wrecked while towing

[billb]

I was driving back from the Texas VW Classic towing my oval with a tow bar in the slow lane heading East on Hwy 290 back to Austin. A couple pulled out from a side street on the other side of the road into my lane directly at my truck. I had no choice but to go off the road to avoid hitting them. My bug fishtailed behind me as I drove straight toward a highway sign. I managed to miss the sign by inches with my truck but the left rear fender of my bug and bumper hit it. Once past the sign I went up the embankment and ran into a steel fence pole, took out a section of barb wire fence, and damaged the front of my truck. The force pulled the rear of my truck forward and wedged my bug up under my truck. The couple that ran me off the road slowed down, then left the scene. Two vehicles behind me stopped to check on me then one took off after the car that fled. They came back shortly with their license plate number and description of the car. Both vehicles agreed to be witnesses and gave me their contact information. I called 911 and a state trooper came shortly after. I provided the info to him and within 15 minutes the car was located. The trooper left to talk to that car and the lady that was driving didn't deny it was her and said that she thought she had enough room to pull out. I'll have to get a full report from the DPS office to see what happened with that other car exactly when the trooper talked to them. I have no idea if they were ticketed for failing to render aid or for running me off the road.

My bug was wedged tight under my truck. While taking the tow bar off I cut my hand pretty bad on the broken glass from the headlamp. The grass on the side of the highway was thick and I didn't see the glass when I put my hand down. Fellow Austin Aircooler Mark and his family were one of the first cars to stop and ask if I needed help. I was going to have a tow truck come so I told I didn't need anymore help. Shortly after another guy from Beaumont (Jerel, I believe) that was selling at the swap meet stopped. Along with another local Fireman and his wife. With their help I was able to get my bug out from under my truck and back on the road to tow it home. My hand was cut really deep and bleeding bad, but I just wanted to get my bug back home. Without the help from Jerel and the Fireman there is no way I would have been able to get my bug home. I went to the hospital around 9pm and got a tetanus shot and x-rays to make sure there wasn't any glass left in my hand and to make sure the tendons weren't cut. I got 3 stitches and should recover fairly quickly.

I need to call my insurance this morning to get a claim started. I hope that old couple was insured. I have my own insurance for my bug but I am going to do everything in my power to make them pay for everything. Beyond getting my truck and car fixed, I have to repair the farmers fence too. That old farmer was super pissed about his fence. I assured him that it'll get fixed and talked to him for a while to get him to calm down.

It could have been a lot worse. I am happy to be alive. My hand, my truck, and my car can all be fixed. I am trying to look at the positive side and hope to use this as an opportunity to make my oval window look even better.

Here are the pictures:

[drscope]

That REALLY sucks!

Sometimes it doesn't help to try to avoid things. I know folks who tried to avoid critters in the road only to try to move a tree.

Good luck! It sounds as if you have a long battle ahead of you.
_________________
Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

[steven.hay]

Total bummer, but glad you are ok!

[Sketchy_1]

[Slow Steve]

Bummer man! Glad everyone was ok. Good luck with it.
_________________
BarryL wrote:
100 years from now when they have reverse atom regeneration attractor technology perfected and in a hand held back yard mechanic's price range, someone will dig up this thread and go, "What were those guys thinking? The whole thing was all there just waiting to be re-atomized. Funny how easily they cut them up back then."
___________________

74 911
72 914
65 13w Deluxe
60 Ragtop

[stale air]

Wow, talk about your worst nightmare! Im glad to hear you are ok, like you said your oval and your truck can be fixed, but man, I would be completely crushed. I think your positive attitude will get you far in this situation. Its a good thing that the bystanders were able to get the license number of the other vehicle. I hope not only your insurance company, but theirs will come through for you and make things right. Keep us posted on how things progress.
_________________
WANTED: Henry Veale Santa Rosa plate frames
WANTED: Brittsan Motors Fresno plate frames
WANTED: Any Georgia plate frames

[OvalinAz]

man that sucks. glad your alright
_________________
Dad's 4/55 Oval
8/56 Oval
5/64 French Notchback
12/62 French 11 Window Bus
Wedge VW
Pandraggers C.C.

[mcelhaney14]

That sucks big time. Glad to hear you made it out alright. At least on the oval it looks like all the damage is isolated to unboltable parts.

[EverettB]

Crap, that sucks!

If you need any past ads off the site to help with values, etc. for the insurance, email me.
_________________
How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[KäferKrieger]

You're a good man,
I'd drive a linear impact into that old farts rear bumper absorber.

_________________
I contend that we thinking people should,
"Round-up all religious humans and put them on one island together.
An island where they can permanently sort out their indifferences & insecurities once and for all."

[Erik G]

[50ate]

man this is sad to see.. Im glad your ok.. My personal opinion is i would never tow a car that nice with a tow bar but that is beside the point.. Its nice to see your attitude toward this situation and because of that i bet you will have this car fixed and like you said itl be even better.. good luck with the ins company..

[silvertonguedevil]

Well first of all, I'm glad you're ok. But aside from that.....this sucks!! What a bummer. It's good to see your attitude towards it and hopefully it all works out. Your oval is a sweetheart! Lookin' forward to see it comin' back together.
_________________
-Greg

[69vduber]

Glad your ok. Like your car. I saw it at the classic.

[my03yellowv]

Love your Vw..If you did that nice of a job with it I am sure you can get it back to the way it was.. How do you like your Frontier? I had an extra cab Desert Runner besides the looks I hated that truck Gas mileage was terrible and always had problems with it the color was also Yellow so the truck was really a lemon lol.

[billb]

[Rustforlife]

Glad you're ok, and the car looks repairable too. I saw it parked over by our campsite (VOSA-San Antonio) this weekend and was impressed with the work put into it. Hope it gets fixed quickly.
I lost my '69 vert last month in a crash, it was totaled . Luckily for me, my ins. co. had a check in my hands in 3weeks.

[aa390392]

[Boom]

glad you are okay, the way the rear fender is creased looks like it was made that way.
keep us posted on the rebuild
_________________
Ovals are Overrated.....Click to view image

67 Chubby White Chic

Düg Büg

dLk

[cory464]

don't be nice to the insurance guys. they owe you the value of your loss. not what they think it is worth. that sucks more than words, but glad you are okay. next time just hit the guy.