So I almost died, but my 240 saved my life. (Pics not for the squeemish...)

[Loki]

So some of you may have noticed I've been rather absent the past two weeks. Here's why (I apologize for the super long post, but this doesn't happen often):

On Saturday the 18th some of my coworkers were wondering if I wanted to go bowling after work. Sounds fun, so I went. Got back to my car about 2:15 or so and began driving home. About half way between where I dropped my car for bowling and home a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero, going at a high rate of speed, crossed completely into my lane and struck me head-on. The force of the impact totaled my 240 and turned me nearly completely around on the road. The only moments I don't remember are from the moment of the crash and ten seconds or so after.

After everything settled I stood myself up on my seat. The frame had become so twisted that the top itself was retracted almost halfway. After screaming several obscenities lamenting the loss of my car I began calling for help. A white jeep soon came up and pulled over. The guy asked me if I was hurt in a real official tone, so I asked if he was a cop, but he said he was an EMT. I asked for his flashlight to search for my phone while he went to the nearest house to ask for help and dial 911. Next thing I know three guys or so are lifting me out of my car and setting me on the grass. My left knee was HUGE and the pants were ripped, so I assumed it was dislocated.



Here's what I saw laying on the grass waiting for the paramedics. Some guy found my phone and gave it to me so I called my mom and told her to come down. She got there a little after the whole damn fire and rescue team of Hamlin did, and they started putting me on a stretcher. My mom tried taking pictures of the scene, but she failed to use a flash nor steady the camera on nearly all of them. She did manage to take one decent shot though:



So they carted me off to the hospital after that. They did the usual X-Rays and MRIs but absolutely refused to give me anything to eat or drink since I may be going into surgery very soon. I was half-asleep for a good majority of all of this. After a couple hours they pinned down my injuries: lacerations and bruising to a good part of the left side of me, two broken ribs, a broken sternum, hairline fracture to my wrist, and the worst of it all, a broken femur. They told me the femur would require surgery to put plates and screws in.

Cuts on my left leg.

The bruises



After they got me settled into my room at the hospital and I met my roommate, Rich

He was drinking and took a spill on his Harley. Got a real nasty bump to his head that really messed up his memory. The eyepatch is for double-vision. Despite this he was a real fun guy and we kept each other company during our stay.

The next day was the day of my surgery. My friends came in bearing gifts, but one of them I couldn't believe

It's my stolen touge buddy!! This made me very happy to see him again. I'll find out who took it eventually and bust some heads when I get better.

So, I went into surgery. Real simple. Went under, woke up later. I was mostly asleep for awhile after surgery but I remember being in the recovery room and just shaking uncontrollably and chattering my teeth like it was zero degrees in there.

The aftermath



Couple days after surgery they put me into a rehab hospital to learn to walk again. Last Thursday they took out the staples and that was confidence booster. I'm currently walking on crutches and putting about half-weight on my bad leg. Elbow is sore as f***. Couple weeks and I'll be back to walking, and by Christmas I'll be at 100%.

My sister went to the place that had my car and took a bunch of pics















My awesome taillights that were only two days old when this happened

Then, the other guy's car



They had to cut the roof off to get to him. I'm fairly sure he was drunk, but I won't know until my lawyer gets me the police report. This kid was in really bad shape at first and wasn't breathing on his own. He was airlifted to Allentown (ironic since his name was Alan) but recovered pretty quickly and was out and walking a few days later. He got a concussion so his heads a little wonky for now.

So there it is. I'm still alive thankfully, but I'll miss my 240 forever.

Cliff notes version: Drunks in Oldsmobiles suck, and I need to get a new car.

Update Nov 16, for whoever the hell may read this: I'm now pretty much all healed up and able to walk unaided, albeit shakily. The other driver has been confirmed at driving with a blood-alcohol level of .24 and is currently being convicted for his second DUI.
Modified by Loki at 1:15 PM 11/16/2007

[Feint of Heart]

Wow man glad to see you are on your road to recovery. That was one crazy accident. Wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery!

PS - I'll keep an eye out for 240s for sale since I live in PA too

[SeVa-S13]

Daaaamn, glad you're ok cuz that sh1t looked nasty.

Don't forget to ruin other driver's life as much as possible, if he really was drunk.

[OldmanPurdy]

Holy **** that looks bad good to see your relativly ok though, the vert took that impact like a champ too driver compartment was almost all intact.........more than you can say for that alero. Get better soon!!!

[dickie]

THAT SUCKS! im glad you didnt die.

...so can i have your coolant overflow tank?

I hooked you up, bro. Also, let us know when you get your next car courtesy of Alan.

[nsrZ32]

Holy **** dude...that's an insane crash and story. Thank god you're alive.

[PoorManQ45]

Nice documentation

Any idea what exactly rammed into your femur?

IIRC it takes something like 700lbs of force to break the femur

[eds13]

freakin A man!!! good for you that your still alive! sorry about the 40 man, that sucks.

[Loki]

Daaaamn, glad your ok cuz that sh1t looked nasty.

Don't forget to ruin other driver's life as much as possible, if he really was drunk.

I'm sure that's gonna happen anyway. If he was drunk, he'll be either kicked out of his ROTC or court-martialed depending on whether he was serving or not, may end up in jail or paying fines, be paying up the *** for insurance forever, all that.

Nice documentation

Any idea what exactly rammed into your femur?

IIRC it takes something like 700lbs of force to break the femur

Not really sure since I don't remember the impact. I'm not surprised my left leg was damaged though, whenever I drive I'm usually leaned back with my left leg crammed up next to the door/dash. I guess it was the force of my body slamming down on my nearly straight leg. I'm thankful my knee wasn't jacked up, I'd hate to have a gimp for the rest of my life.

[Fox213506]

Thank god for nissans. Hope you get well and recover fast

[B-Boy DuB-L]

oh man dude that sucks after everything legally is done just go beat that kid down for the 240. get better and get another 240

[Felipe]

for you being alive!

and +1 for the seat belt!

[Loki]

EVERYONE was commenting on my seatbelt bruises. If I hadn't been wearing my seatbelt I have no doubt I would've died.

[Florida240sx]

inda looks like the steering wheel might be close to the seat. That's what happened ot my friend 2 weeks ago in the keys. The steerign wheel came back a few inches and split his nose open. He had my rcing harness otherwise he'd been dead. Glad your still with us

[Solar_Runner]

I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet car. The other drive should be drawn and quartered. Esp if he was drunk. I live in New Mexico, and drunks on the road are a plague here. No mercy for them.

Wishing you a speedy and full recovery,

George

[Felipe]

just for that im going to buy you a

[Loki]

I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet car. The other drive should be drawn and quartered. Esp if he was drunk. I live in New Mexico, and drunks on the road are a plague here. No mercy for them.

Wishing you a speedy and full recovery,

George

I hear ya man. I lived in Albuquerque for the first 14 years of my life, and still have a bunch of relatives back there. At least in NM you can usually see the drunks coming since the roads are so wide open.

[Bwana]

That sux so bad...

Glad you're going to be ok, that's what really matters!

[audtatious]

Dood, good to see you posting again.

Make sure you get someone to strip your parts off the 240 that you want before the wrecking yard gets it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Holy damn!

Scary crash. Glad you made it through, man.

Good luck with recovery. I bet your leg itched like CRAZY with all those staples.

[Loki]

Dood, good to see you posting again.

Make sure you get someone to strip your parts off the 240 that you want before the wrecking yard gets it.

I've been trying to, but no one I know knows 240s. The guy at the yard can't remove the tails without breaking them, and I don't even know what's still in tact to remove. I got my subwoofer, head unit and floor mats, but I'm not sure if my stereo is still working. Unfortunately, it'll be about a month before I'm well enough to go down there on my own and really go at it. The worst part is the guy is charging me $35 a DAY to hold the car. It's essentially out of my pocket too, until the lawsuit finishes.

[s14_girl]

That looks awful! Glad you're going to be ok! Sorry about your car All the pictures you have will help a lot when getting compensated. Just make sure you have lots and lots of documentation, and try to keep a journal of what you're feeling and what's happening. That will help out sooo much with an insurance company. I'm speaking from experience. I hope you heal quickly!

[S13Teddy]

Dam dude. Thats a crazy crash. Glad to hear you're getting better.

So you say this chump just walked out of the hospital? If thats true, that just goes to show how gay karma is.....

Hopefully with insurance money you can go buy a Skyline

[Mr1der]

yikes.

if he was drunk sue that ***.

[DevilMB3017]

Man, I'm sorry to hear about the loss of a car, but it's easier to replace a car then body parts.

Have a speedy recover as possible man, I hope your back to normal asap.

[Jesda]

At least the airbag worked!

[dickie]

i suggest getting a Nico member in your area to go out there and pull it, or else have a tow truck take it somewhere else that wont charge you to store while you remove parts. cheaper than $35 a DAY to let it sit there.

[DJButton]

I'm sure a local PA guy can help you out, I agree with trying to get a local member down there pronto, at least to scavange what's still good so you don't have to pay the storage fees on it!

In other news praise God you're still alive, that's one rough crash!

[Loki]

Well, ARE there any local NICO members willing to pick it apart? I know of one kid an hour away or so, but that's it...

[AZhitman]

Screw the car, hell, we'll pitch in and buy you new taillights if necessary.

Man, I can see the hand of God was on your car that night. We're glad you made it through, and if you need ANYTHING, please ask us - We're family.

Droptop Mafia - Don't bring an Alero to a 240sx fight!