ZStation
30-01-2003, 20:22
Bought myself a nice shiny, immaculate condition Astra Club in November. Got hit by a 306 yesterday afternoon, my Astra is now less than immaculate.
Two lanes, left lane turns left, right lane goes straight on. Lights at junction let left lane go first, then right lane goes shortly afterwards.
I'm going down the left lane then a grey 306 tries overtaking me on the right lane to nip between the front of me, and the line of stopped traffic on his lane. He's obviously not going to make it, I brake, he brakes and locks up, and hits the side of my car. I skid past the line of stopped traffic in my lane, stopping about 50 yds up the road from point of impact. The road was slippery, and when the 306 hit me, my car went against the kerb that is mounded with grit from the previous night's gritting.
So, I'm stopped, look in the mirror before getting out and see the grey 306 reversing out of the back of an old red Cavalier that was parked at the end of the stopped traffic. I jump out of the car and the 306 come speeding up towards me, with the front hanging out of it. The car is heavily laden with at least 4 people, the driver being a fat bugger (think 25 stones plus). The 306 then smashes onto the pavement, going round my car, and then took off up the road to the left. I manage to get it's plates after avoiding the flying pieces of plastic that came out of the 306 when it hit the kerb.
So, I run over to the red Cavalier to check if the occupants are OK. Female driver in shock, and 4 kids in the back (thankfully well strapped in).
I went back to the car, wrote down the reg number, and rang the Police. Described what happened, they said stay where you are and don't move anything. This was 3.14pm.
So, I stand and wait. Meanwhile, the red Cav's driver's brother-in-law happens to drive past, and stopped up the road and walked back to comfort his sister-in-law. He gets me to ring for ambulance, did so, and ambulance arrives while I'm still on the phone!
So, driver is taken offto hospital with back pains, and one kid who had bruised it's head. Other tow kids were taken off by brother-in-law's wife.
By this point the traffic is totally mangled, and I could see another accident further up the road, along with Police prescence.
Finally at 4.10pm (nearly an hour after ringing them) oone Police motorcyclist arrives. He'd been at the other accident, assuming it was the one I was involved in. "Is there an Andrew Davidson at this accident?" "That's me" says I. "Oh, you're here then, we thought you'd done a runner" says he. "No, I've been standing here for he past hour waiting for you" says I. I'm still shocked, and now frozen to the bone as it's a windy spot, and it's about 4C in Belfast at best.
The copper was very helpful, got details of what happened, took measurements etc. Have to go to the station in the morning to make a statement.
Damage to my car as follows:
Paint scored from filler cap forward just below window line (306's mirror)
Drivers door pushed in from half way along bump strip, to about 2" deep at the hinge.
Drivers front wing pushed in about 3" after door hinge.
Both bump strips scratched, front one smashed and loose at front. Now vibrates annoyingly at 50mph.
Bottom of both doors have black tyre marks and scratching in the paint (metallic).
Damage to Cavalier:
Back bumper smashed at passenger's side from exhaust outwards. Saved by huge towbar frame under bumper.
Rear light cluster brusied (not cracked but gone white)
Damage to the hit-and-run 306:
Front bumper and inner wing lying on pavement
Front lights lying on road behind Cavalier
Chunk of floor probably ripped off as it went over a 4" kerb. Random bits of plastic and piping lying on road.
I'm assuming it was a joyrider, and I'm also assuming he caused the other accident up the road. The Police came across that accident first, so assumed it was the one I'd called about. The copper wasn't forthcoming about the other accident when I quizzed him about it.
I eventaully get away from the scene (after having been breathalysed, which the PSNI do at every RTA now) at 4.50pm. Make my way back the office, and have a big cup of tea.
8 years I've ben driving, and most of those years I've been doing 60,000 miles a year, and this is the first accident I've had. OK, I've hit the odd hedge and gate post now and the, but nothing that involved another car.
Bit of a disaster.
Two lanes, left lane turns left, right lane goes straight on. Lights at junction let left lane go first, then right lane goes shortly afterwards.
I'm going down the left lane then a grey 306 tries overtaking me on the right lane to nip between the front of me, and the line of stopped traffic on his lane. He's obviously not going to make it, I brake, he brakes and locks up, and hits the side of my car. I skid past the line of stopped traffic in my lane, stopping about 50 yds up the road from point of impact. The road was slippery, and when the 306 hit me, my car went against the kerb that is mounded with grit from the previous night's gritting.
So, I'm stopped, look in the mirror before getting out and see the grey 306 reversing out of the back of an old red Cavalier that was parked at the end of the stopped traffic. I jump out of the car and the 306 come speeding up towards me, with the front hanging out of it. The car is heavily laden with at least 4 people, the driver being a fat bugger (think 25 stones plus). The 306 then smashes onto the pavement, going round my car, and then took off up the road to the left. I manage to get it's plates after avoiding the flying pieces of plastic that came out of the 306 when it hit the kerb.
So, I run over to the red Cavalier to check if the occupants are OK. Female driver in shock, and 4 kids in the back (thankfully well strapped in).
I went back to the car, wrote down the reg number, and rang the Police. Described what happened, they said stay where you are and don't move anything. This was 3.14pm.
So, I stand and wait. Meanwhile, the red Cav's driver's brother-in-law happens to drive past, and stopped up the road and walked back to comfort his sister-in-law. He gets me to ring for ambulance, did so, and ambulance arrives while I'm still on the phone!
So, driver is taken offto hospital with back pains, and one kid who had bruised it's head. Other tow kids were taken off by brother-in-law's wife.
By this point the traffic is totally mangled, and I could see another accident further up the road, along with Police prescence.
Finally at 4.10pm (nearly an hour after ringing them) oone Police motorcyclist arrives. He'd been at the other accident, assuming it was the one I was involved in. "Is there an Andrew Davidson at this accident?" "That's me" says I. "Oh, you're here then, we thought you'd done a runner" says he. "No, I've been standing here for he past hour waiting for you" says I. I'm still shocked, and now frozen to the bone as it's a windy spot, and it's about 4C in Belfast at best.
The copper was very helpful, got details of what happened, took measurements etc. Have to go to the station in the morning to make a statement.
Damage to my car as follows:
Paint scored from filler cap forward just below window line (306's mirror)
Drivers door pushed in from half way along bump strip, to about 2" deep at the hinge.
Drivers front wing pushed in about 3" after door hinge.
Both bump strips scratched, front one smashed and loose at front. Now vibrates annoyingly at 50mph.
Bottom of both doors have black tyre marks and scratching in the paint (metallic).
Damage to Cavalier:
Back bumper smashed at passenger's side from exhaust outwards. Saved by huge towbar frame under bumper.
Rear light cluster brusied (not cracked but gone white)
Damage to the hit-and-run 306:
Front bumper and inner wing lying on pavement
Front lights lying on road behind Cavalier
Chunk of floor probably ripped off as it went over a 4" kerb. Random bits of plastic and piping lying on road.
I'm assuming it was a joyrider, and I'm also assuming he caused the other accident up the road. The Police came across that accident first, so assumed it was the one I'd called about. The copper wasn't forthcoming about the other accident when I quizzed him about it.
I eventaully get away from the scene (after having been breathalysed, which the PSNI do at every RTA now) at 4.50pm. Make my way back the office, and have a big cup of tea.
8 years I've ben driving, and most of those years I've been doing 60,000 miles a year, and this is the first accident I've had. OK, I've hit the odd hedge and gate post now and the, but nothing that involved another car.
Bit of a disaster.