Vanagon crash, very sad.

ftp2leta · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:01 pm Post subject: Vanagon crash, very sad.

A thread I'm following on the Vanagon Mailing list.

The folks are ok, still:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rogerwhitt1/2009December14VanagonWreckWamsutterWy?feat=directlink#

Detail:
well tonight at about 7:30 PM just about 40 minutes west of Rawlins
Whyoming ... we hit a patch of ice and sailed .. or tumbled over the
road edge ... at least three complete turns later when we came to rest on the drivers door ... all is well with jena and my self ..
me 100% ojena a little swelled ankle ??
hospital at Rawlins ... the folks are amazing ...

More news in a video format, it's about their cat who survie the crash and spent 2 days in the cold...

Click on: Cat survives car crash to travel cross country

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/video?id=7182867#global

Ben
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Rhinoculips · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject:

Holy crap! Shocked

Thankfully they are ok. The van looks like it held up very well considering it rolled three times.
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purplepeopleeater · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject:

Wow, that looks like it was quite a crash.

You know, if you rolled your say....2002 caravan that many times I can imagine you would not do that well.

SteveVanB · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:37 pm Post subject:

Holy smokes! Glad to hear they're ok! I can't believe the way that wheel broke!......must've been pretty violent.
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JunkYarDog · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:45 pm Post subject:

So sorry to hear that happened, and glad to hear your alright.
Did the laptop bite the dust too?
And on the wheel that broke that's pretty wild.
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Captain Pike · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:10 pm Post subject:

'bout 17 years ago I was outside of rock springs, Wy headed west. Same time of year. High plains, you pass thru the thermo freeze layer. Next thing you know you fish tail out, 360 spin, three 1/2 rotations. I was lucky,ass ended into a nice soft snow drift. Missed a no gard rail down the hill see ya when the sun comes up by 5 feet. Black ice most likely>>>>>> Evil or Very Mad

dug out with my hub cap
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peaceful warrior · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:15 pm Post subject:

Good to see that the couple are okay, and that they found their cat! Smart animals, cats are. My house burned down in 1987, and I had just let my cats out beforehand, luckily. The next day, they were sitting on the remains of the upper floor waiting for me to feed them. One lived to 20 years old and the other till she was 26. Wish I had that kind of luck!

I say that their Vanagon did pretty darn well in protecting the occupants. Wink

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carterzest · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:27 pm Post subject:

That will not buff out. WOW, glad that they are OK as well. I hope all of their belongings got rescued and they are able to salvage their Christmas in Pemberville, Ohio. Crying or Very sad

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Vanagonner · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:03 pm Post subject:

So glad they are all ok. Quite a story with the cat, the thoughtful tow operator, and the nice parents. I hope insurance gets them another nice westy.
I don't think many "California"'s ever made it to this continent. sorry to see such a beautiful rig get wadded up. Such a terrifying stretch of road this time of year- the relentless wind makes ground blizzards that the trucks form into black ice (in random patches), then the wind blows you off of the ice...
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ftp2leta · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:35 pm Post subject:

I thought the van was solid, but not that solid. Still, there is a lot of luck in that crash.

I have cut Vanagon wide open, i have seen and repair van that hit deers and even moose, i was always impress how solid this van is. Nothing like the old bus's.

Deer collision:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Ironic picture, look carefully!

It's a nice story after all, when you loose someone you love, life as no meaning anymore.

Ben
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

whafalia · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject:

Guess those whistles didn't work.

randywebb · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:53 pm Post subject: Re: Vanagon crash, very sad.

Vanagonner · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 5:08 am Post subject:

Assuming that it was rolling "clockwise" and landed rotating on the L. F. wheel extended, it probably broke the upper ball joint and wiped out the suspension. The left rear wheel is really broken- wow.
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'82 Westy 1.6 D
the mighty n/a

edgood1 · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 5:12 am Post subject:

this is good evidence showing why its not safe to cut the pillars to weld on a westy roof for a pop top conversion.

those pillars are strong! never cut them and compromise their strength!
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FNGRUVN · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:43 am Post subject:

Do they know for sure it was ice. Any chance that rear rim broke before the crash and that was the cause of the spin.

Did this just happen? I'm glad the dude's head didn't take the shape of that headrest.
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VwMomofthree · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:46 am Post subject: Safe

This is why I feel so safe with my kids in my van, I don't think my expedition would have fared as well.

deprivation · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:15 am Post subject:

joetiger · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:02 am Post subject:

Are those HydroEdge tires? Just curious because I've heard people say they're great in rain but horrible in winter conditions. Although, I can't think of any tires that would grip very well on black ice.

I'm glad that Roger is okay and to a much, much lesser extent sad to see such a unique Vanagon destroyed.
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danfromsyr · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:23 am Post subject:

not to make any fault, as mentioned not much if anything can grip onto black ice (there are those really nice green diamond tires) but I wouldn't even call that tire tread an "all season"

it is truely a miracle noone was seriously injured and for that I am very greatly relieved, I've known of roger thru the lists for many years. as one of an extended family. my thoughts go out to him and his poor yet stalwart kitty. good news of a bad event.

as for tires, even for the trip I'm planning for Buses & balloons 2011 from NY to NM and back via the CO rockies and plains, I'm making sure there's some rated snow tires on my & my mom's westy, as it's just not worth a risk on a long travel trip for iffy road adhesion. let some Mpg & rubber suffer.
Dan in NY
Where snow is several feet more then a 4 letter word.
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240Gordy · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:01 pm Post subject:

I have an iBook bent worse than that, it runs fine, the display doesn't but plug in an external display and it is fine.

Notice that at some point the drivers head restraint got bent out of shape by the roof or sidewall. It was even worse than it looks in the pictures.

Amazing.

A roll bar might be a nice addition to your van.
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