May 05, 2019…the day after, requesting a little advice. (composed, posted 5/06/2019)
Saturday morning, the 4th, I was traveling to Gainesville, FL the same route I’ve used for over 30 years. State Road 16 West sisters with US 17 N&S for a jog in Green cove Springs and there’s an intersection with a left turn to continue on 16. The turn lane barely has space for three cars. I had my signal on to move into the third space. As I’m moving over, doing the mirror and head check there is the front bumper and tire of the tanker truck that was behind me down the road a bit, RIGHT THERE and the next thing I hear is metal crunching. I’d been hit. The sound was that organic cry a cat makes being crushed.
The car was drivable. At least I could move and steer so we made the turn when the light changed and pulled into the center turn lane on the westbound SR16. I could not open the driver’s door! At this point I did not know the extent of damage. Now I’m a skinny 6’2” old guy at 73 and a bit creaky. I felt like unfolding a grasshopper trying to get over the tunnel, brake level, cooler in the floorboard and open the door so I could tumble out of the car. I think it surprised the driver that we were both two gray beards and this happened. He said he could not see me. Where his rig was rolling is the lane of on coming traffic for the next turn going the opposite direction. Really no place to move over for the turn except where I was going, to get behind the two cars already there. The aerial view is an archive photo from google earth. I did not hire a helicopter.
Ok, so we got through all the license, registration, insurance info and were both glad it was not any worse and no injury. It did bend the lower passenger side step of the big Mack tractor. The Solstice did not fare so well.
She is a tough little car though. No interference with the suspension, alignment, tires, rims so still drives straight and true. Body damage is where I am concerned.
I drove on to Gainesville safely and had Kate help me get out of the car. Thank goodness for the DDM console. It’s a butt tough piece so getting over it was OK. I just do not fold up so well any more and have strength in only one arm.
Having time to do a more through inspection of the damage I could see it went from rear to front. Even the arrowhead on the lower fender has a cut on it. Aside from a scratch and being locked in place by the crumpled metal of the lower quarter, the door looks somewhat ok. Window and controls work. Gas filler lid is fine. as is the filler. Rear inner fender liner appears intact. There’s a dent in the fender but the torn metal is my concern. I don’t believe the quarter panel is available except at that place with the ones out in the weather. With my luck none will be driver side or “we just crushed those”. There’s even a scratch on the rear bumper cover and the mud guard is scraped. The door scratch goes into the lower fender and edge of the hood but did not touch the side marker light or front bumper (I think). Glad I did not install the NOS fender liners or front mud guards yet. You can see the slight bulge of the driver’s side of the trunk lid. Don’t know about that…buttresses deploy and re attach fine and lid opens and closes.
My insurance is Geico, $250 deductible. I called and went over the whole incident with all the info from the initial police report. The officer said it now takes 7-10 days to get a report and 3 or so weeks for the insurance company to get a copy. No ticket was issued. Seems this spot at the intersection is really bad for problems. I’m wondering how that will play out. Received a notice from Geico about my not being at fault. I’m pretty glad to be alright. Worried about the car. Geico rep asked at one point “Did the air bag deploy?” Of course, the answer was no. We know where that would have been headed had it deployed.
I'm open to suggestions, as I know of no place in this area I’d trust for body work, and am concerned about what may be involved and the integrity of the car afterward. My concern is getting the work done correctly. I’m pretty sick about this. I’ve gathered parts for mods to brakes, suspension and engine. Water pump was done last year and have gone through virtually every system on the car. Turned 70K in April. I plan to also speak with the parts guy at the former Pontiac dealership about repairs. He has been helpful and straight up with me.
See next post for image 5. Also I need to put the "circles and arrows" on the intersection aerial. My path of travel was to turn left on to the "T". Up is North, down is South and left is West...
Thanks,
Richard Snipes
Saturday morning, the 4th, I was traveling to Gainesville, FL the same route I’ve used for over 30 years. State Road 16 West sisters with US 17 N&S for a jog in Green cove Springs and there’s an intersection with a left turn to continue on 16. The turn lane barely has space for three cars. I had my signal on to move into the third space. As I’m moving over, doing the mirror and head check there is the front bumper and tire of the tanker truck that was behind me down the road a bit, RIGHT THERE and the next thing I hear is metal crunching. I’d been hit. The sound was that organic cry a cat makes being crushed.
The car was drivable. At least I could move and steer so we made the turn when the light changed and pulled into the center turn lane on the westbound SR16. I could not open the driver’s door! At this point I did not know the extent of damage. Now I’m a skinny 6’2” old guy at 73 and a bit creaky. I felt like unfolding a grasshopper trying to get over the tunnel, brake level, cooler in the floorboard and open the door so I could tumble out of the car. I think it surprised the driver that we were both two gray beards and this happened. He said he could not see me. Where his rig was rolling is the lane of on coming traffic for the next turn going the opposite direction. Really no place to move over for the turn except where I was going, to get behind the two cars already there. The aerial view is an archive photo from google earth. I did not hire a helicopter.
Ok, so we got through all the license, registration, insurance info and were both glad it was not any worse and no injury. It did bend the lower passenger side step of the big Mack tractor. The Solstice did not fare so well.
She is a tough little car though. No interference with the suspension, alignment, tires, rims so still drives straight and true. Body damage is where I am concerned.
I drove on to Gainesville safely and had Kate help me get out of the car. Thank goodness for the DDM console. It’s a butt tough piece so getting over it was OK. I just do not fold up so well any more and have strength in only one arm.
Having time to do a more through inspection of the damage I could see it went from rear to front. Even the arrowhead on the lower fender has a cut on it. Aside from a scratch and being locked in place by the crumpled metal of the lower quarter, the door looks somewhat ok. Window and controls work. Gas filler lid is fine. as is the filler. Rear inner fender liner appears intact. There’s a dent in the fender but the torn metal is my concern. I don’t believe the quarter panel is available except at that place with the ones out in the weather. With my luck none will be driver side or “we just crushed those”. There’s even a scratch on the rear bumper cover and the mud guard is scraped. The door scratch goes into the lower fender and edge of the hood but did not touch the side marker light or front bumper (I think). Glad I did not install the NOS fender liners or front mud guards yet. You can see the slight bulge of the driver’s side of the trunk lid. Don’t know about that…buttresses deploy and re attach fine and lid opens and closes.
My insurance is Geico, $250 deductible. I called and went over the whole incident with all the info from the initial police report. The officer said it now takes 7-10 days to get a report and 3 or so weeks for the insurance company to get a copy. No ticket was issued. Seems this spot at the intersection is really bad for problems. I’m wondering how that will play out. Received a notice from Geico about my not being at fault. I’m pretty glad to be alright. Worried about the car. Geico rep asked at one point “Did the air bag deploy?” Of course, the answer was no. We know where that would have been headed had it deployed.
I'm open to suggestions, as I know of no place in this area I’d trust for body work, and am concerned about what may be involved and the integrity of the car afterward. My concern is getting the work done correctly. I’m pretty sick about this. I’ve gathered parts for mods to brakes, suspension and engine. Water pump was done last year and have gone through virtually every system on the car. Turned 70K in April. I plan to also speak with the parts guy at the former Pontiac dealership about repairs. He has been helpful and straight up with me.
See next post for image 5. Also I need to put the "circles and arrows" on the intersection aerial. My path of travel was to turn left on to the "T". Up is North, down is South and left is West...
Thanks,
Richard Snipes