Nearly died thanks to a pothole!!
Nearly died thanks to a pothole!!
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Grab a coffee (or tea!) it's gonna be a long post!!
Yesterday evening we went to Focus DIY in Chesham as I wanted to buy a toolbox on offer, got there ok and started making our way back. We were driving down Latimer Road, which is a long, bendy country lane for those who don't know it.
Driving along when there was a massive thump from the NSF wheel, yep a pothole or rather a crater!! :mad: Carried on for another 30 seconds and then got the classic signs of a flat tyre so we pulled over and I had a look. It was flat but where I had stopped was right next to the embankment/bushes so no room to change the wheel, plus this was right after a bend so not a good place to be on a 60 limit road. I very slowly drove abit further down as I knew there was a turning up ahead and the embankment was flat so there was space to change the wheel. Pulled over and decided I'd call the AA out rather than try to change it in the pitch black, but due to where we were there was no mobile phone signal!!
So I didn't have much choice but to try and change it.Got the tools out and scissor jack then loosened the nuts off. The missus and son got out so I could jack the car up when somebody stopped and asked if I was ok. I said I was fine as it shouldn't take me long so off they went and I was just gonna jack the car up when someone else stopped. He lives on this road and said he could go and get his trolley jack, would only be a couple of minutes so I agreed. I got the spare wheel out from under the back of the car and waited for him to come back. I had already put my hazards on and sidelights as it was so dark but decided to turn the engine on to keep the battery charged. The guy came back and parked in front of our car with his hazards and side lights on. He said someone further up had 2 blown tyres caused by the hole as well and the other road he came back down there was someone else with a flat tyre!
He got his trolley jack out and air gun, proper garage equipment so I think he must be a mechanic and got the car in the air. I was then crouching down trying to fit the spare on, I remember having abit of problem due to rust around the centre hole, obviously cos the wheel is exposed under the car. I managed to get it on and the guy was next to me holding the torch and getting ready to put the bolts in...only needed 5 minutes and it would've been done. Then BANG, the car gets shunted 2 metres forward into the front of his car, we both went flying backwards and there's steam pouring out of the engine from the car that just went into the back of ours.
After a minute, which seemed a very long surreal moment we were like WTF has just happened, how could someone have not seen us, everyone else passed ok. I looked into the car that had just smashed into us and it was an old lady driving, I would say getting on for 80. She looked abit dazed and confused and got out of the car and was just standing in the middle of the road in the dark! So I went round to get her and helped her onto grass verge, asked her if she was ok. She just looked at the cars and said did I do that, she thought the lights was a car coming the other way. Looking at the damage I don't think she even attempted to brake and must've hit at 40-50mph.
The missus and son had crossed the road and stood in the field opposite, both in tears and shocked. Her son was giving the old lady verbal, you've just smashed our car up etc! We were trying to get signals on our phones but couldn't get any, nor could the old lady. The guy living in that area obviously had a network that he could use so he phoned the police and then we borrowed it to call the missus parents. While this was happening another car had stopped behind us with a flat tyre, yep another victim! She was on the phone to someone to come out and help although didn't even bother coming to see if any of us were ok, nice!
About 10-15 minutes later the old bill turned up and started controlling the traffic etc and sort out recovery. The AA wanted to charge us there and then to remove it so we just let the police use their own contract and the car is now in Aylesbury. It will get written off anyway so I didn't want it back home. The missus parents turned up and took her son home while we waited for the recovery lorry. The police also said they'd get the hole filled in last night due to the number of people getting flats. So I had gone from claiming for a tyre, to the rim as well cos that was buckled to having the car written off.
Her car was a Honda Jazz and considering the speed the impact happened at the airbag didn't go off, I was surprised about that? The guys car was a Porsche Cayenne and cos it's quite a high car ours sort of went under it so he only appeared to have bumper damage and possibly a split rad, he drove it home though after swapping details. The old lady had called her son and he arrived pretty quickly after it happened and arranged a taxi to take her home, while he waited for the recovery truck. Later on I was thinking that the police didn't breathalyse her, should they have done?
Apart from a grazed hand and leg I'm ok but it so easily could've been different. I do ache quite alot today though. A few minutes earlier when I was getting the spare wheel out I could've been the filling in a car sandwich!
I was so lucky the car didn't land on me or drag me down the road as it was shunted and I fell backwards instead. I could do all the 'what ifs' but what's done is done and there's no point going over what could've been, although I did that last night. When I got in it hit me how close that really was and if finding out last year my mum having cancer didn't make me realise how short life is that certainly did!This is where the crash happened, we were parked over on the left
My phone had hardly any battery so the flash wouldn't trigger on the camera, hence the dark photos. But I'll go and see the car to get the stereo and other bits out so will get some then.
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E55EX_RACER
29-11-2017, 11:58 PM #1For those who haven't seen this on WIM thought I would post it here as well...I'll just copy and paste.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Grab a coffee (or tea!) it's gonna be a long post!!
Yesterday evening we went to Focus DIY in Chesham as I wanted to buy a toolbox on offer, got there ok and started making our way back. We were driving down Latimer Road, which is a long, bendy country lane for those who don't know it.
Driving along when there was a massive thump from the NSF wheel, yep a pothole or rather a crater!! :mad: Carried on for another 30 seconds and then got the classic signs of a flat tyre so we pulled over and I had a look. It was flat but where I had stopped was right next to the embankment/bushes so no room to change the wheel, plus this was right after a bend so not a good place to be on a 60 limit road. I very slowly drove abit further down as I knew there was a turning up ahead and the embankment was flat so there was space to change the wheel. Pulled over and decided I'd call the AA out rather than try to change it in the pitch black, but due to where we were there was no mobile phone signal!! So I didn't have much choice but to try and change it.
Got the tools out and scissor jack then loosened the nuts off. The missus and son got out so I could jack the car up when somebody stopped and asked if I was ok. I said I was fine as it shouldn't take me long so off they went and I was just gonna jack the car up when someone else stopped. He lives on this road and said he could go and get his trolley jack, would only be a couple of minutes so I agreed. I got the spare wheel out from under the back of the car and waited for him to come back. I had already put my hazards on and sidelights as it was so dark but decided to turn the engine on to keep the battery charged. The guy came back and parked in front of our car with his hazards and side lights on. He said someone further up had 2 blown tyres caused by the hole as well and the other road he came back down there was someone else with a flat tyre!
He got his trolley jack out and air gun, proper garage equipment so I think he must be a mechanic and got the car in the air. I was then crouching down trying to fit the spare on, I remember having abit of problem due to rust around the centre hole, obviously cos the wheel is exposed under the car. I managed to get it on and the guy was next to me holding the torch and getting ready to put the bolts in...only needed 5 minutes and it would've been done. Then BANG, the car gets shunted 2 metres forward into the front of his car, we both went flying backwards and there's steam pouring out of the engine from the car that just went into the back of ours.
After a minute, which seemed a very long surreal moment we were like WTF has just happened, how could someone have not seen us, everyone else passed ok. I looked into the car that had just smashed into us and it was an old lady driving, I would say getting on for 80. She looked abit dazed and confused and got out of the car and was just standing in the middle of the road in the dark! So I went round to get her and helped her onto grass verge, asked her if she was ok. She just looked at the cars and said did I do that, she thought the lights was a car coming the other way. Looking at the damage I don't think she even attempted to brake and must've hit at 40-50mph.
The missus and son had crossed the road and stood in the field opposite, both in tears and shocked. Her son was giving the old lady verbal, you've just smashed our car up etc! We were trying to get signals on our phones but couldn't get any, nor could the old lady. The guy living in that area obviously had a network that he could use so he phoned the police and then we borrowed it to call the missus parents. While this was happening another car had stopped behind us with a flat tyre, yep another victim! She was on the phone to someone to come out and help although didn't even bother coming to see if any of us were ok, nice!
About 10-15 minutes later the old bill turned up and started controlling the traffic etc and sort out recovery. The AA wanted to charge us there and then to remove it so we just let the police use their own contract and the car is now in Aylesbury. It will get written off anyway so I didn't want it back home. The missus parents turned up and took her son home while we waited for the recovery lorry. The police also said they'd get the hole filled in last night due to the number of people getting flats. So I had gone from claiming for a tyre, to the rim as well cos that was buckled to having the car written off.
Her car was a Honda Jazz and considering the speed the impact happened at the airbag didn't go off, I was surprised about that? The guys car was a Porsche Cayenne and cos it's quite a high car ours sort of went under it so he only appeared to have bumper damage and possibly a split rad, he drove it home though after swapping details. The old lady had called her son and he arrived pretty quickly after it happened and arranged a taxi to take her home, while he waited for the recovery truck. Later on I was thinking that the police didn't breathalyse her, should they have done?
Apart from a grazed hand and leg I'm ok but it so easily could've been different. I do ache quite alot today though. A few minutes earlier when I was getting the spare wheel out I could've been the filling in a car sandwich! I was so lucky the car didn't land on me or drag me down the road as it was shunted and I fell backwards instead. I could do all the 'what ifs' but what's done is done and there's no point going over what could've been, although I did that last night. When I got in it hit me how close that really was and if finding out last year my mum having cancer didn't make me realise how short life is that certainly did!
This is where the crash happened, we were parked over on the left
My phone had hardly any battery so the flash wouldn't trigger on the camera, hence the dark photos. But I'll go and see the car to get the stereo and other bits out so will get some then.
I got a sneaky photo of hers and you can see the point of impact was the OS but the main damage to ours was the NS....so she must've swerved at the last second to do that. I'm just glad she didn't miss the car and run us over instead or hit the opposite corner and punted the car into me!
Her insurance company phoned me up and they are taking full liability. They wanted to contact me about repairing it and I said I've seen the car that won't be happening, so they'll send an assessor out and give me a settlement figure. Given the age of the car I just hope they don't take the mick!!
On the way back I went to see if they have repaired the pothole and they haven't!! :doublesho Filled it in with some stones, put a cone on it and marked the area...just check out those hubcaps as well! Obviously not enough though cos when we passed where the accident happened someone had just finished changing their wheel for the spare
So I will be complaining to Bucks council but who thinks I should put a claim in, that's if I can as I won't have the car any more anyway?
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E55EX_RACER
29-11-2017, 11:58 PM #2I went to Aylesbury's earlier to see the car and get the stereo, child seat and other bits out. She was a sight for sore eyes though...I'll let the photos do the talking!
I got a sneaky photo of hers and you can see the point of impact was the OS but the main damage to ours was the NS....so she must've swerved at the last second to do that. I'm just glad she didn't miss the car and run us over instead or hit the opposite corner and punted the car into me!
Her insurance company phoned me up and they are taking full liability. They wanted to contact me about repairing it and I said I've seen the car that won't be happening, so they'll send an assessor out and give me a settlement figure. Given the age of the car I just hope they don't take the mick!!
On the way back I went to see if they have repaired the pothole and they haven't!! :doublesho Filled it in with some stones, put a cone on it and marked the area...just check out those hubcaps as well! Obviously not enough though cos when we passed where the accident happened someone had just finished changing their wheel for the spare
So I will be complaining to Bucks council but who thinks I should put a claim in, that's if I can as I won't have the car any more anyway?
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
FirebirdPhil
30-11-2017, 02:16 AM #4Ouch, so pleased all involved are ok. Must agree with rabster though, police should have checked out the old lady, has that been any of us we would have been tested for sure.
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
Tinted Glass-Sports Grill-Debadged-TTE Spoiler-TTE Lowering Springs-PLUK Kazama Exhaust-18" Aero Alloys-K&N Air Filter-Denso Iridium Power Spark Plugs-Quad Tail Light Conversion-6000K HID-X-White High Beam-6 LED Sidelights-Quad LED Boot Light-JDM OEM Smoked Front Fogs-JDM Blue Reverse Bulbs-LS430 Smoked Side Repeaters-6 LED Side Repeaters-Chrome Indicator Bulbs-Alpine HU-Rear Headrest Monitors-PIAA Super Sporza-Fan Washer Jets-Lex Tax Disc Holder-Chrome Gear Knob-2003 Cup Holder-Toyo Proxes T1-R
any news on the insurance payout yet Rich?
Tinted Glass-Sports Grill-Debadged-TTE Spoiler-TTE Lowering Springs-PLUK Kazama Exhaust-18" Aero Alloys-K&N Air Filter-Denso Iridium Power Spark Plugs-Quad Tail Light Conversion-6000K HID-X-White High Beam-6 LED Sidelights-Quad LED Boot Light-JDM OEM Smoked Front Fogs-JDM Blue Reverse Bulbs-LS430 Smoked Side Repeaters-6 LED Side Repeaters-Chrome Indicator Bulbs-Alpine HU-Rear Headrest Monitors-PIAA Super Sporza-Fan Washer Jets-Lex Tax Disc Holder-Chrome Gear Knob-2003 Cup Holder-Toyo Proxes T1-R
![[Image: FB_IMG_1474048273787_zpsnbfq6a3s.jpg]](http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee440/davis5835/Mobile%20Uploads/FB_IMG_1474048273787_zpsnbfq6a3s.jpg)
Having lived in Aylesbury Vale myself for .. a very long time .. lack of attention to their roads is a lifelong fact. About ten years ago there was a lot of articles written about some boffin who had done a survey and decided it was actually cheaper for the council to pay the car repairs ( obviously they contested and rejected a lot of them though) than it is for them to actually repair the roads ! So.. they stopped ! Mindblowingly amazing when I discovered my Council Tax in Milton Keynes for my three bed, detached, separate garage, two gardens house .. is actually cheaper per month than my one bedroom cluster home, no garden, no driveway even house in the Vale ..[/COLOR]
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"]That symbol on the side of my door.. Definition by FirebirdPhil 'Translated it means -
"try to overtake - go on give it a go I dare you......." [/COLOR]
I'm not an Outlaw; I'm a Poutlaw! Purple Supras are the bestest! I love purple .. a lot lot lot
purplewitch
30-11-2017, 04:18 AM #7[COLOR="Indigo"]I'm glad you're ok too.. that must have been absolutely terrifying !
Having lived in Aylesbury Vale myself for .. a very long time .. lack of attention to their roads is a lifelong fact. About ten years ago there was a lot of articles written about some boffin who had done a survey and decided it was actually cheaper for the council to pay the car repairs ( obviously they contested and rejected a lot of them though) than it is for them to actually repair the roads ! So.. they stopped ! Mindblowingly amazing when I discovered my Council Tax in Milton Keynes for my three bed, detached, separate garage, two gardens house .. is actually cheaper per month than my one bedroom cluster home, no garden, no driveway even house in the Vale ..[/COLOR]
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"]That symbol on the side of my door.. Definition by FirebirdPhil 'Translated it means -
"try to overtake - go on give it a go I dare you......." [/COLOR]
I'm not an Outlaw; I'm a Poutlaw! Purple Supras are the bestest! I love purple .. a lot lot lot
2tongues Ouch, so pleased all involved are ok. Must agree with rabster though, police should have checked out the old lady, has that been any of us we would have been tested for sure.
I did tell the bloke who stopped to help me to ask for an ambulance as well but he didn't. She did seem ok after a while, I think it was the shock that made her not seem with it.
SHAHZ any news on the insurance payout yet Rich?
The assessor for my insurance company phoned me last night and said he was hoping to inspect the car today. I've not heard anything back yet and I'd imagine the old woman's insurance company need to see it as well.
purplewitch [COLOR="Indigo"]I'm glad you're ok too.. that must have been absolutely terrifying !
Having lived in Aylesbury Vale myself for .. a very long time .. lack of attention to their roads is a lifelong fact. About ten years ago there was a lot of articles written about some boffin who had done a survey and decided it was actually cheaper for the council to pay the car repairs ( obviously they contested and rejected a lot of them though) than it is for them to actually repair the roads ! So.. they stopped ! Mindblowingly amazing when I discovered my Council Tax in Milton Keynes for my three bed, detached, separate garage, two gardens house .. is actually cheaper per month than my one bedroom cluster home, no garden, no driveway even house in the Vale ..[/COLOR]
That really wouldn't surprise me but one day a pot hole will directly cause someone's death. It has made me realise that I might moan about these pot holes but I've never reported them...I'm going to from now on.
Jambo Wow, surprised the airbag in the Jazz didn't go off looking at the damage of each car.
Makes you wonder just what kind of impact you need to set the bag off. I'm not sure if the old woman hit the steering wheel but she had no cuts on her head.
E55EX_RACER
30-11-2017, 11:46 AM #10Thanks for all the comments, everyone is fine thank god but it was a very scary situation. One I don't wish to be in again and if anyone does use this road to get to WIM be very careful.
2tongues Ouch, so pleased all involved are ok. Must agree with rabster though, police should have checked out the old lady, has that been any of us we would have been tested for sure.
I did tell the bloke who stopped to help me to ask for an ambulance as well but he didn't. She did seem ok after a while, I think it was the shock that made her not seem with it.
SHAHZ any news on the insurance payout yet Rich?
The assessor for my insurance company phoned me last night and said he was hoping to inspect the car today. I've not heard anything back yet and I'd imagine the old woman's insurance company need to see it as well.
purplewitch [COLOR="Indigo"]I'm glad you're ok too.. that must have been absolutely terrifying !
Having lived in Aylesbury Vale myself for .. a very long time .. lack of attention to their roads is a lifelong fact. About ten years ago there was a lot of articles written about some boffin who had done a survey and decided it was actually cheaper for the council to pay the car repairs ( obviously they contested and rejected a lot of them though) than it is for them to actually repair the roads ! So.. they stopped ! Mindblowingly amazing when I discovered my Council Tax in Milton Keynes for my three bed, detached, separate garage, two gardens house .. is actually cheaper per month than my one bedroom cluster home, no garden, no driveway even house in the Vale ..[/COLOR]
That really wouldn't surprise me but one day a pot hole will directly cause someone's death. It has made me realise that I might moan about these pot holes but I've never reported them...I'm going to from now on.
Jambo Wow, surprised the airbag in the Jazz didn't go off looking at the damage of each car.
Makes you wonder just what kind of impact you need to set the bag off. I'm not sure if the old woman hit the steering wheel but she had no cuts on her head.
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