I'm glad to hear you're OK Steve!!!!!!!
I feel like everyone on the list is a family member. I hate to hear anything
happen to "us" no matter what (accident, jobs, etc.). Especially how last
month you and I put to bed the Mobil 1 issue. Get well soon!! Hope you have
a hot tub ;^P
Sean
'92 RC Sport 3.9L 5spd - 250,000mi!
'01 CC SLT+ 4.7L 5spd 3.92 LSD!
-----Original Message-----
From: Steven St.Laurent [mailto:saint1958@home.com]
Sent: Friday, January 12, 2001 2:35 AM
To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
Subject: DML: Is there a GOD?
Well this morning I stopped at the light on Bobier and East Vista Way, in
Vista California. While waiting at the light to make a left turn, I happen
to just look down doing something, for which I cannot remember, then
BAMMMMM. It sounded like a loud bang when I wake up from either being dazed
or passed out.
What happened after still being in the car facing in the right lane
on-coming traffic, someone apparently either lost control going threw an
intersection or hydro-plane doing 50 mph or greater. While at a still stand
still, the truck flew backwards over 100 feet down the road.
At the time as I looked around after regaining my composure, no glasses on,
could not even find them, I was looking around to see if the truck had cabin
damage meaning FIRE. The Club cab was filled with smoke and I didn't know
for sure what was happening. Yet, here in California, like road kill, no
seemed to stop to help or ask any question (this is more apparent than ever
over the last few years) while I was in their slow lane facing them. This is
a sad note for those individual found that rushing to work was more
important than a person life.
However, I looked around the cabin, found my glasses lying in the passenger
area, along with my cell phone, I looked at the car (A Rodeo) down the road
still in my lane sitting there. I was wondering if he or she was still
alive so I managed to open the door and stumble out of the vehicle. This
took me more than five minutes since everything seemed to hurt.
As I walked to the curb, the other driver finally managed to get out of the
car and the front of the Rodeo was gone completely. The Dakota 4.7 front
was smashed but the crumple zone looked great as it just wrinkle back
compared to the Rodeo. He finally walked over and asked with an Spanish
accent if everything was Ok. I looked at him and found no injuries meaning
blood, broken bones etc after seeing his truck. Did I screamed or yelled,
even call him names? No. I just felt sorry for him and hope he wasn't
injured either. I asked him what happen and with the few words I could
gather that he must of hydro-plane and did not see me there. Didn't even
brake before impact the front of the truck.
Then I looked and inspected the Dodge and found that the cabin, driver door,
where completely intact. The front was smashed beyond the radiator area
that the hood did buckle enough that you could see inside the engine area. I
managed to call the 911 and the Sheriff showed up after five minutes. The
sheriff ask me what happen but I could not tell him since I did not know.
He asked me if the truck could move on it own power enough to move reverse
to the curb since traffic was building up for morning rush hour.
So I limped to the truck and got in and looked at the dash board and saw the
transmission was on the Reverse mark. I look again , then again, it was in
REVERSE. Hmm. That strange, I thought, but get this? It started up with
the radiator fan cladding and it was still working. Just amazing. Just
amazing...
The Dodge Dakota suffered a 50 mph plus STAND STILL FRONTAL IMPACT and still
operational. The driver airbag did deployed and the left side of my face
felt painful. My right knee swelled up on the inside portion like a
baseball since I had short on. I know! It is California in me wearing
shorts. Inside the middle console, everything was smashed (CDs, plastic
things). That was odd also since the dash board looked normal.
Anyway, my wife took me to the hospital and they did a MRI CAT scan, X-ray,
and did some checking around the body. My left arm felt funny also. I was
then released four hours later and was told I was very lucky to be alive.
Anyway, seeing the transmission marker in reverse, at just the time before
impact looked down at something on the floor, I felt as if someone seemed to
be helping me before the impact. Applying the law of physics, the
transmission being in reverse must of helped the frontal impact absorbing
the on-coming vehicle.
I am glad to be alive but the Dak? I will not know until Monday to find out
what will happen. The other guy? Expired insurance since last November
1999. Am I mad? No..I still believe there is angel watching over me and a
God who loves me enough (tears) to save me from this car wreck.
I have already preparing to purchased another Dakota with a 4.7, 5-speed,
and the full treatment, to include the 17x9 rims from the factory. I have
already sent an e-mail requesting a quote from my five-star dealer who takes
time to have a real relationship with there customers (Jack Powell
Chrysler). After seeing Ron's quad cab, well, this is my next choice.
--------------------------------------------------
Steven St.Laurent
2000 Dakota 4.7 Hemi (WRECKED)
1999 Chevy (gone in 2003)
1993 Tracker (still going...going)
2000 Roush Mustang Stage II (sold) TT
----------->:)
Aspiring for the next toys:
2003 Dakota Hemi R/T
2003 GTS-R Viper
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 11:58:34 EDT