vette99coupe

I am just now calming down from yesterday's accident that resulted in over $7000 damage to my 99 coupe.

I was traveling on I-81 outside of Carlisle PA around 4PM yesterday. Was in the passing lane going about 50 mph while there were several cars merging onto the highway from an on-ramp to my right. I stayed in the left lane to allow them to merge. The last car (a faded dark colored rice burner) apparently decided to try and pass the two cars in front of him not paying attention to me being on his left side. He continued to come into my lane. I tried to go to the left side of the road but there was a guard rail and I couldn't get far enough over. To avoid hitting the guard rail I tried to get back to the right but apparently his front end clipped by right front end and caused me to spin around causing my right rear end to hit the guard rail and spin me around again. Eventually I coasted to the left berm of the road. I don't know how I made it without any of the vehicles coming behind me not hitting me but I did. Once the car stopped I checked myself and then jumped out of the car to see where the a-hole was. Needless to say he was long gone...hit and run.

Fortunately I wasn't hurt (no air bag deployment). But the vette suffered damage to the front bumper, right headlight assemby, right front quarter panel, right rear quarter panel, and rear bumper.

Also unfortunate...no one else stopped who was behind me who must have seen what happened stopped to provide any details of what they saw or information about the other driver. Nobody wants to get involved anymore. One woman did pull in behind me for a minute but then she took off without talking to me. I was on a busy interstate and I know people behind me would have had to see it happen. They can all kiss my you-know-what too.

The car still runs fine...no odd noises, no engine or radiator damage, no shaking, shimmying, or other unusual things while driving. I think (and hope) that the damage is all cosmetic and not mechanical, etc.

Unfortunately I drove it to the body shop right away and didn't get a chance to take any pics yet.

Of course it's a holiday weekend so nothing's going to get done so far and the insurance company or body shop.

Am hopeful the damage isn't too much that they would want to total my "baby." I've taken care of this car for 8 years and I don't want to lose it and try to find another as nice as it is (was??).

Other than that....everbody have a nice weekend.

pewter99

damn....wonder if any witnesses got a tag number?

I hate to say it but if you do have $7K in damages........

glad you weren't hurt

RetiredSFC 97

People merging is one of my biggest fears on the highway. It's crazy how some people expect everyone else to just get out of their way and they have the right to your space.

I hope someone gota license plate or description of the car that did this to you.

Vetteman Jack

This news sucks - sorry about your car, but glad you are OK. Best of luck with the repairs and again, hope someone got a tag number and reports it to the police.

65GGvert

Sorry about the car, but explain again how his front end clipped your front end when you were moving back to the right. I'm trying to picture it but it seems like one or the other had to be the back end.

ALLEGRO

Man, we are really sorry to hear about all this.

In that you don't have tag numbers and stuff, you will be on your own insurance. Really sucks, I had three "uninsured motorist" claims on just two of my vehicles in 6 months. YUK

Good luck, get her all straightened back out and enjoy. Life can happen sometimes.

vette99coupe

I was traveling in the left lane he was in the right lane beside me and heading into my lane. I tried to avoid him by going further to the left but there was a guard rail on my left so I couldn't get away from him. I didn't want to hit the guard rail so I tried to keep away from it. As I did, his right left bumper apparently hit my right front bumper/quarter panel and that caused me to lose control and start spinning. The rest happened so fast I don't really know where he went. All I know is that I spun around counterclockwise and the rear right of my car hit the guard rail to my left and spun me around again till I coasted to the right berm of the road.

Later that day my wife and I drove to an overpass that's right above where it happened and the tire marks on the highway confirm how my car went as it spun around, etc.

baxsom

of course he didnt stop but chances are he didnt have insurance either so you would still be in the same boat

MSG C5

Sorry about the accident, but I'm glad you weren't hurt.

I see it all the time down here in FL. I've seen jacked up 4X4 trucks launch off the expressway entrance ramp over three lanes of traffic into the far left lane on a regular basis. I know there are laws on the books against moving more than one lane over a X-period of distance but I've never seen a LEO hit the lights over it. I really wish they would issue more tickets for this type of driving vs. the boring 10 MPH over the limit when no one else is on the road. However, like everything else, the LEO has to be there to see it and most of these road cowboys wouldn't pull off their stunts with a LEO in the rear view mirror.

65GGvert

Did you mean rear left bumper maybe? You can see how this would be confusing in court?

FYRARMS

Same thing happened to me last week while in my daily driver. I was in the left lane to allow the feeder ramp cars to merge on to the right lane. Some lady didn't bother looking to her left, and she just merged alllll the way across both lanes and was headed straight for me. Fortunately, I never considered moving further to the left as you did---I simply jammed hard on the brakes and let her pull in front of me, avoiding any accident. I am surprised that wasn't your first reaction as well.

I did, however, get a chance to pull up next to her, flip her the finger, and give her the "you crazy bi@&%" gesture.

sfc rick

I'm sorry for your accident, and wished someone would have stopped to help you. I'll pray you can recover and find peace and not let the offender cause you anymore grief. Thank God you weren't hurt!

I'll also add here in East Texas it's common knowledge that if you get hit, they'll run, if the their car/truck/donkey can't run....they will as fast they can. It's the RARE accident they don't bolt and show a Drivers Lic and Insurance. BUT only the legal citizens do that.

jrose7004

Too bad someone that saw the wreck wouldn't step up and tell what they saw. Somebody has to have a tag number or something!

Fast20

That totally sucks. I think I would have chased the car and at least got a plate number if the vette was still drivable. $7,000 would be questionable as a total loss for that car in my state.

nj02vette

In honesty though, many could have expected that it was just a spin out, and no direct contact made.

Shame that no one saw the contact and reported it. Any info on the make/model of the car?

hdkeno

I feel for you. Im familar with that stretch of I81. We take it every year to Corvettes at Carlisle in August, as well as on other occasions to visit relatives.

I had a simalar luckily for me, near miss last year on 83 on the way to York, just inside Harrisburg city limits, right by Bass pro shops.
This a--hole pulls into my lane without even looking,right in front of me. Fortunatly, traffic was heavy as usual, so i was able to swerve into the left lane and avoid him. Hate that stretch of road. Anyway, best of luck, and dont let it ruin your Easter.

bearphoto

It doesn't sound like the op stuck around for a police report. With about $7k in damage, California requires a report be made. Sorry the sob did not stick around. good luck on the repair.

AmethystVette

Try placing an ad in the local papers or on Craigs list for some information related to the crash. Maybe someone who saw the accident see's the ad and calls you. Worth a shot.

I was rear ended in Phoenix one night on I-10 while going 60 mph. Totaled the Caprice I was driving. We both stopped, he stumbled out, looked at his car and asked me why I hit him. He was obviously drunk by his actions. I was asking him if he was OK as I was memorizing his plate number. Doesn't the guy get in his Honda, all steaming and leaking fluids and hauls azz! I had my Grandmother with me so I got back to my car and limped off the x-way and called an ambulance for her as she was early 90's and I wanted her checked out. The police caught up with the guy after a few days and surprise, surprise, he had no insurance!

Hope they catch the guy! Good luck with your repairs. Time to go wide body?

Silverbullet00

A few bullet holes in the rice car would make it easier to identify. Glad no one was hurt!

tiojames

This is a case where agreed upon value would have made sure your car was fixed with no problem from the insurance company.