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Why everyone should carry a seatbelt cutter
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Muskrat
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:18 am    Post subject: Why everyone should carry a seatbelt cutter Reply with quote

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

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.
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MarkWard
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry for you loss. Crying or Very sad
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rumitcu
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

God damn! So glad to hear that you are okay and also so sorry about the accident and loss of your van.
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Zeitgeist 13
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Holy poop man, that's gonna give me nightmares for weeks.
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levi
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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shadetreetim
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow. Glad to hear you kept your wits about you and escaped.
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syncromike
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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purplegodzilla
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, that sux..Glad you made it out alive, now I hope insurance don't try to screw you over too.
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rlamb
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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GWTWTLW
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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...
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Captjon1959
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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Chuey
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:58 am    Post subject: Oh my! Reply with quote

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.

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MsTaboo
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shocked Shocked
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!
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Last edited by MsTaboo on Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:21 am; edited 1 time in total
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onemat
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very glad you were prepared for this event and made it out OK....now I need to get me a seatbelt cutter. I carry a pocket knife and it would eventually do the job but not quick enough in this situation.

Sorry about the loss of your Westy. I know how that feels. Crying or Very sad
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

HOLY SHYT glad you are OK. Shocked

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
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Muskrat
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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?
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noganav
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yikes Exclamation Exclamation Exclamation

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.
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dobryan
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:45 am    Post subject: Re: why everyone should carry a seatbelt cutter Reply with quote

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.
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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
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