Even if you think this is O/T,PLEASE READ.........

I am writing this just after returning from the hospital where I have spent the better part of two days;not for me but for my oldest son.

John was driving home from work the day before yesterday on a road he travels every day.The road was dry(except for the shoulders which were for the most part flooded),it was still daylight and though he was essentially traveling west,the sun was not a factor.

He has(had)a 2004 Avalanche that he has owned for some time and is not totally unfamiliar with.His cel phone was laying on the center console and hes was within the speed limit when it rang.He glanced over to see who it was and suddenly felt like he was drifting across the center line.He looked up and indeed was heading that way(witnesses said later he did NOT cross the center)and instinctively jerked the wheel to the right.The truck went onto the soft shoulder and he could not bring it back onto the pavement before slamming headlong into a VERY large tree.

He was wearing a seatbelt and the airbag did deploy as advertised.Luckily there were several people on the road who immediately stopped and called 911. The State Police must have been close by because they were there within minutes as was an ambulance;amazing since they were on a country road.

The result was a U-shaped impression about 4 feet deep into almost dead center of the front;the right side doors pushed back considerably,the roof and p***enger's side floor buckled and a dome shaped bump on the upper left hand side of the windshield which I thought his head had made but was in reality the back of his left hand.

John suffered a broken left clavicle(along with a substantial seat belt burn),a broken sternum,2 broken wrists,a punctured lung,and more bruises than you can believe.He will be out of work at least 3 months but he is alive and in the end that is all that matters.

As if that wasn't enough,about 11pm that night I remember I'm supposed to call in and see if I'm tagged to report for jury duty in downtown Detroit.It was to be the last day I had to call in and to date I had escaped.Not so that night.

After spending most of the night in the emergency room and getting home around 4am knowing I had to drive 75 miles into the city in a couple hours I said,"F**K THIS" called in and said I wouldn't be in.Now I had to go through the whole scene again.

Anyway I am sorry to rant on but my point is basically,"If the cel phone rings while you're driving,IGNORE IT!"If someone else is in the car let them answer it and if you're alone let them leave a message. DON'T put yourself through this; IT ISN'T WORTH IT!!!!!

This is what a Dead Avalanche looks like after a rapid deceleration caused by an immovable object.

 

damn, hopes he heals up alright. this summer i was driving home from work and saw an almost identicle truck take a 8 ft deep ditch, just barely missing a feild drive, and hit a wooden teliphone pole head on at full-ish speed. truck ended up looking preety much just like that but with a pole next to it. guy actualy got out with just some air bag burns and nothing else, he went to answer his cell as well

i guess crumple zones arent such a bad idea some times

 

Least the chevy did what it was suppose to. my sister's 97 F-150 hit a phone pole and she wasnt so lucky. Glad he is ok considering what he went thru.

 

Wow, hard to belive someone can survive that. You'll both be in my thoughts. Sounds like it will be a long tuff recovery.

 

WOW! glad to hear (minus a bunch of aches) he's gonna be ok. looks like the truck crumpled how it was supposed to, and inflicted minimal injury. sometimes its good to rant, prayers sent for a speedy recovery!

 

Hes lucky he was driving that truck

Get well soon

 

man

my best wishes for your son

 

When I was a kid, many long years ago, the shop teacher was a driving instructor. He told us that if you are behind the wheel, and the vehicle is moving, you are called the "driver". Driving a vehicle takes 100 % of your attention.
My heart goes out to you and your son, you will be prayed for tonight.

 

WOW! Good thing the truck took the impact. I know I feel safer in mine. I'm glad he's going to be alright. I think I'll look into a hands-free phone after seeing that.

 

Ouch...sorry to hear of your son...hope he heals in record time...

Better than NOT answering, don't take the cel phone with you...after all, is it really THAT important...???

R-

 

As our late friend Otis would say " I put up a word for you boy"

 

Sorry to hear of his injuries,glad he will be OK.

 

WOW..... Hope he heals up nice.

Thankfully his injuries are relatively minor. Compared to what could have been.

 

I am happy to hear he will survive. How fast was he going on a country road to put that kind of imprint on a truck? man i am very happy he lived through that. My prayers will be out tonight for a quick recovery.
Fitysix

 

My sons car did'nt look half that bad when the oncoming AMBULANCE hit him!He Did'nt survive!

 

I get the cops called on me all the time because I pull over to answer my work phone when customers call me. Although I am not totally innocent, I do try to stay off the phone when I am on the road, or use the speaker phone and put it in the cupholder. I fugure that way I am about as distracted as talking to someone sitting next to me.

I am sorry to hear about your son, I can't imagine putting my father through that. I'll think twice about answering the phone when I'm in the truck.

 

damn , best wishes on a speedy recovery..

 

Wow that is very scary. I'm glad that he is going to be okay. Just remember that you can still talk with him and give him a hug. Those are the important things. I will pray for a speedy and complete recovery.
G***er Girl

 

Sorry to hear that buddy. At least he's still breathing!!! Tell him I said he's lucky and enjoy the vacation,LOL!!! Cars can be replaced.Not so easy to replace body parts...

 

well hopefully he has a sense of humor as he heals. when the pain has subsided abit and he starts to feel alittle better you can walk in with your cell phone to your ear and then hand him the phone saying "it's for you" with a big ol I'm your dad and i love you but i'm gonna mess with you abit smile on your face.

 

Sorry to hear man.
Hope he gets well soon.

Gotta love those Chevy's!

 

Prayers out to him and your family. Glad to hear is wasn't worse. Prayers for his speedy recovery.

TopHat

 

My wishes for a fast and safe recovery.

 

Your son had someone looking over him..Looking at those pics just left me speechless.
My thought's are with you all..Hoping for a speedy, healthy and full recovery for your son..

 

When I first started reading this I thought it was going to have a sad ending. I'm very glad he is going to recover and be allright.I know you will give him a lot of hugs. Give him an extra one for the guys here on the hamb and tell him we are certainly glad it wasn't worse. Thanks, BOBBY FORD

 

About 2 months ago a friends sister and thier kids were in a small sedan waiting at a stop sign when a Coke truck hit them broadside a killed the young son. The driver was trying to get his clipboard that fell on the floorboard. All this sadness because of small things that distract. Your son is lucky, thank God he isn't hurt or hurt someone else.
By the way the driver of the truck started having suicidal tendencies so others tried watching him but he has now dissapeared.

 

Ray, you and your boy have prayers coming from Oklahoma tonight. Glad he's going to heal.
GV

 

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to John, glad he's gonna be fine.
In the metro-Detroit area, I think that the drunks have less accidents than the folks on cell phones do. We're plagued by our technology!

Larry

 

I second the "don't answer it"

I have a friend who is now a quadruplegic because he reached for his cell phone.