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Slimvest
Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2014
Posts: 431
Location: Portland, OR
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 Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:00 am Post subject: Rear-ended in a Westfalia (at freeway speeds) |
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Thought I'd share this image. My dad's cousin was rear-ended on the freeway in his '84. He was going 60 or 65 and was hit by an uninsured driver going 80. He walked away from this with minor scrapes.
Side note: the email he sent my dad asked, "Do you think your son still wants my van? I'm done with it." 
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'87 GL w/ Reimo top (sold Aug '21) |
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dobryan 
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17292
Location: Brookeville, MD
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fleet_maintenance
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2013
Posts: 323
Location: Upstate NY
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:04 am Post subject: |
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Incredible impact. Interesting how the van crumpled, especially the way the slider folded inward. Did the van hit anything in front of it after it was rear-ended?
Glad to hear the cousin was well enough to call and joke about the van and accident afterwards. |
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whynotvw
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2004
Posts: 1322
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:05 am Post subject: |
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Thats too bad  Not trying to be a smart ass. But thats exactly the reason why I got Engine conversion, so I can keep up with the traffic. I live in So Cal. and avg. speed on the freeway is 75 to 80. Where I live and drive, driving 60 to 65 on the freeway is dangerous.
Glad your cousin is ok, can't believe he walked away from that accident. |
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EverettB
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Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 71836
Location: Phoenix 602
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6344
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:09 am Post subject: |
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Wow! I'm glad no one was seriously injured.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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sea_sick
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2012
Posts: 113
Location: West Coast
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:23 am Post subject: |
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That was a big hit. Glad he's OK.
Side note: the email he sent my dad asked, "Do you think your son still wants my van? I'm done with it."
^^^^^^^^^
Funny stuff right there! Glad he came out of it with humor intact. |
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TequilaSunSet
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Joined: May 30, 2012
Posts: 2109
Location: Philippines
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:28 am Post subject: |
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DAYUM... this could have easily ended so much worse, glad he is OK... awesome that he can still find humor in this (I would be booked for homicide!)
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Gauche1968
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Joined: April 13, 2006
Posts: 1562
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:33 am Post subject: |
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What happened to the other guy?
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fleet_maintenance
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2013
Posts: 323
Location: Upstate NY
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:33 am Post subject: |
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| ...and another volkswagen engineer's wings fell off.... |
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BlueGrasser
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Joined: August 27, 2014
Posts: 562
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:36 am Post subject: |
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Oh my gosh, there are window seals all over the ground and everything he had in the back is strewn across the hillside. That most have been a scary few moments! 
Glad he was alright. How did the other driver fair?
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Going to where the grass is bluer...
1985 Vanagon Westfalia Camper with 1.8T |
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Slimvest
Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2014
Posts: 431
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:52 am Post subject: |
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| Gauche1968 wrote: |
| What happened to the other guy? |
My dad's side of the family isn't known to be long winded. The only details I got were:
email subject was: "Westfalia for sale"
"I'm done with this one. Do you think Andrew might still like it?
Gordy
PS I lived. No major injuries."
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Steelhead
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Joined: February 25, 2007
Posts: 1791
Location: Kentfield, CA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:07 am Post subject: |
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whoa! Guessing it rolled sideways into that phone pole, hence the caved side. yowzer.
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1vw4x4
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Joined: June 22, 2005
Posts: 472
Location: Pgh. PA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:13 am Post subject: |
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That impact was a lot more than you specified. I'm not expert, but I'm
guessing the difference was like 50 MPH at least. Good to hear he's ok... |
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IdahoDoug
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Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10357
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:23 am Post subject: |
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I disagree it was a huge hit from the rear. That deformation around the slider and roof is from the van sliding into something - end of a guardrail, a larger post we are not seeing, etc. The phone pole is a breakaway design, though if the van were on its roof sliding into it the roof will crumple more easily than the rocker panels would have if it were sliding on its wheels.
The reason I disagree it was a massive rear hit is the hatch looks largely deformed. If you've never had contact from another vehicle at speed, you may not appreciate the remarkable destabilizing effect it can have. Looks to me as stated - a rear hit and likely slid the van a bit and then you'd have to be well trained not to lose control. I'm always amazed at how easy it is to lose control of a vehicle at speed and the average unsuspecting driver has no idea how close to that situation they are just motoring along at 65.
Anyhow, dibs on the wheel centers?
DougM
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ALIKA T3
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Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 7300
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:39 am Post subject: |
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Holy sh%t!!!
Glad he is ok!!
Very impressive and shocking picture indeed!
We got a guy in France who go hit at 140 KM/h while he was at 90. 50 km/H difference.
The whole back end of the van got shortened by a big ass semi truck (driver fell asleep).
The cover from the engine popped and flew off towards the front.
If he didn't have a cabin separation wall, his head would've chopped off.
I think I'm going to put a leash on that engine cover….
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fleet_maintenance
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2013
Posts: 323
Location: Upstate NY
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:55 am Post subject: |
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Amateur Accident Re-Constructor here, the no skid marks part is odd, unless they are all out of the frame of the picure. Given the amount of dirt around the final resting spot and the damage, here's my guess:
1. Rear-ended at 15-20mph differential on rear left corner, causing loss of control.
2. Van careens and overcorrects wildly and veers back right into hillside, causing van to roll onto drivers' front corner.
3, While rolling, van contacts pole with slider (while upside down and tumbling), turning call box into mobile phone.
4.Van comes to rest as it is seen photo.
5.Driver exits van, snaps photo, sends email. |
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transanalog
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2011
Posts: 67
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 11:48 am Post subject: |
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| fleet_maintenance wrote: |
Amateur Accident Re-Constructor here, the no skid marks part is odd, unless they are all out of the frame of the picure. Given the amount of dirt around the final resting spot and the damage, here's my guess:
1. Rear-ended at 15-20mph differential on rear left corner, causing loss of control.
2. Van careens and overcorrects wildly and veers back right into hillside, causing van to roll onto drivers' front corner.
3, While rolling, van contacts pole with slider (while upside down and tumbling), turning call box into mobile phone.
4.Van comes to rest as it is seen photo.
5.Driver exits van, snaps photo, sends email. |
Somewhat disagree. My theory:
1. As you say.
2. Van careens and overcorrects wildly and veers back right into hillside hitting the call box pole sideways causing the van to roll.
3. Van comes to rest as it is seen photo.
4. Driver exits van, snaps photo, sends email.
I'm glad no one was seriously hurt. Also, not to be gratuitous (translation: I'm being gratuitous) but if you have more pictures of the van can you post them here? |
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Jeffrey Lee
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Joined: February 04, 2014
Posts: 1520
Location: Wisconsin
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Gauche1968 wrote: |
| What happened to the other guy? |
If history is any indication, the offending driver walked away without injuries, and will be driving hell-for-leather in another uninsured car within the week ... |
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vanonimous
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2013
Posts: 366
Location: Burien, Center of the Universe
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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Yikes. So glad he wasn't injured. He must have at least been dizzy. What was the other car?
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