Praise the LORD!


Captain Retardo strikes again. Why do these things happen to me?!

Yesterday, while I was sitting at a green light, waiting to turn left, I was surprised by a huge crashing impact to my vehicle, followed by a dozen or more shots. I WAS UNDER FIRE!!


Or at least that's what I thought. That's what was running through my mind as I was crouched down on the floor of my car (I have amazingly fast reflexes). That's what it felt like as I struggled to keep control of my bladder. "I'm in a shoot-out!" is what I was thinking; that and (because no glass was flying), "Cool. Bullet proof car." (not really)

As soon as the bang *bang* banging quit, and it was quiet for a bit, I sat back up in the driver's seat. I peaked behind me, and there was the culprit, a work van had plowed into me. Except, well, I hadn't exactly just survived a shoot-out. It was more of a PVC-out. The work van had been carrying PVC pipes on top of it, and they shot out at my car following impact... sounds just like gun fire -- I SWEAR! Even so, I gotta tell ya', it was scary. I now have even more respect for those out there actually putting themselves in the line of fire, because to be quite honest, I wasn't so worried about having left the house with clean underwear on as I was about keeping it clean.

Anyway, as I was dialing my husband's phone number to tell him what was going on, I looked back again, and the guy who hit me was getting out of his van. He pushed his door open about a third of the way, rolled out of the van, and started to crawl into traffic. I jumped out of my car, ran over to him, and pushed him back over by his van. Then I had to keep yelling at him to "sit down", "quit moving", "stop trying to leave". [All my husband heard was me saying to him was, "Some guy hit me in front of KU Med Center." "SIT DOWN!!!" Then I hung up.] The guy was trying his darndest to use his cell phone, but he was so disoriented that he just kept trying to talk, while crawling on three limbs. I finally said, "Give me that damn thing!" and grabbed the phone. By that time he had alerted his boss, so I two-wayed with him for about two seconds, but I couldn't hear over traffic so I tossed the phone. Then some guy came up to stand by me, hold his own cell phone, and tell the guy who hit me, "You really oughta' do what she says." BIG HELP! I tried to call 911, but every time I started to dial my phone, the guy tried to crawl into traffic. Finally a transport vehicle pulled up beside me, and the driver yelled that he had called an ambulance. *whew!* Why the guy who was standing there watching me didn't call, I do not know. DUH! I finally got the guy to sit a minute, so I crawled into his van and turned the darn thing off (I was trying to get him to sit up next to the van. I'm sure asphyxiation would have been counter productive.).

The police finally came. They were just sizing things up, when the guy who hit me started moaning, "I was sneezing... I was sneezing... I'm hurt... I'm hurt..." The EMTs showed up, and I watched them lie the fellow down perpendicular to the van, with his head under the van! How stupid can you get?! If another car was to hit the van, the guy would have been squashed. When they asked me if I was okay, I said, "FINE! FINE! I'M GREAT!!!" Thanks, but no thanks... lol!

Many many words later, the car is in the shop. Initial estimates are $4,000. (Geez, that's one expensive sneeze!) I'm in a crappy rent-a-car. Insurance grit has just begun.

And FYI, THANK GOD FOR SUV's!!!

Shhh,
Whisper

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Whisper}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Thank GOD you're alright! You poor thing! That's just horrible! I can't tell you how glad I am you're ok, because it could have been so much worse hon! Sneezes CAN have pretty awful consequences too - because it's literally impossible to keep your eyes open when you sneeze

I've gotta say - [All my husband heard was me saying to him was, "Some guy hit me in front of KU Med Center." "SIT DOWN!!!" Then I hung up.] LOL! I can't help it, that just sounds funny, although I know it isn't. Thank God you were trying to stop the guy from doing that. Was it shock do you think? He wasn't pickled or anything was he? 'cos that's just weird behaviour if he wasn't under the influence.

YUCK on the cost involved. What a royal PITA You ARE ok, aren't you? No bumps, aches or bruises?

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Whisper}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Glad to hear your alright. So sorry this happened to you. Cars can be very expensive to repair. Hunter used to work in body shops doing that. Most of the cost is labor. Again, I'm so glad you're alright.





Hugs,
Shait

Actually, looking back on it, it's kinda' funny. I mean, those PVC pipes shooting onto the back of my SUV, and me taking cover... lol! I must've been quite a site! Thank goodness I didn't have a weapon of my own! EeeGads!

I haven't heard anything of the guy who hit me. I pray that he's okay.

I'm doing great. My arm hurts from being clenched so tight during the "shoot-out", and my chest hurts a little from the seatbelt, but all in all I'm great!

Thanks again!

Shhh,
Whisper

Now, if I only knew what Whisper looks like, it would really help my mental images of this event!

{{{Whisper}}}

I am so glad that you weren't hurt. And the guy didn't get away. And it IS his fault, right? And he IS insured, right?

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{whiskers}}}}}}}}}}}}}}]

glad you are okay! I hope it's you're last shoot out, too.

And what was that guy? Lieutenant Lamebrain? Where
the hell did he think he was crawling to?
Bet he didn't have his seatbelt on! He hit you from behind, so you can't be held in blame. And when will
men realize that when a woman is barking directions
at you, YOU LISTEN TO HER!

You are OK, right? Cars can be replaced, you can't!

Mermaid

Thanks everyone! I'm fine! My car is hurting, but he's insured...

My daughter told me how unlucky I was to be there at that time, but I have to say that I think it was pure luck. That is a busy intersection, an intersection where people cross constantly on their way to lunch, and this was lunch time. I am so thankful that it was my inanimate car that was damaged and not a pedestrian! I am so thankful that he did not hit a car with children in it or did not swerve and hit someone head on! I am so thankful that I always wear my seatbelt! I think it was a lucky day!

At least, that's the way I'm gonna look at it!

Shhh,
Whisper

{{{Whisper}}}

I wanna be like you!

HELLO! Is your arm so hurt that you couldn't pick up the phone???! Good grief girl!
Thank God you're all right. I was just thinking of you yesterday..... now I know why. I'm calling you right now.
{{{{{{{Whisper}}}}}}}
I'm thinkin' you're not allowed out of the house alone any more! LOL!

OMG!!!!!!! Looking back you can laugh but you were so together at the time - better than I would have been for sure:) You poor husband - fancy listening to that and being cut off!!!!!

Hey Wike - maybe Whisper should provide some minders when you go out next, just in case

Glad you're ok though (((Whisper))))

hugs
fayee

At least you WEREN'T in that little convertible you use to have!!!!

Dan and I were rearended when we had my little toyota pickup, so I'm all for seatbelts!!!!!

Glad to know your okay!!!! And Wike right, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED OUT OF THE HOUSE ALONE ANY MORE!!!!!!

'Drea

VERY glad to know that you are ok. You might want to make sure you don't have some little bit o' whiplash tho'.

Sneaky thing it is . . . you should get checked out because the pain of whiplash may not show up for days. Just be careful and take care of yourself!

I'm going to try and call this weekend (on a break from studying) to check on you!

Oh, and don't worry . . . din't cha know that soul sisters of mine are all protected by angels?

Luv Ya!
Cass

As much as I hated knowing you didn't have your little red car, I'll be eternally grateful that you didn't. I'm glad you are ok. Very Very glad. Good thing 'shanaBarbie wasn't with you - she would have damaged that idiot.

sidenote to add personal unfond rememberences of being rearended... and ya'll know I drive fast...

1. I was around 4 years old. In the back seat of a neighbor's 50's model car with my mom and my sister(it was old even then), stopped for some reason. Waiting to turn I think. I saw that the 18 wheeler wasn't going to stop ...I warned everyone and jumped in between the seats just before impact. Other driver was drunk. Our car had no seatbelts or neck restraints. Me n my sister were fine. My mom and the neighbor lady were hurt badly - but we all survived. The drunk driver later killed himself in another accident

2. My 3rd blue car (3 door Honda Accord) - hit by a drunk driver with open bottles in the car. We were ok, and the insurance fixed the car.

3. Same car, six months later. Hit by a drunk driver, On the freeway, clear night no traffic. We were going 55ish, police think he was going 105+ ... hit and run - he had a very big older car. we had a totalled Honda. We both went to the hospital. (Me'n my Hunter) I had a cuncussion, whiplash and a sprained ankle, he had whiplash and I think he tore a muscle in his back. We didn't know that then...

4. A few years later. Coworker giving me ride to softball game. Older car. I put on my seatbelt (duh) so he put his on. Just because I did, he said later. He normally never ever wore it. We were stopped in traffic on the freeway. The driver in the pickup behind us never hit his brakes - and he was going at least 40. We hit the car in front of us. I almost hit the dash - even with the seatbelt on - it was just a lapbelt - my coworker, who had little kids, did the parent thing ... he flung his arm in front of me and kept me from hitting the dashboard. That friver spoke no Enlish, had no license or insurance. But he was sober, I think.

ok ... rant over...

{{{Whisper}}}

'shana

There are no words, really... What a horrible run of experiences. And drunk drivers - there isn't a punishment strong enough IMO. Stupid, thoughtless, selfish morons.

I'm glad you're OK, and can look back with humor, Whisper. But, I worked for a personal injury attorney - and the scene you described played in my mind like some action flick, without the "happy" ending! Hope you did follow up...but how amazing that you kept your composure??!! I think I would have been too shaken up to keep that guy in his place!

Glad everyone is OK - and that no one was seriously hurt.

mallenia

<delurking to give a friend a hug>

{{{Whisper}}}! I'm so glad you weren't hurt. It sucks about all the damage to your car but at least that's fixable.

You take care, ok? I know I haven't been around in a while, but I've missed ya. This is a heck of a post to delurk on, but oh well :)

Cas, the perpetually MIA