WWTBAM Bored

Walked away from a collision with a gravel truck so I have that going for me.

I was traveling at highway speeds in a Ford F-150 when I saw that a gravel truck coming from a side road either did not stop or stopped and kept coming-not sure which. Simply put he did not see me.

I had no chance of stopping so any attempts to slam on the brakes would have resulted in me T-Boning him head-on (from my perspective) with my fatality as the likely result.

My only real option was to try and scoot around his front.

This was the right choice as it resulted in the unavoidable collision taking the form of a more glancing, angled strike as the metal was peeled off my driver's side doors. Air bags and so forth all went off.

Got a ride to a hospital for back X-rays. Looked good- a little stiff and sore tonight as to be expected.

Obviously, it was 100% the other parties fault.

Glad to hear that you're ok

Spock, you have quick reflexes and a most excellent guardian angel. Thank heavens for both!

Holy crimoley!

Wow glad you’re ok!

Wow glad you’re ok!

silvercamaro wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 15, 2020 11:49 pm

Spock, you have quick reflexes and a most excellent guardian angel. Thank heavens for both!

Thanks everybody.

The physics of the accident are kind of interesting as I think about it. Turning a straight-on collision with an immovable object into an accident with 2 vehicles colliding at an angle certainly changed the forces involved.

As I chuckle about it this morning, I was actually almost able to scoot around him. I ended up on all 4 wheels in my lane and on the far side of the truck with the little matter of the scraping of the doors taking place in between. LOL.

I have mentioned before that I am not a fan of the movement towards self-driving cars. I don't see how a self-driving car makes the same decision I did as fast as I did. It just couldn't. I would be dead. In theory, this road would be a perfect environment for self-driving cars. Light traffic and perfectly straight for many miles and yesterday was perfect weather conditions. Theory would not have worked yesterday, though.

Even with today's technology, If I had had cruise control on and the lane control (or whatever it is called) on-I would not have had time to react.

I never use cruise control and yesterday just reinforces that conviction.

Drove down and got the stuff out of my truck today and took a few pictures.

The metal was scraped off the driver's door. Littlest Spock asked me if they took it off to work on it-but, no-it came off in the collision. Never seen anything like it-the door's innards are clearly visible.

The rear driver's side door is more crumpled as it appears the main point of final impact was about 2 feet behind me.

By all accounts, the truck is totaled.

I'm glad you're okay. --Bob

Spock wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 15, 2020 6:17 pm

...any attempts to slam on the brakes would have resulted in me T-Boning him head-on...

Glad you left me out of it

But I'm more glad that you're OK.

Jeez, Spock.

Really glad you are OK.

It sounds brutal.

Spock wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:14 pm

By all accounts, the truck is totaled.

Better the truck than you.

Spock:

You didn't have to go to Africa this time. You had your adventure right in your own backyard almost.

I am glad you're okay. I hope it hasn't dampened your willingness to engage us online.

silverscreenselect wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 16, 2020 9:40 pm

Spock:

You didn't have to go to Africa this time. You had your adventure right in your own backyard almost.

I am glad you're okay. I hope it hasn't dampened your willingness to engage us online.

The doctor at the relevant hospital (not my hospital) did not appreciate my blood pressure answer.

Prior to the X-rays, my blood pressure was pretty elevated and the doctor asked me if I have a history of high-blood pressure.

My answer was "Good Question." His response was "Give me a good answer."

A half hour later-after X-rays and calming down, my blood pressure was lower and not at elevated levels so I don't think I have a blood pressure issue.

As for engaging online-I have been busier than a 1-armed paper-hanger lately.

but, seriously, I have had my blood pressure checked more often than my "Good Question" answer implies.

Littlest Spock was on to me about something else.

I had hauled a load of cattle to Sisseton, SD, on Wednesday and I was headed back out to watch them sell on Thursday morning when the accident happened.

It is fun to watch the cattle sell, but the cafe in the sale barn has awesome French Toast and sausages-so one of our family jokes (mostly true, actually) is that I sell cattle there to get the breakfast-plus the check handing out lady is very attractive-LOL.

Littlest Spock jokingly asked me if I had tried to get a ride to Sisseton for breakfast before they took me to the hospital and I had to admit that one of my first cogent thoughts after I realized that I was still alive and not seriously hurt was that I probably wasn't going to make it to Sisseton for breakfast-LOL-It is that good.

So realistically, If I had died or got seriously injured, I was driving 80 miles (one way) for French Toast and sausages. They can always mail the check. However, no one would have been surprised as I have sang the praises of that breakfast for years.

I have even snuck out there sometimes when I don't have cattle to sell.

Yikes, Spock! Glad you are safe.

Indeed, glad your reasonably ok (truck notwithstanding) -- and even more glad for your quick reflexes.