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billb Samba Member
Joined: October 23, 2005 Posts: 369 Location: Austin, Texas
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:42 pm Post subject: wrecked while towing |
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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:
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drscope Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007 Posts: 15273 Location: Baltimore, Maryland USA
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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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! |
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steven.hay Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2011 Posts: 41 Location: Indiana
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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Total bummer, but glad you are ok! |
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Sketchy_1 Samba Member
Joined: May 28, 2010 Posts: 273 Location: That two horse town
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:17 pm Post subject: Re: wrecked while towing |
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billb wrote: |
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. |
Unfortunate that this happened, but what a great attitude towards the whole event. Good to see some decent folks out there doing the right thing when others choose not to and have to be chased down. _________________ 69' Karmann Ghia Convertible AWD Project (FB Build) (STF Build) |
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Slow Steve Samba Member
Joined: October 23, 2008 Posts: 715 Location: Midlothian, VA
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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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 |
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stale air Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2007 Posts: 5152 Location: Senoia Ga, formally NorCal
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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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
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OvalinAz Samba Mini Tech
Joined: June 09, 2009 Posts: 1076 Location: AZ
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mcelhaney14 Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2010 Posts: 93 Location: Phelan, California
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69823 Location: Phoenix Metro
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KäferKrieger Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2010 Posts: 331 Location: Pacific Woodpile
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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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." |
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Erik G Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002 Posts: 13280 Location: Tejas!
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:17 pm Post subject: Re: wrecked while towing |
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Sketchy_1 wrote: |
billb wrote: |
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. |
Unfortunate that this happened, but what a great attitude towards the whole event. Good to see some decent folks out there doing the right thing when others choose not to and have to be chased down. |
that Texas for you! some people run you off the road, others help you back onto it
glad you're ok, car looks like it was only bolt on items that were hurt _________________ Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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50ate Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2007 Posts: 1171 Location: Rainier/Olympia Washington
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:47 pm Post subject: |
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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.. |
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silvertonguedevil Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2010 Posts: 1692 Location: Vale, OR
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 6:44 am Post subject: |
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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 |
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69vduber Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2008 Posts: 441 Location: Spring Texas
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:23 am Post subject: |
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Glad your ok. Like your car. I saw it at the classic. |
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my03yellowv Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2005 Posts: 420
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:50 am Post subject: |
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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. |
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billb Samba Member
Joined: October 23, 2005 Posts: 369 Location: Austin, Texas
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:59 am Post subject: |
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my03yellowv wrote: |
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. |
Thanks. It will only be a matter of time before my car looks better than ever.
The Nissan has been good, but the gas mileage sucks. I got a great deal on it but I had been planning on selling it sometime soon anyway. I'm trying to convince my wife that we need an Audi S4 Wagon to haul groceries and our 18 month old twins in. |
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Rustforlife Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2007 Posts: 589 Location: Texas-y'all
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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aa390392 Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2007 Posts: 3602 Location: So.Cal
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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KäferKrieger wrote: |
You're a good man,
I'd drive a linear impact into that old farts rear bumper absorber.
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Kafer where can one find this bumper guard?
and it sucks about your weekend....sorry about all the problems _________________ .
getting grumpy & less tolerant!
55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet |
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Boom Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Houston by God Texas
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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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 |
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cory464 Samba Member
Joined: November 25, 2010 Posts: 659 Location: kokomo in
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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