near death crash experiences
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Howard
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Me , it wasn't massively horrendous , i was stationary waiting to pull onto a roundabout in the old CLK cabrio ...
Some little punk in a 106 fell asleep ( read : was texting ) and rear ended me at 40 mph , shunting me into the car in front , and that into the car in front of that and all of us ended up on the roundabout.
CLK was totalled , but we got out with minor whiplash injuries .
The CLK was actually drivable to get it off the roundabout and back home ( 2 miles ) after i had jumped on the bonnet to get it down again , but the pulleys and everything on the front of the engine were in the radiator.
Nick reckoned the car would go again , but the insurance paid out and we got the V8 .
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/driving-incidents-roadrage/58122-nightmare-today.html
I didn't thank my lucky stars it was a 'Benz' though , because only rappers and Americans call them that ....
Some little punk in a 106 fell asleep ( read : was texting ) and rear ended me at 40 mph , shunting me into the car in front , and that into the car in front of that and all of us ended up on the roundabout.
CLK was totalled , but we got out with minor whiplash injuries .
The CLK was actually drivable to get it off the roundabout and back home ( 2 miles ) after i had jumped on the bonnet to get it down again , but the pulleys and everything on the front of the engine were in the radiator.
Nick reckoned the car would go again , but the insurance paid out and we got the V8 .
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/driving-incidents-roadrage/58122-nightmare-today.html
I didn't thank my lucky stars it was a 'Benz' though , because only rappers and Americans call them that ....
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renault12ts
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I was T-boned by a woman running a red light. Wife was in passenger seat. Daughter was born a month later, 6 weeks prem. Good news. She turns 22 next week!
My E34 520i was attacked by a woman in a Clio turning right into a garage and looking to see what pump to pull up to instead of at the road where I was lolloping along at 50mph (it was in a national speed limit zone).
Spun her twice and killed her car on the spot. Ripped the wheel of the BM and tucked it underneath. This was the first time I ever felt its ABS kick in.
My 10 day old son in the passenger seat didn't even wake up. Wife and daughter were somewhat shocked but OK.
They spent £11k putting the car back on the road and I got another 9 years out of it. In fact the only parts that started to rust were the new ones.
I will only ever buy a substantial car and live with the poorer fuel economy.
Spun her twice and killed her car on the spot. Ripped the wheel of the BM and tucked it underneath. This was the first time I ever felt its ABS kick in.
My 10 day old son in the passenger seat didn't even wake up. Wife and daughter were somewhat shocked but OK.
They spent £11k putting the car back on the road and I got another 9 years out of it. In fact the only parts that started to rust were the new ones.
I will only ever buy a substantial car and live with the poorer fuel economy.
petermansell
Active Member
Me. When I was 20 (thirty years ago) a police car rounded a bend on the wrong side of the road and I had to cross to the right side of the road to miss him. We missed each other but on correcting my position back to the left side of the road I over corrected and my rear wheels hit the curb. The car (a 1600 Cortina Mark II) rolled into a piller box and I broke my back, ribs and coller bones. Result: total paralysis from my chest.
In 2003 I thought I'd had it when my car aquaplaned on an autoroute in France. A bit of damage to the car but none to the people thankfully.
In 2003 I thought I'd had it when my car aquaplaned on an autoroute in France. A bit of damage to the car but none to the people thankfully.
About this time last year I had just gone round one of those roundabouts where the ongoing traffic doesn't have to stop, when a 10 ton lorry came round the rdt. on my off side and immedieately moved over to the nearside. Hit me on the rear wheel area, spun me across the road to hit the crash-barrier, and as the car still had momentum, and by now going backwards, proceeded to trash the nearside of the car until we came to a stop. The engine was still ticking over quietly and the radio playing as if nothing had happened. Very dis-orientating. My prized W202 written off. On the bright side, I love the W204, what a difference 9 years can make.
congrats!
wow.. that sounds ... well im speechless!
bpsorrel
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Me too! That sounds totally horendous! Peter, I feel for you!
I have not had a crash in a merc, but had a large one in Australia in 2006.
having driven from Perth to Monkey Mia (sharks bay) 1800 km round trip in 2 days, on the last stretch of 25km, two kangaroos popped out on the road at the point of a brow, i swerved to miss um, but they ran into the side of my car, knocking me of traack, skidding and sliding for near 300 metres, crossing lanes, till we stopped on the wrong side of the road, then a road train came.. had to swing round us, missed the car, except the rear trailer which clipped us and drive stright over the bonnet and crushed my left leg, ended up in hospital, now fine, but have pins in it and sometimes have to wear an external cast ...
scary **** is all i can say! bloody rodents!
The car was a BMW 5 series hire car.. ouch!
having driven from Perth to Monkey Mia (sharks bay) 1800 km round trip in 2 days, on the last stretch of 25km, two kangaroos popped out on the road at the point of a brow, i swerved to miss um, but they ran into the side of my car, knocking me of traack, skidding and sliding for near 300 metres, crossing lanes, till we stopped on the wrong side of the road, then a road train came.. had to swing round us, missed the car, except the rear trailer which clipped us and drive stright over the bonnet and crushed my left leg, ended up in hospital, now fine, but have pins in it and sometimes have to wear an external cast ...
scary **** is all i can say! bloody rodents!
The car was a BMW 5 series hire car.. ouch!
bpsorrel
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Yikes!!! Better watch those loose wallaby at Whipsnade from now on! 
bpsorrel
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Thankfully, only bad accident I've had (so far!) was when I was about 18 and in my first car, a '73 Datsun Bluebird. I was driving passed the old Wembley Stadium. across the main round-about opposite, my right of way, when a loon in an Escort slammed into the side of me!! Took the whole side of my poor little Datsun out, but all occupants in my car were ok. Over a period of weeks, a body shop friend actually re-built the Datsun for me and it lived on a few more months before I sold it to a mate who wrote it off the following week!!!
thats clever.,. glad all are ok
Ted
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Not me, but about six months after the w123 came out, one of our drivers hit a volvo f88 (or f86 - the big one) head on.
I was sent out to pick the car up from the compound, arrived and couldn't find the car. Looked again, and from the front it was totally unrecognisable, with massive engine/gearbox intrusion into the cabin.
The driver suffered a cut head where he had hit the windscreen (even though he had been wearing his seatbelt), and that was it.
I was sent out to pick the car up from the compound, arrived and couldn't find the car. Looked again, and from the front it was totally unrecognisable, with massive engine/gearbox intrusion into the cabin.
The driver suffered a cut head where he had hit the windscreen (even though he had been wearing his seatbelt), and that was it.
Just the one bad experience , it would have been back in 1977 or so as I was on my way home from college .
On the single carriageway A road between Grangemouth and Bo'ness I was approaching a moderate right hand bend at 60 (a safe speed for the bend) in the W115 220/8 I had inherited from my dad on passing my test .
I could see over the top of the hedgerow that there was an artic coming the other way , but unknown to me there was also an idiot in a Ford Crapi overtaking the artic round the blind bend - I saw him at maybe 50 yds distance with a closing speed of at least 100 mph - I braked as hard as I could whilst still retaining some control and steered into the verge at the last moment , however there was no way to avoid the head on collision . The Capri caught the right half of the front of my car and took off from the star on the grille to the A pillar - I can remember seeing the other driver coming towards me with both arms thrown across in front of his face , just before my windscreen flew outwards . The other car flipped up and flew across mine upside down , before landing in thefield 70 yds behind - he cleared the hedge without breaching it and LANDED that far behind : no skid marks on the grass .
I came to rest on the opposite side of the road , with the front quarter of my car sliced off - however , THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING and I had to switch it off ! Thankfully , I was completely unhurt , thanks to the car I was driving and the fact I was wearing a seatbelt (not compulsory in those days) . Thanks to Mercedes-Benz crumple zone and passenger safety cell design , introduced in the 1950's on the Ponton series , I was able to open the door and step out . I had a fragment of glass in my eye , but that was it !
The driver of the other car was less fortunate : the Capri ended up banana shaped - the whole front end bent upwards , his door was jammed , the outer skin separated from the frame when we tried to get him out , he had broken three limbs , can't remember if 2 legs & 1 arm or other way round . It turned out he was a banned driver with no insurance , the car was registered to his father and he had 'stolen' it - hmm. He also smelled strongly of drink . He was taken to hospital , but disappeared a few weeks later .
I was left to claim off my insurance , fortunately the evidence against the other driver was overwhelming , coupled with the artic driver's witness statement . I was also very lucky that my haulage contractor dad , who had been using the same insurance company for the previous 30 years or so and had the fleet of 50+ trucks insured with them had a bit of clout , so I got to keep my NCD . A couple of weeks later I got my W114 280E 5 speed manual with the settlement .
I can truly say that I owe my life to Mercedes-Benz safety engineering , and have always driven Mercedes ever since .
On the single carriageway A road between Grangemouth and Bo'ness I was approaching a moderate right hand bend at 60 (a safe speed for the bend) in the W115 220/8 I had inherited from my dad on passing my test .
I could see over the top of the hedgerow that there was an artic coming the other way , but unknown to me there was also an idiot in a Ford Crapi overtaking the artic round the blind bend - I saw him at maybe 50 yds distance with a closing speed of at least 100 mph - I braked as hard as I could whilst still retaining some control and steered into the verge at the last moment , however there was no way to avoid the head on collision . The Capri caught the right half of the front of my car and took off from the star on the grille to the A pillar - I can remember seeing the other driver coming towards me with both arms thrown across in front of his face , just before my windscreen flew outwards . The other car flipped up and flew across mine upside down , before landing in thefield 70 yds behind - he cleared the hedge without breaching it and LANDED that far behind : no skid marks on the grass .
I came to rest on the opposite side of the road , with the front quarter of my car sliced off - however , THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING and I had to switch it off ! Thankfully , I was completely unhurt , thanks to the car I was driving and the fact I was wearing a seatbelt (not compulsory in those days) . Thanks to Mercedes-Benz crumple zone and passenger safety cell design , introduced in the 1950's on the Ponton series , I was able to open the door and step out . I had a fragment of glass in my eye , but that was it !
The driver of the other car was less fortunate : the Capri ended up banana shaped - the whole front end bent upwards , his door was jammed , the outer skin separated from the frame when we tried to get him out , he had broken three limbs , can't remember if 2 legs & 1 arm or other way round . It turned out he was a banned driver with no insurance , the car was registered to his father and he had 'stolen' it - hmm. He also smelled strongly of drink . He was taken to hospital , but disappeared a few weeks later .
I was left to claim off my insurance , fortunately the evidence against the other driver was overwhelming , coupled with the artic driver's witness statement . I was also very lucky that my haulage contractor dad , who had been using the same insurance company for the previous 30 years or so and had the fleet of 50+ trucks insured with them had a bit of clout , so I got to keep my NCD . A couple of weeks later I got my W114 280E 5 speed manual with the settlement .
I can truly say that I owe my life to Mercedes-Benz safety engineering , and have always driven Mercedes ever since .
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Baron_Samedi
MB Enthusiast
Chilling Stuff....
saorbust
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I have two stories. Both are learning experiences....
First car I had - a fiat uno, I drove for the first time in the snow and ice. BIG mistake. Went to turn right round a bend, doing what I thought was a reasonable 25 mph, and the car just didn't stop, didn't turn, nothing. I had the presence of mind to put my arms across my chest, and also to turn the engine off (dropping down the gears didn't help regain traction). I hit a tree and stopped within the space of 1mm. It put a mark on my chest - brusing basically, and shocked me. Never drove in ice and snow since - just not worth it. Now we live in the country I see it every day during winter.
Second story is a Merc related one. Driving my old 211 E Class thru germany, my brother and I in the car. Doing 130mph, on a straight piece of derestricted autobahn. Nothing illegal, car had just been serviced, correct pressures, new tyres etc.
Those that have been to the Brooklands track might have experienced this as well... a car is in lane 1. It's a three lane motorway. The car is on german plates (nothing against the germans btw).
We get to within 100 yards, I'm in Lane 3, giving the car plenty of room and not zooming past in lane 2 'buzzing' it. I've also flashed my lights once as is the norm in Germany, and I have my headlights on.
at the 100 yard mark, the driver of the other car pulls across TWO lanes, right in front of us. He must be doing about 80mph - basically the closing speed and energies involved is very high.
Without thinking I stamp on the brake and swerve to the right - basically to go to his lane and get round him. We make it, nothing happens except the car basically 'dances' on it's ABS - I've never known anything like it - the car just performed brilliantly.
We on the other hand are totally pumped up - addrenalin is going like bonkers, our pulses are racing and basically I'm shaking from shock. I pulled over within 500 yards of the incident, to calm down. I could barely drive the car. It did a great job - no skids, no stability issues, nothing. Faultless performance. The other car just went on without even noticing us.
I have no idea to this day why the other driver did what they did - policing the road maybe ? We had broken no laws, and had given him / her plenty of room.
My lesson - always expect the unexpected - no matter how cautious you are.
First car I had - a fiat uno, I drove for the first time in the snow and ice. BIG mistake. Went to turn right round a bend, doing what I thought was a reasonable 25 mph, and the car just didn't stop, didn't turn, nothing. I had the presence of mind to put my arms across my chest, and also to turn the engine off (dropping down the gears didn't help regain traction). I hit a tree and stopped within the space of 1mm. It put a mark on my chest - brusing basically, and shocked me. Never drove in ice and snow since - just not worth it. Now we live in the country I see it every day during winter.
Second story is a Merc related one. Driving my old 211 E Class thru germany, my brother and I in the car. Doing 130mph, on a straight piece of derestricted autobahn. Nothing illegal, car had just been serviced, correct pressures, new tyres etc.
Those that have been to the Brooklands track might have experienced this as well... a car is in lane 1. It's a three lane motorway. The car is on german plates (nothing against the germans btw).
We get to within 100 yards, I'm in Lane 3, giving the car plenty of room and not zooming past in lane 2 'buzzing' it. I've also flashed my lights once as is the norm in Germany, and I have my headlights on.
at the 100 yard mark, the driver of the other car pulls across TWO lanes, right in front of us. He must be doing about 80mph - basically the closing speed and energies involved is very high.
Without thinking I stamp on the brake and swerve to the right - basically to go to his lane and get round him. We make it, nothing happens except the car basically 'dances' on it's ABS - I've never known anything like it - the car just performed brilliantly.
We on the other hand are totally pumped up - addrenalin is going like bonkers, our pulses are racing and basically I'm shaking from shock. I pulled over within 500 yards of the incident, to calm down. I could barely drive the car. It did a great job - no skids, no stability issues, nothing. Faultless performance. The other car just went on without even noticing us.
I have no idea to this day why the other driver did what they did - policing the road maybe ? We had broken no laws, and had given him / her plenty of room.
My lesson - always expect the unexpected - no matter how cautious you are.
Chattonmill
MB Enthusiast
Back in the 80's My father bought a 450 SEL from a London Friend who just couldnt sell in in town because of it's size.
8 Years old chauffer driven all it's life, a cracking car.
Driving up the A1 just south of Scotch Corner (Hackforth and Hornby turn off I remember very clearly now!) a driver in a Datsun cherry or similar does a u turn from the hard shoulder to go through a gap in the central reservation. The only explanation we can come to is that he couldnt see our lights because of the car in lane 1 about 400 yards in front.
Anyway we hit him at about 65 mph side on, right on his fuel tank. The Merc just ploughed on and on and on, it was stuck in gear and we couldnt turn the engine off! It never deviated from it's course. He went over our roof.
So out and onto the central reservation, cross to the hard shoulder having put out the warning triangle. No car
It took 5 mins to find it, in a bush behind a signpost upside down and squashed. It also stank of petrol.
Luckily a trucker had stopped and we extracted the guy from the car through what was now a very small window.
Enter the Police. It was at this point he started mumbling about his wife and mother in law....
The police searched the fields for 15 mins with no joy until a call came through. He had been seen earlier by a patrol, he had broken down. His wife and MIL had walked back to the services for a meal whilst the AA turned out, he had then done the U turn to go back for them and not made it
He ended up with a compressed spine and a lot of discomfort, us well need I say more
Well.....saying that I had been asleep on the back seat so got a bit of a jolt. Went to a horse event the next day, starter goes 3....2...1....Go! and I passed out and fell off the horse,waking up in an ambulance. Delayed shock apparently
The Front of the Merc was totalled, the engine had moved so far back that it could just be felt through the passenger footwell, oh and the Glove box wouldn't shut again
8 Years old chauffer driven all it's life, a cracking car.
Driving up the A1 just south of Scotch Corner (Hackforth and Hornby turn off I remember very clearly now!) a driver in a Datsun cherry or similar does a u turn from the hard shoulder to go through a gap in the central reservation. The only explanation we can come to is that he couldnt see our lights because of the car in lane 1 about 400 yards in front.
Anyway we hit him at about 65 mph side on, right on his fuel tank. The Merc just ploughed on and on and on, it was stuck in gear and we couldnt turn the engine off! It never deviated from it's course. He went over our roof.
So out and onto the central reservation, cross to the hard shoulder having put out the warning triangle. No car
It took 5 mins to find it, in a bush behind a signpost upside down and squashed. It also stank of petrol.
Luckily a trucker had stopped and we extracted the guy from the car through what was now a very small window.
Enter the Police. It was at this point he started mumbling about his wife and mother in law....
The police searched the fields for 15 mins with no joy until a call came through. He had been seen earlier by a patrol, he had broken down. His wife and MIL had walked back to the services for a meal whilst the AA turned out, he had then done the U turn to go back for them and not made it
He ended up with a compressed spine and a lot of discomfort, us well need I say more
Well.....saying that I had been asleep on the back seat so got a bit of a jolt. Went to a horse event the next day, starter goes 3....2...1....Go! and I passed out and fell off the horse,waking up in an ambulance. Delayed shock apparently
The Front of the Merc was totalled, the engine had moved so far back that it could just be felt through the passenger footwell, oh and the Glove box wouldn't shut again
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Fishtailed my 202 on some black ice back in 2003, barrel-rolled it off the road and into a field. Got out and walked away unhurt but the car was totalled due to roof damage (was still drivable and all the doors etc opened and closed properly!).
Now I only drive cars that I've personally crash-tested
Now I only drive cars that I've personally crash-tested
