close call

[JJ]

The morning started out like any other tournament morning for my partner and I. I picked him him up at 0400 am and off we went, coffee mugs in hand, talking about where we should start, depending on draw etc.. We entered the on-ramp to the interstate and traffic was light. I glanced down and checked the speed, saw I was travelling at 65 mph, checked my rear view mirror and saw a vehicle coming up from behind in the same lane, and turned my attention back tothe road. In the next instant, the truck lurched forward, coffee cups flew, hats were thrown off, and the truck was nearly out of control. A few hundred yards down the road, I drug what was left of my boat and trailer to the side of the interstate. The other vehicle was no where to be seen. I called 911 and got an ambulance and Law Enforcement on the way. A drunk driver fell asleep doing approximately 90-100 mph. I had the transom saver on the motor and when I saw the pickup that had hit me, I could see that the motor had ridden up over the bumper, crashed through the grill, taking out the radiator, up through the hood, stopping probably a foot in front of the windshield. The drunk driver then hit a traffic sign, went into the ditch, and then still hit a tree with enough force to crush the other side of the front end. He ended up with a bloody nose out of the whole deal. In the blink of an eye, our morning had disentegrated. Thank the good Lord we were both OK, little stiff. He hit the boat with enough impact that he pushed it up off the trailer, through the winch post, in to the bed of my truck. This was 487 VS Ranger, about 2000 lbs with motor, full tanks, batteries etc. With out the boat behind us, I do believe he would have killed us or someone else, the boat acted like a big buffer, absorbing so much of the energy. I believe the boat is totaled, transom is cracked on each side, scratched all up, nose is crushed where it hit the truck, only thing holding the motor on was the center piston for tilt. Last thing, wear your seat belts, because you just never know.

[little bow mount]

i am glad to hear that you all are ok. it really is amazing how smart you can get when you go out and get drunk isn't it?? and yet another reason to go fishing. because now we know that boats DO save lives!!

[WAeyes]

Don't assume because you are "a little stiff" that you are OK. Although the boat was there and helped absorb the blow, it still sounds like you had a good force push you forward. Please go to a few different doctors as the days go by to check for whiplash. Document everything from how you feel on a daily basis to medical costs and any time missed at work or inability or discomfort to do your job. Sorry to to make this sound like a legal procedure but you want to cover your butt just in case. I was on a jury for a civil case for an "under 5 mph bump" where a guy was claiming damages of $200,000. Now this guy was obviously a con artist and only got a miniscule percentage of this, but his situation was very, very minor compared to yours. Sorry to hear your boat is totalled. Glad you are not seriously hurt. Taking a guys fishing toys away has to be a little painful though. Good Luck

[smiley]

Thank God you are okay. Life is short. Have fun, be happy, and play nice because you just never know.
I am so sorry about your boat.
Lisa

[Juls_WI]

Glad to hear your ok...Whew! ;-)

I had the same thing happen to me ...well, not quite the same, I didn't have a boat on the back..

I had just gotten my license waaaayyyy back when I was 16, and I was sitting at a stop light. A drunk didn't see me, or the red light until the last second, and crunched the back left side of the car, or should I say my Mom's car. Luckily, my girlfriend and I were ok. He just kept on driving though, like nothing happend, and I didn't react fast enough to get a license plate number. Oops! Live and learn.

Drunk Drivers really bug me.

Juls

[MR.Pike]

Shoosh, Glad you two are o.k. But since you're aright, Was that a Stainless Prop or an Aluminum you were using? Any Damage, What kind of outboard? Might be of value to someone buying a motor. Wonder what the Crash rating is on each specific model??? LOL Hope your Ins. co. gets you back up and running ASAP ! Bad time to be out of a boat. Best of Luck!





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