On Fri, 6/25, got a call from DH. Figured that he was just telling me that he had to go downtown to his company's data center or something like that. No, instead, I get an incoherent mumbling that he got into an accident. He doesn't know if he's bleeding (I asked), he doesn't know if he's got broken bones (I asked), he doesn't know where he's at (I asked), he just knows that he got hit. So I have him ask someone, anyone, where is he? He tells me the cross streets, which, on the best of days, is still 1/2 an hour away from where I'm at when I'm at work. I told him that I'll be there, hang tight, call 911, and I'll be there in 1/2 hour.

On a Friday afternoon.
During rush hour.
On an intersection that I vaguely know where he's at. I'm not very good with downtown Denver.. too many one-way streets and streets that were built during horse & buggy time, so they're SUPER narrow because everyone parks on the side of the road, plus all the trees are overgrown, so they block stop & street signs.

Yea, right.

Actually, took me 27 minutes. Had to cut down some side roads as I25 was blocked, Colorado Blvd was backed up for miles, Broadway is half closed for construction.. GAH!! not to mention I just don't KNOW that area very well.

Got to the intersection finally. Found DH sitting on the grass on the corner, looking like he was going to cry (which I do encourage) and the car being fought up the flatbed of a tow truck. I'm leaving the pictures super big so hopefully they'll enlarge nicely.

Here's the tow-truck driver trying to get the window to roll up. Won't go up. I cut out my reflection.. don't need to be scaring anyone.

Here's the tire. You can see some kind of liquid (brake fluid?) leaking out.

This is from the front. This was a Scion xB 2006. This was the very first new car DH & I had ever owned.. we'd always had used/hand-me-downs. Had to actually special order this one, came directly from Japan w/our customizations (extra heavy-duty stability bars, fancy stereo/subwoofer, etc)! You can see just how badly the front tire is crushed in. :(

From the rear.. you can see how the door is actually caved in.

All and all, we're lucky. John (my DH) walked away. The car did it's job: it saved his life and he walked away. I can't ask for anything more than that, seriously.

Yes, he got a ticket for failure to yield to oncoming traffic. The officer was nice and didn't give him a "failure to obey traffic sign", which was a worse ticket. We have to go to court on 8/6 (of course down town.. I HATE downtown). The vehicle that technically hit him (because he ran the stop sign and went right in front of them) was a '98 Chevy Silverado. Detroit steel vs. Japanese origami. But, John walked away. I'm very grateful for that.

Hopefully I'll hear back from my adjuster today to see if it's fixable or if it's toast. Personally, I've already spoken to 2 professionals, and based only upon the pictures, it's toast. Which is fitting, because the nickname of a '04-'06 xB is "the toaster". If it's toast, we're almost 100% paid off on this vehicle, so we won't be upside down on the loan. But, I was really looking forward to having it paid off. If it's fixable, we have a $750 deductible, and I know from past experience that the door alone is $1500 to replace (I almost accidentally ripped off the door w/an accident on some ice a few years ago).

Just some of MY excitement...

Toni, how terrifying that must have been, especially when he was disoriented and you didn't know the extent of his injuries. I'm glad it all turned out comparatively well.

Awwww, so sorry to see this bad news, it's a scary thing to get that call. I got it last Dec. with my daughter. So glad to hear he is relatively OK, even if it's an emotional crush to have this happen. He'll probably feel bumped and bruised the next few days.

Ouch! So glad your husband was safe!

Alan

Well, got some news from the adjuster. It needs to be towed to an actual body shop, but the initial damages are estimated at already over $4950. Ouch. Will find out hopefully tomorrow if it will be feasible to fix or not.

Ouch. I do hate it when that happens. I got hit once by a truck that delivered bottled water; driver didn't bother to yield when turning left. I missed a telephone pole by about two inches. Auto accidents can be scary things. Glad to hear DH is okay.

Toni so glad DH is okay cars are replaceable loved ones are not hugs to both of you
Gloria

I am glad that DH is feeling alright, but maybe he should go to a neurologist and get an MRI just in case. You never know with head injuries, especially if he was disorientated. Been there myself. As much as you loved the car, you are so lucky that you and your husband are alright, able to still work, and having to fight your insurance company only about the car, not about necessary medical procedures.

new update.. not so good news. Car's totaled. I'm waiting patiently (NAWT!) for the insurance adjuster to contact me (still, they're almost impossible to get in touch with and they give you hours like "Oh, we'll get to you between 8am and 5pm". WTH???) so we can go over how much the settlement is going to be. DH is 100% physically OK, no problems with him other than extreme depression (the car was almost 100% paid off, almost 2 years early). We've got a new car lined up, but can't take possession until I know how much the payoff is going to be, then I can put a down payment on the new car.

Here's the main shot of the car at the body shop.

From the front. According to the body shop, even the inside dash is bowed due to the actual impact. He suspects that if it'd been about 5-10 miles faster, there would have been bad medical damage done to DH. As it is, the car frame's bent, the two driver-side doors are damaged (driver's door is completely ruined), the runner board is broken, the fender is ruined, the hood's bent, the metal between the hood & the glass is buckled, front bumper is broken, and the main post that holds the strut/shock/spring thingie (technical terms, to be sure) is 100% broken.

Here's the picture of the post. You can see that it's 100% broken. :(

Well, at least DH is fine. That is what is most important.

'Ouch', those pics hurt, I bet emotionally they do for you too! At least, like Andi said, hubby is OK.