well as the front apron, and both front fenders. The original windshield's gone now; the A-Pillars which held it up are flattened back into the cab. The new canvas top, less than a month old, is crushed; it's frame a twisted mass of metal.

The person that started this unfortunate chain didn't even consider coming back. He saw what he did, gunned his engine, and left. I hope that he knows the damage that he's caused, the pain and hurt; and I hope that he carries that knowledge with him for the rest of his life.



All is not lost however. Despite my writings and my own immediate impression, the car actually faired surprisingly well. The frame appears undamaged, as well as the floor pans, engine, and tranny. The new tail lenses I'd found are untouched, and the original rear glass is undamaged as well. Replacement fenders and hood all bolt on. The only tough part will be the A-Pillars. They are a part of the main body, and will be a tough thing to fix. My folks think that the material of the top looks great; surprisingly they didn't see any tears in it. Thus, all is not lost. We'll have to work with the insurance but, "We can rebuild her. We have the technology."
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1973 Super Beetle Convertible
Bad accident, Tolstoy details, and lots of pictures
The Bug is Dead "Long Live the Bug" will be posted with her re-restoration

[jkyes]

That is very hard to look at and read about. glad you are ok. good luck with the new work. Funny I was just having a conversation with my wife as to whether or not the bug was a classic and deserved a little extra care... this only strengthens my position.
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[Fahrvergnügen]

[piemat]

I'm sorry to hear that! I can't imagine how you must feel. My initial concern was that you were inside the car.

Though no one was hurt someone should have been. I can't believe the driver did not stop. I know your family was to concerned about you to do so, but I wish for the sake of justice they would have chased that car down. Maybe they will come forward or someone who knows something will come forward with some information.

Maybe you could help this out by stating the make, model and color of the car? Its worth shot.

I hope your insurance gives you the price you deserve, but I have a feeling it will be an uphill battle between you two.

Hang in there.

[beetleboy58]

What year car? I may be able to help with metal...

[walter kandetzki]

looks like a 73 to me.has the big tail lights with the pre 74 bumpers

[The Pirate]

Do you have a description of the offenders car or his plate#? Because I would so dearly love to run across this A$$ marmot and beat him with a random VW part till he resembles your car after the incident. I say incident and not accident because this was no accident this was the outcome of an A$$ marmots A$$ marmontry on a wet road. I would like to know what makes people think the can just drive like a manic on a wet road.

I once watched a dulie pickup lose it in the rain, on this turn that was cut through a hill with steep rock sides on either side. He bounced back and fourth like a pinball 4 times. I pulled over to make sure the genius didn’t kill himself and here is what I see.

“Goober” is stumbling out of the truck with the remains of a broken cell phone still held to his face. He looks at me as I walk up and blithely states “I don’t understand it I was going the speed limit.” Genius is going 45 on a wet road on this turn. I have begun to wonder if they still teach people that the speed limit is posted for clear dry ideal conditions and that it is not a constant no matter what the weather. I called 911 for him and bailed as soon as they arrived. The only thing I feel bad about is how many of these yahoos manage cull themselves from the human herd but take a few good and usable ones with them. If they could do it more often with out involving others in their suicide via dumbness all the better.
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74 super beetle AKA The Pirate.

We are currently offering a rebuild service for Beetle rack and pinion steering units. PM for details.

Service with a Yahhrrr.

[german69]

I am glad to here that you are going to rebuild the bug, i love late and early model bugs equaly and think they deserve the same, unlike some early bug owner! Even though that is not my bug i feel pain. goodluck!
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GoodVanGarage

[66foot]

Dolamite - First of all it is good to see that you were not injured. As you replace the A-frame think about installing a sleek Porsche-like roll-bar.

And, remember the good times:

[kazzepink]

First of all, be glad to be alive and of healthy mind and body. Secondly, I felt rage reading your story! Here goes my release...
"What the F* is wrong with drivers today? What the H*ll is their hurry?"
I drive all day for a living in a van and I cannot tell you how many stories I have seen/heard when it comes to drivers that have 0 common sense. Just recently, and I mean about three days ago a man was killed taking a morning walk. He was walking on the sidewalk towards his house and the early hours of the morning. This car was speeding down the road, hell bent on beating out whatever it was that irk'd him on his car, the road and anything that got in his way. The reports say he was traveling down this RESIDENTIAL street at such high speeds that when he turned the corner he cross the double yellow line and drove onto the sidewalk and killed the walker. The walker was thrown from his clothing across the road and the car kept going out of control. It rammed into a fire hydrant and knocked the thing clear away from the impact. The water pipe inside burst and water came pouring out and creating a quick sand effect where the car sunk. It took crews hours to get the car out. The man is charged with vehical homocide amongst a slew of reckless driving charges - he was not drunk - just in a hurry and oh and he blamed the sun.
So you are alive and your folks and for the rest of that other drivers life you will be stitched in his mind. He will always wonder just what he did and somewhere within that little mind of his will be that inner voice that will forever and ever remind him that he is a coward true and true.
Your bug will better than ever. Those Germans made a car that can take a lot more than some halfwit in a big hurry to go no where. You and the bug live! Anyhow, its great this forum is here to help you get her back on her feet.

[a.wilson]

[TheycallmeBruce]

Man, that stinks. If you ever figure out who this jackass is, be sure to let everyone know. Keep the updates on the rebuild comming, glad you are okay
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John B.

[Fibersport]

Glad to hear you are OK, sorry to hear that it happened. Good luck with your next labor of love project.
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1973 Standard Beetle

[dandhcomputers]

what a sad sad day
i am gald you are ok i hope you can fix her she was a pretty car

[piemat]

I see a lot of passing in NO passing zones too.

Check out this old german VW commercial. Maybe your in the clear...


Link

[razorback711]

Sorry to hear about and see the car. But, glad that you weren't hurt. Hope all goes well with the repairs.

[kevin11]

Where in ft. worth are you?? I saw a vert ,rear smashed somewheres in Lillian a few weeks ago. I know where there is a vert sitting in a junkyard is at also.I don't think it is for sale,but may make a perfect donor car ,either way.

[SandSquid]

Do you have a vehicle description and a tag, even a partial tag?

I have a _lot_ of L.E. search resources at my disposal and a whole lot of time to do endless database searches... And fellow officers and officials in other States that love nothing more than to help put ass-munches like this behind bars. What he did was not only wrong, it was criminal. And by leaving the scene, he made his eventual beat-down a whole lot worse.


PM me, I might be able to help.
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V/R
SandSquid
1974 Super Beetle, ("Put-Putt")
1971 Super Beetle Convertable (a bare shell.)
1987 Volvo 745Ti 835k Mi. "Grouchy"
1988 Volvo 764Ti 380k Mi. "Speedy"
1988 Volvo 765Ti 160k Mi. "Road Trip!!!"

[Dolamite02]

Thank you again everyone for your well wishes, I'll be passing this thread and it's counterpart along to my folks.

Several of you have asked, and unfortunately, I couldn't even offer a vehicle color, everything happened so fast. Ordinarily I'm very observant of details for just such an occasion, but this time I was quickly in overdrive trying to keep things steady on the road. The best that I can manage, and this is from my dad's account, a silver Grand Prix or Monte Carlo, no license. To be quite honest, I was livid when someone smashed my bumper, this day, I absolutely lost it. The driver is probably lucky that he didn't stop because I probably would have done something really stupid.
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1973 Super Beetle Convertible
Bad accident, Tolstoy details, and lots of pictures
The Bug is Dead "Long Live the Bug" will be posted with her re-restoration

[dualref]

I am so sorry to hear (and see!) the results of this accident. At least you weren't hurt. Thank goodness.

There are so many idiots on the road today. They just think of themselves!

I heard of a kid in the Chicago area that has a unique hobby. He drives a Honda rice rocket on the freeways up there at 100 mph. When a cop stops him he starts crying and tells the cop his father is dying and he is trying to get to the hospital on time. He laughs his ass off at them when they let him go. So far, 18 cops have fell for this.


See what I mean?