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Muskrat Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2006 Posts: 184 Location: sacramento, ca
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:18 am Post subject: Why everyone should carry a seatbelt cutter |
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I got t-boned in the drivers side just in front of the rear wheel. the propane tank ruptured or something and there were flames on the roadway as the van rolled. now with the van upside down the flames were raining into the cab. the interior was almost instantly engulfed in flames and my seatbelt wasn't letting go. thankfully i always carry a seatbelt cutter in my pocket and i quickly cut the belt, and made it out through the window as the whole thing went up. this picture was taken about 15 seconds after i got out. no injuries other than a scrapped knee from the asphalt while exiting the vehicle and a bruised thigh from hitting the steering wheel when it landed on the roof. the doctor at the hospital called me ''the miracle man''.
i cannot stress enough the importance of the seatbelt cutter. if i didn't have that on me, in my pocket, i would've more than likely been burned beyond recognition.
i'm a lucky boy. _________________ Manx clone 62 pan 1500 single port
83.5 westy w/2.1 wbx...RIP |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 16972 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:26 am Post subject: |
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Sorry for you loss. _________________ ☮️ |
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rumitcu Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2008 Posts: 97 Location: Boulder, CO
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:26 am Post subject: |
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God damn! So glad to hear that you are okay and also so sorry about the accident and loss of your van. _________________ 85 Westy with Bostig V2.0 & private beta turbo
Boulder, CO |
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12102 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:37 am Post subject: |
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Holy poop man, that's gonna give me nightmares for weeks. _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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levi Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2005 Posts: 5522 Location: Las Vegas
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:38 am Post subject: |
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You are a lucky guy.
My house burned down in October, at 3 am, while we were sleeping inside, and I fully understand how close you were to it.
Not an easy thing to deal with.
Good advice about the cutter, and keeping your composure while upside down in a fire, wow.
I'm hoping for a relatively easy insurance process for you. _________________ One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way
https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40 |
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shadetreetim Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011 Posts: 1994 Location: Riverside, California
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:43 am Post subject: |
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Wow. Glad to hear you kept your wits about you and escaped. _________________ Tim Potts
Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!
'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5 |
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syncromike Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2011 Posts: 660 Location: Boise, ID
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:48 am Post subject: |
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Wow, I'm sold... I keep eyeing a seatbelt cutter/glass hammer at the FLAPS, will certainly pick it up after seeing your post. I usually carry a knife, but not sure how I'd get it out of my back pocket upside down. I have several qwikfists around my van, I may put another one on the pillar to hold a cutter.
So glad you're safe. Sorry for the van. _________________ _____________________
'91 Syncro w/ Country Homes PopTop |
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purplegodzilla Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2006 Posts: 253 Location: Duluth, Georgia
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rlamb Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2012 Posts: 211 Location: Sweet Home, OR
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:49 am Post subject: |
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Holy crap - that's freakin scary. I'm really glad to hear you are OK, and nobody was in the back.
If they figure out what caused the explosion, please let us know. If my two kids were in the back and this happened, well.....I don't even want to think about it. _________________ 1984 Westfalia - Ford Cologne 2.8L conversion
2003 Passat GLX Wagon (4Motion) |
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GWTWTLW Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2008 Posts: 2174 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:51 am Post subject: |
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holy sh*t! I'm glad you're OK!
I have a seat belt cutter/window breaker in my glove box that I bought after I rolled my AW. I've been thinking that it probably doesn't do much good in there if I really need it in a hurry. I'm going to mount it where it's accessible as soon as I get home from work! Thanks for the motivation!
Another good reason to make sure your propane tank is turned off while driving... _________________ 89 Syncro Westy - GW 2.5, now with a double knob job
@gwtwtlw |
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Captjon1959 Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2010 Posts: 287 Location: Peoria, Illinois
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:54 am Post subject: |
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Thank God you were prepared to deal with an emergency like this. I've seen those rescue hammers/seatbelt cutters before and thought they were kind of a gimmick. You've made me a believer. _________________ 1984 Westfalia Wolfsburg Edition
Former 1.9 L now Bostig Ford Zetec |
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Chuey Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2010 Posts: 854 Location: Oceanside, California
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:58 am Post subject: Oh my! |
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You went too far to make the point. A simple description of what could happen would have worked but no....you have to go and do a demonstration.
I'm going to take the advice you gave. I'm always telling people they should wear helmets while cycling. I will learn from the experience of others.
You must have had a big mountain of good Karma built up. Happiness for you.
Chuey |
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MsTaboo Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006 Posts: 4062 Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:59 am Post subject: |
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Very glad you made it out safe.
So sorry too for the loss of the van.
You are indeed very lucky. Time to go buy a lottery ticket! _________________ Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
Defend democracy, support Ukraine.
Last edited by MsTaboo on Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:21 am; edited 1 time in total |
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onemat Samba Member
Joined: November 17, 2011 Posts: 418 Location: Ashland City, TN
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:09 am Post subject: |
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Hi,
Very glad to hear you made it out of that..incredible. I will look for a seatbelt cutter to add. Did the explosion itself flip the bus?
Matt |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16450 Location: Brookeville, MD
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15119 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:24 am Post subject: |
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HOLY SHYT glad you are OK.
but I can't get my cell phone outt a my pocket in rush hour traffic when the dang thing buzzs ina text.. much less even remember I have a cutter in/on/around my person with flames in the cabin after being t-boned and flipped upside down..
you're a better man than me..
no kiss those who you value in life and buy a lottery ticket.
yer one lucky sum'bitch _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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Muskrat Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2006 Posts: 184 Location: sacramento, ca
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:32 am Post subject: |
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just got off the phone with the insurance co and so far so good. we'll see how that goes. there will be another van to be sure. something tells me the little woman is'nt gonna let me have a westy though...at least not one with a propane tank. anybody know of a nice weekender for sale? _________________ Manx clone 62 pan 1500 single port
83.5 westy w/2.1 wbx...RIP |
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noganav Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2006 Posts: 1236 Location: San Diego CA
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:39 am Post subject: |
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Of all the accidents I've seen on here, this one scares me the most.
I'm glad that you made it out alive and uninjured. |
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teej Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2010 Posts: 897 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:41 am Post subject: |
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Yikes
I have been upside down after flipping my pickup in the snow and it is pretty disorienting, good job having the composure to handle it and walk away from that!
I keep a pocket knife in the ashtray, but never conceived of a scenario like your frightening picture. Wow. _________________ 1986+ Wolfsburg Weekender Pop-Top 2.3 WBX Manual Trans |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16450 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:45 am Post subject: Re: why everyone should carry a seatbelt cutter |
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grknvgn wrote: |
i got t-boned in the drivers side just in front of the rear wheel. the propane tank ruptured or something and there were flames on the roadway as the van rolled. now with the van upside down the flames were raining into the cab. |
Since there were flames on the roadway as the bus rolled that sounds like a gasoline fire. Propane would not likely be dripping onto the roadway since it immediately goes to a gaseous state when it leaves the tank (even under an intense fire). I'd be very curious to hear what the condition of the propane tank looks like to see if it could be the initial cause of the fire....
As stated before, very glad you are OK. _________________ Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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