The Silver Legacy Died Last Night
- Thread starter Yoter
- Start date
Dirtyfingers
Senior Member
You're ****ing kidding. This is a joke right?
4Runnin Tahoe
New member
Oh man. This REALLY bums me out. I really hate people sometimes. If I were in your shoes I would've thrown the worthless drunk over the bridge....sleepin with the fishes.
But seriously, my condolences brotha. I know you can never fully replace her, but I hope to see you in a 4Runner again soon.
But seriously, my condolences brotha. I know you can never fully replace her, but I hope to see you in a 4Runner again soon.
Yoter
New member
Yeah she did I really have to count my blessings that I didn't get any serious injuries.
Luckily the car should be covered its going to take a few days for the full reports to be filled by the CHP (we might even have a video! which I will of course share) but yeah I am hoping it will go smoothly with all the insurance stuff.
So this is the best way I can describe what happened but its hard to put in words.
I was driving in the far left lane going the speed limit and there was a large dodge ram truck one lane over to my right as well as some other cars around us in the farther right lanes.
I saw this car in my rear view maybe 300 yards back, which I thought was a cop car come flying down the bridge at 100+ miles per hour he swerved to the right around the truck to pass the traffic. He lost control and T - boned the truck.
The truck then went slamming into the 4runner also T- boning me right between the passenger doors.
Then continued to push the car up into the steel beams of the bridge (on the lower deck coming back from the city)
I first rolled on the roof and then back over onto the wheels but all while sideways on the beams.
It tore off the rear axle, broke the drive shaft and the frame of the car. I even broke the bridge.
Yeah I wish that was the case! After my car came to a stop I saw a guy running away down the bridge, in the end I never saw the other drivers but the police told me there were three people in the other car two intoxicated and one sober who claimed to be the driver so he went home with a misdemeanor driving without insurance. I am still perplexed that there weren't any reckless driving charges etc.. I was in too much shock and too worried about the 4runner to bring that up with the police at the scene.
I was planning on having it done next week had a local guy fab up the bracket I needed and everything. So bummed.
:lol: Yeah its time for me to find another, I am hoping to be lucky enough to get one in this same condition I put a lot of work into it, Had a new clutch, Valve covers, timing belt cam seals etc..., just did the rear axle thanks to your help..
I actually think the lift may have saved my life because the car was just high enough that it rolled partially on the rear part of the roof and the the front wheels climbed up the wall and prevented the front part of the roof (where I was sitting) from being torn to bits like the rear was.
Thanks you all for your kind words this forum has been a blessing in so many ways and made owning a 4runner a lot of fun. This forum is a big part of what makes 4runners so awesome.
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Dirtyfingers
Senior Member
I swear I want to take all the drunk drivers and ring their necks, I'm sorry man. I hate that feeling when you look out to the driveway and your baby just isn't there anymore...sickening.
Speedy Gomez
Banned
Wow! Terrible...
Canuckrz
New member
Thats absolutely disgusting, doing retarded shit like that should land someone with attempted murder or manslaughter or something along those lines.Yoter said:
Even assuming they weren't full of shit with the only sober guy actually driving like that, its not like hes on some empty back road somewhere driving like a jackass, its on a crowded urban bridge.
Added to it they took off running? How the hell did that not get them a leaving the scene of an accident charge? Hopefully that video is nice and clear and puts the heat on those ignorant jackasses.
/Rant
At least your truck is covered, are you going to buy it back and put the parts onto another runner? Get a newer runner? Or get something different all together?
TheKorstjens
New member
Really good u came out ok overall. Situation sux but maybe things will work out good for u. Good luck in your future endeavors.
BTO
Member
Don't let the bastard get away with a simple misdemeanor. Get a lawyer, sue 'em and take their f'n house.
I had something like this happen to me and my wife while she was driving on I-5. I was riding in the passenger seat and saw some maniac coming up behind us at 100+. One semi ahead of us began passing another causing traffic to slow down. He came up behind the car behind us barely missing them, went off the road through a ditch and got airborne. I could see this car in the side view mirror flipping in the air. It must have rolled three times before it slammed onto the ground. My wife goes, OMG should we stop? I'm like, "f 'em, keep driving. I don't need that a hole screwing up our vacation.
I had something like this happen to me and my wife while she was driving on I-5. I was riding in the passenger seat and saw some maniac coming up behind us at 100+. One semi ahead of us began passing another causing traffic to slow down. He came up behind the car behind us barely missing them, went off the road through a ditch and got airborne. I could see this car in the side view mirror flipping in the air. It must have rolled three times before it slammed onto the ground. My wife goes, OMG should we stop? I'm like, "f 'em, keep driving. I don't need that a hole screwing up our vacation.
LittleCaesar
New member
That story makes me never want to get rid of my 3rd gen. I don't know if Hollywood could have written a script like such.
I am just glad you are OK, but still at a loss for words.
A fu*&ing misdemeanor? I hope your your insurance agent knows such, and they recommend going after the guy. If you know a lawyer, run it by them as well.
I am just glad you are OK, but still at a loss for words.
A fu*&ing misdemeanor? I hope your your insurance agent knows such, and they recommend going after the guy. If you know a lawyer, run it by them as well.
NCrunner2012
New member
A little duct tape, elbow grease good as new...
[MENTION=82289]Yoter[/MENTION] I'm glad you came out of that OK and hope you aren't too sore by now!
FWIW- I don't know the laws in CA, but it might be worth checking into whether the ticket for no insurance makes the other driver the guilty party in the accident for sure. If not, I'd look into whether you can file a complaint against him yourself for a moving violation. In at least some states if the police officer didn't issue a ticket and the accident ends up no-fault then your insurance can go up. Plus I know of multiple situations where people were nice, decided not to file a complaint against the person who caused the accident (one was an old lady the guy felt sorry for), and ended up getting sued even though it was not their fault. You are always in a better position if the other guy gets a moving violation, if nothing else just to protect yourself from jerks.
Good luck with this whole thing. Hope to see you with another Runner before too long.
FWIW- I don't know the laws in CA, but it might be worth checking into whether the ticket for no insurance makes the other driver the guilty party in the accident for sure. If not, I'd look into whether you can file a complaint against him yourself for a moving violation. In at least some states if the police officer didn't issue a ticket and the accident ends up no-fault then your insurance can go up. Plus I know of multiple situations where people were nice, decided not to file a complaint against the person who caused the accident (one was an old lady the guy felt sorry for), and ended up getting sued even though it was not their fault. You are always in a better position if the other guy gets a moving violation, if nothing else just to protect yourself from jerks.
Good luck with this whole thing. Hope to see you with another Runner before too long.
Brique
New member
I can't say for sure how things will shake out for the other driver, but here's how it would normally work in TN:
Insurance here follows the vehicle, meaning if the vehicle was insured, that policy would kick in first and pay for your damages. If the vehicle was not, then the driver's policy would pay. If neither, then the driver is responsible (if i remember correctly).
So let's go with the assumption that the sober guy wasn't driving and it wasn't his car and there's no insurance. Now he officially was the driver cause that's what he told the police.
Your insurance company pays for your damages, then persues the other driver to recover. He doesnt pay because he's broke. He gets sent to collections and your insurance company files a financial responsibility form with the state. This causes his license to be suspended until he pays back your insurance company and proves to the state that he has insurance. Only now he's got an accident and collections in his record, making insurance very expensive. And he's not in a position to argue liability because he's got no money for a lawyer and no insurance to represent him either. So if he ever wants his license back he's gonna have to cough up thousands and thousands of dollars to pay back your insurance, the insurance for the other truck that got hit, and to buy his own insurance. Not to mention the impact having collections and a suspended license may have on his employment.
If the sober guy wasn't the one driving, he just told a very very expensive lie.
Karma comes after everyone, sooner or later. We just don't always get to see it.
Insurance here follows the vehicle, meaning if the vehicle was insured, that policy would kick in first and pay for your damages. If the vehicle was not, then the driver's policy would pay. If neither, then the driver is responsible (if i remember correctly).
So let's go with the assumption that the sober guy wasn't driving and it wasn't his car and there's no insurance. Now he officially was the driver cause that's what he told the police.
Your insurance company pays for your damages, then persues the other driver to recover. He doesnt pay because he's broke. He gets sent to collections and your insurance company files a financial responsibility form with the state. This causes his license to be suspended until he pays back your insurance company and proves to the state that he has insurance. Only now he's got an accident and collections in his record, making insurance very expensive. And he's not in a position to argue liability because he's got no money for a lawyer and no insurance to represent him either. So if he ever wants his license back he's gonna have to cough up thousands and thousands of dollars to pay back your insurance, the insurance for the other truck that got hit, and to buy his own insurance. Not to mention the impact having collections and a suspended license may have on his employment.
If the sober guy wasn't the one driving, he just told a very very expensive lie.
Karma comes after everyone, sooner or later. We just don't always get to see it.
Brian757
New member
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. It must be terrible to not have your baby around anymore. But like everyone said, vehicles are replaceable, lives aren't. I know you had a lot of sentimental value in that rig but you start over, you rebuild, and you continue. It sucks, and again, I'm sorry about your loss.
I lost a friend in high school from a drunk driver. It's crazy how many people have no self control. The consequences are huge.
I've never understood why people gamble getting home to wrecking their vehicle, possibly injuring themselves and others, or even causing death.
I lost a friend in high school from a drunk driver. It's crazy how many people have no self control. The consequences are huge.
I've never understood why people gamble getting home to wrecking their vehicle, possibly injuring themselves and others, or even causing death.
paddlenbike
Member
I feel your pain...our trucks are virtual twins other than the color; I'm just glad you made it out okay.
I've always thought that if something ever happened to my 4Runner, I would buy the cleanest automatic I could find and swap in the 5-speed and rear e-locker (if it didn't already have it) in an attempt to get back what I had. Finding clean 5-speeds is not easy. So sorry man!!
I've always thought that if something ever happened to my 4Runner, I would buy the cleanest automatic I could find and swap in the 5-speed and rear e-locker (if it didn't already have it) in an attempt to get back what I had. Finding clean 5-speeds is not easy. So sorry man!!
vipergrhd
New member
Carnage
First of all glad to hear that your alive and well,i know that you are aching right now inside and out.I hate to see post like this specially when drunk idiots are always involved i almost want to bash his/her head open and see if there is any brains inside that skull.If i were you go the distant and make sure they pay like hell for all the damage and make sure they lose their license for a long time,too many innocent lives are lost every year just because this idiot decided to drive after drinking too much.hope you feel better soon and you will find another rig i'm sure,are you going to salvage any of your parts?just curious what on earth you were doing on the Bay bridge at that time?I was always told to avoid driving between 1 a.m and 5 a.m on any bridge specially on weekends.
Pardon me for going a bit overboard,rant over.:frusty:
First of all glad to hear that your alive and well,i know that you are aching right now inside and out.I hate to see post like this specially when drunk idiots are always involved i almost want to bash his/her head open and see if there is any brains inside that skull.If i were you go the distant and make sure they pay like hell for all the damage and make sure they lose their license for a long time,too many innocent lives are lost every year just because this idiot decided to drive after drinking too much.hope you feel better soon and you will find another rig i'm sure,are you going to salvage any of your parts?just curious what on earth you were doing on the Bay bridge at that time?I was always told to avoid driving between 1 a.m and 5 a.m on any bridge specially on weekends.
Pardon me for going a bit overboard,rant over.:frusty:
