| Glad I wasn't driving the GMC or a car [message #68131] |
Tue, 22 December 2009 19:26  |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma:
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I was doing an early AM drop off a week ago for a corportate show at Navy Pier Rotunda. We got to the shop at 5 AM and it was 0 out. We made good time going downtown and were downtown at 6A for our 6:30AM call. I was driving our Paclease Peterbuilt tandem air ride and the other guy had what wouldn't fit in our little 93 GMC W4 gas truck. After we froze in the wind unloading we were heading back to the shop west of Ohare. I was westbound on 290 in the morning rush stop and go. It just started to open a bit and I was doing about 30 in the bottom of the top range just moving with traffic when I heard some comotion to my right and then BAM. I knew some NASCAR event was going on and now I was in it. A 96 Explorer had hit my Pass side tank and moved me over a few feet to the left. I was load empty but tanks were 7/8 full. I didn't change throttle at all and just gently corrected the steering not knowing what was next. What was next was the Explorer was partly under the truck now and a few miliseconds later I got him with the tandems. My tire was grinding in behind his L Frt and was trying to climb his tire. This tipped me up and to the left and shot him out across the right lane and out to the grass. I didn't know if it was over or more was coming, so I proceeded and then carefully pulled to the right shoulder. All lanes were closed and I slowly backed down the shoulder about 1/8 mile to get back and see what had happened. My partner in the little GMC had called the State Troupers. Aparrently no major injuries. The RF on the Explorer was flat (aluminum factory wheels) and the thing looked totaled. My steps and tank were dented but you can't compress liquid and the tank held so that is what moved me over. I think a couple other cars were envolved but they took off. They flatbeded the SUV away and the guy had no License/ no Insurance so the State police took him away in the back of the cruiser. I think we have a 2k deductable and probably 5K damage on the Pete. No ticket for me. I think the RF might have gone flat at 0 deg on the alum rim leaks and that pulled him right, and he overcorrected left into me and maybe some other cars. I think him hittig me stopped his rollover process and spun him around which took out the rear and side glass and rear Qtr and roof post. My neck was sore a couple days later and I went to the Chiro twice which helped. I do have a fear of driving in my XJ Cherokee now as I can't imagine what that would have done to me in that smaller vehicle. In the Pete it was just a major jolt. At least my GMC didn't take that hit, would have been right in the Pass dinette area.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
