sorrowmonkey

So I woke up at 6:30 this morning, when the alarm went off. I lazed around in bed until about 7, and then got up. By the time I got showered and dressed, and cleaned the truck off, it was nearly 8 AM, and my chances of getting a convenient train were basically zero.

So, I decided to drive in to work this morning. No good trains, it's cheaper, and the roads looked fine.

I knew there would be some traffic, especially once I passed a sign (typical) that said, "Delay next 22 miles, exit 35-14," or some such. However, I was at about exit 38 and things were rolling smoothly. There was a nice blank area of traffic, and I was sailing along in the left lane at about 70 MPH. The center lane was empty, and there was a little room behind me too. That's my favorite way to drive: all alone.

Somehow, a white sport utility appears perpendicular to the road, in the right two lanes. I'm guessing that he was coming down the entrace ramp, and went into a counter-clockwise spin.

I almost got past him (in fact, I thought I was clear), when he hit me. I could tell that it was far back on the car, but my truck immediately started spinning in a clockwise direction. I didn't try and steer out of the spin, I was too afraid the truck would bite and roll, or end up running right into the median or guardrail. I did, however, go around completely, probably around 400 degrees or so, before I was able to regain control of the car. I rolled it off to the shoulder.

The engine was stalled, not a big surprise. I released the clutch, my left leg was cramped hard; and I took inventory. I was fine, no impact. I looked over the truck: out the back window, I could tell that the tailgate was not right, but the wheel well looked okay.

I stepped out, and looked it over. I took the hit on the right rear quarter panel (pretty much the same as my F-250 before, just on the other side) but since the other driver was rotating widdershins, he basically tore that part of the truck towards the rear. The lamp assembly on that side is basically gone, and the bumper looks like an oversized dental tool. However, I looked underneath, and it looked like the frame and the suspension were undamaged.

I got back in the truck, and try to start it. It didn't want to, but finally did. I'm guessing it got flooded or something like that when I stalled it out, since once it finally started, it rolled back and forth just fine in reverse and first.

A few minutes later, a snowplow came along and helped the other driver from the median (where he ended up) to the shoulder, and I think he radioed for a cop, too. A policeman arrived almost within a minute, and asked me what happened. I handed over my paperwork, and waited in the truck.

Probably about twenty minutes elapse. I call my boss, and tell him I'm late, and why. I consider my options, whether or not to tell the insurance company, and consider how long I can keep driving this vehicle. Finally, I get my accident summary and drive off. The other guy got towed.

To sum up: I'm fine, the truck is damaged. I can make it legal again with a little effort, and it is uglier now than it ever was.