Well, it's all over for one '99 SLT 5.9L PT4WD.
I was making my normal drive into work this morning. Came to an intersection just a few blocks from my office as the light turned green. I slowed anyway, because there's a bit of a bump at this intersection. Little did I know, I was about to feel a much bigger bump.
As I was about 25ft from the intersection, something on the right catches my eye. Not uncommon as this is a college campus area. There's usually a cute chick or three walking to class here. Unfortunately, this wasn't what I saw. What I saw was a forest green Ford E350 with SCHOOL STUDENTS decals (luckily it was just the driver and no kids in the van) traveling at a slightly higher rate of speed than I. She had a red light. She wasn't stopping. I hit the brakes, hoping to stop short or at least only clip her. No such luck. I struck the van at a 90 degree angle squarely on the LF tire, sending it spinning in the direction I was headed. She came to a rest about 30ft past the intersection where there was thankfully no traffic. My Durango and I continued on into the corner of an abandoned building that's scheduled for demolition to expand the college dormitories. I helped them get an early start on the demolition by slamming my truck into it.
I did a quick head-to-toe check of myself and had no bleeding or immediately noticeable bones sticking through the skin or anything. I then opened the door and stepped out of the truck. Felt a slight pain in my left shin and noticed my right arm was swelling a bit. Did another quick assessment and found both knees were a little skinned from being mashed into the underside of my dash and a good-sized lump just below the abrasion on my shin. The police and ambulance showed up and checked me over and asked if I wanted to go to the hospital. I told the cop "She ran the red light; I had the right of way and she didn't yield." to which he responded "We'll get the details later. Get yourself checked out." I stepped into the ambulance and took the ride to Wilkes Barre General Hospital. 2 hours, several x-rays and some pain meds later, I was released. Got a ride home from my Aunt and then finally my dad came down to help me get my personal effects from the Durango and pick up my insurance-paid rental.
So now here I sit with a sore leg and arm, trying to figure out what my next vehicle will be. I was really hoping to hang on to the Durango for a couple more years until I paid off some loans and could afford a car payment. Guess I'm going to have to scrape things together for a while.
Pics: http://thepad.mine.nu:82/galleries/durangocrunch/index.htm
Even if it's repairable, I don't want it back. I went through that once before with a fairly serious accident and the truck (bronco) was never right after that.
I was making my normal drive into work this morning. Came to an intersection just a few blocks from my office as the light turned green. I slowed anyway, because there's a bit of a bump at this intersection. Little did I know, I was about to feel a much bigger bump.
As I was about 25ft from the intersection, something on the right catches my eye. Not uncommon as this is a college campus area. There's usually a cute chick or three walking to class here. Unfortunately, this wasn't what I saw. What I saw was a forest green Ford E350 with SCHOOL STUDENTS decals (luckily it was just the driver and no kids in the van) traveling at a slightly higher rate of speed than I. She had a red light. She wasn't stopping. I hit the brakes, hoping to stop short or at least only clip her. No such luck. I struck the van at a 90 degree angle squarely on the LF tire, sending it spinning in the direction I was headed. She came to a rest about 30ft past the intersection where there was thankfully no traffic. My Durango and I continued on into the corner of an abandoned building that's scheduled for demolition to expand the college dormitories. I helped them get an early start on the demolition by slamming my truck into it.
I did a quick head-to-toe check of myself and had no bleeding or immediately noticeable bones sticking through the skin or anything. I then opened the door and stepped out of the truck. Felt a slight pain in my left shin and noticed my right arm was swelling a bit. Did another quick assessment and found both knees were a little skinned from being mashed into the underside of my dash and a good-sized lump just below the abrasion on my shin. The police and ambulance showed up and checked me over and asked if I wanted to go to the hospital. I told the cop "She ran the red light; I had the right of way and she didn't yield." to which he responded "We'll get the details later. Get yourself checked out." I stepped into the ambulance and took the ride to Wilkes Barre General Hospital. 2 hours, several x-rays and some pain meds later, I was released. Got a ride home from my Aunt and then finally my dad came down to help me get my personal effects from the Durango and pick up my insurance-paid rental.
So now here I sit with a sore leg and arm, trying to figure out what my next vehicle will be. I was really hoping to hang on to the Durango for a couple more years until I paid off some loans and could afford a car payment. Guess I'm going to have to scrape things together for a while.
Pics: http://thepad.mine.nu:82/galleries/durangocrunch/index.htm
Even if it's repairable, I don't want it back. I went through that once before with a fairly serious accident and the truck (bronco) was never right after that.
