It can all change in an instant.

KegRiver · #1 10-18-2019, 11:29 AM

It was a pleasant fall morning. It had rained lightly the evening before, but nothing major. The morning was sunny with some dense fog patches, but no issues with the roads.

The was a bit of ice on the windshield but not a lot. Just some lumps where water had formed droplets, and a very light film that melted away before the truck was actually warm inside.

No snow, the roads were almost dry. I checked for traction when set out and all seem fine.

Forty miles south and three bridges later I cruised onto a small bridge on a straight level section of highway. There was nothing out of the ordinary so far as I could see. Then everything went sideways, quiet literally.

One moment it was a normal morning and then I was broadside in the middle of the bridge. I tried to steer out of it but it had no effect.

Fifty feet past the bridge the truck left the road and started to roll.
The next few seconds are a blur of flying glass and things spinning.
When everything came to a stand still I was hanging upside down from my seat, looking at the world sideways.

Within seconds someone yelled at me asking "Are you okay in there" I yelled back, "No, I'm bleeding bad from my head."

I took some paper towel off a roll I had in the truck and held it to the top of my head which seemed to be where the blood was coming from.

Then I did a somersault out of the driver seat, landing on the passenger door. I was about to try to climb up and out the drivers side window when people outside told me the back window was blown out and I could get out that way.

In the end they took me to hospital by ambulance but aside frm some cuts on my scalp, a couple of bruises and some bits of glass in my hide, I was fine.

My truck, not so much.

It was such a good truck too. Over 200,000 km and it still had it's original starter and alternator. In fact the only work done to the power train was oil changes and spark plugs changed.

I guess I'll have to start looking for another vehicle. I'm thinking I might buy a used truck like the one I had. Maybe a couple of years newer but not New. I don't want new. I won't have a driving license long enough to get my moneys worth out of a new vehicle.

For now we are a one vehicle family and I'm about to head out to do the last show of the year.

I hate leaving the wife at home without transportation, but I have a business to run and costumers to supply.

See you all down the road somehwere.

Dean2 · #2 10-18-2019, 11:34 AM

Man I am REALLY glad you are okay. Truck is just stuff, they are easy to replace. Good guys, much harder to come by. Take good care and be well.

pikergolf · #3 10-18-2019, 11:37 AM

Glad you are OK, if anyone could spot a bad spot it would be you with all your experience. Glad you came out of it with no major injuries.

Ken07AOVette · #4 10-18-2019, 11:43 AM

It was nice to talk to you, glad you are ok.

My offer for a truck stands, just likely need help from another member for a ride home again.

wbl170 · #5 10-18-2019, 11:43 AM

Glad all is well. Trucks are replaceable lives not so much.

moose maniac · #6 10-18-2019, 11:54 AM

Glad your ok

Athabasca1 · #7 10-18-2019, 12:01 PM

Glad you are okay. Nasty roll over.

colt45 · #8 10-18-2019, 12:02 PM

Glad you made it out okay ,
Like you say life can change in a split second

FishOutOfWater · #9 10-18-2019, 12:05 PM

Glad you weren't seriously injured, but winter tires aren't only for when there's snow on the road.

Are those Toyo Open Country ? Get yourself some winter-rated A/T tires, DuraTracs or Grabber AT/2.

sns2 · #10 10-18-2019, 12:20 PM

Glad you are okay, Keg. I know who is watching out for you.

Greatwest · #11 10-18-2019, 12:33 PM

Glad you are ok it’s times like this that show seatbelts save lives you may not have been able to crawl out of the truck on your own if no seatbelt was worn. Be safe out there everyone it’s that time of the year.

KegRiver · #12 10-18-2019, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken07AOVette

It was nice to talk to you, glad you are ok.

My offer for a truck stands, just likely need help from another member for a ride home again.

It was nice hearing you voice my friend. It means more then words can say.
And the offer of a truck was a very pleasant surprise. And much appreciated.

I don't think I'll do that show after all. I'm just not crazy about such a long drive with this weather and me not feeling 100 percent just yet.

I,m not hurting or anything, just feeling a bit off. Maybe it's a bit of nerves from thinking about driving again what with the dreary wet weather and all.

Zip · #13 10-18-2019, 12:48 PM

Oh my...number 1 is I'm really happy that you are the one posting this up and not a family member, glad you were wearing your seatbelt Keg, more than likley saved a life today..or at the very least a long hospital stay.
I know we all here are very happy to see you made it outa that mess okay.
Zip

KegRiver · #14 10-18-2019, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sns2

Glad you are okay, Keg. I know who is watching out for you.

Oh I know. I knew right away that I would not have made it if the Angels had not been there protecting me. There must be a couple of banged up Angels up there today, after riding though that wreck with me.

There isn't a square foot on that truck that isn't damaged in some way.
We did one complete roll before coming to rest as seen in the photo.

I'm amazed that my camera survived unscathed too. It was on the passenger seat, I was on my way to spend the day photographing birds with a friend from Calgary.

KegRiver · #15 10-18-2019, 01:05 PM

I have had some time to think about how this came to happen.

It wasn't the tires, they are all weather and preformed well last winter. They were new last fall.
It wasn't my driving, I was driving at the speed limit or very close to it.

As pikergolf said, I made my living getting rid of ice and snow on the highways around here for several years. There was no reason to suspect ice on that bridge.

The one thing that I might have done differently was, I was wearing sunglasses and they are supposed to reduce glare, so maybe I'd have seen something suspicious about that bridge if I had not been wearing them.

But then again, it was a few minutes before 9:00am, I was driving toward the rising sun. Without those glasses my vision may have been impaired even more.

I just don't know that anything would have made a difference.

There was another truck a few hundred feet behind me. He stopped to help and he told me that he saw me go off the road and guessed right away that there was ice on that bridge.

Even with that warning he still lost control as well, but thanks to the warning he was able to recover and make a safe stop past the bridge.

I think some times the odds are just way stacked against a person.
But I understand why someone would wonder what might have cause it to happen. I know I sure wonder.

Bigwoodsman · #16 10-18-2019, 01:07 PM

Wow, glad to know that you are OK. Rest lots and get yourself better real quick!

BW

Pixel Shooter · #17 10-18-2019, 01:11 PM

Scary, could have been so much worst. Glad your ok. Vehicles are replaceable. Your right things can change in a New York minute

Talking moose · #18 10-18-2019, 01:12 PM

Sorry to hear that keg. Glad your ok.
I use cruise in winter all the time. Other people with me hate that I do. Oh well. But the one thing I do is take it off for bridges. They ice up more than anywhere. It’s a good habit to get into. Wiped me feet on too many bridges in the past.

Talking moose · #19 10-18-2019, 01:13 PM

This happen on the whitemud bridge by chance?

58thecat · #20 10-18-2019, 01:23 PM

ice....icing conditions.....got ya this time...been going down a bridge doing 360's...came out better than you did...glad to read this....means your alright and as for the truck....meh...you got your life!