sistawendy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sistawendy) wrote2016-10-31 07:16 pm
sistawendy) wrote2016-10-31 07:16 pm
The Wendling crashes the Sanctimobile.
My son is all right. My car may be totaled.
This all started on Saturday afternoon when I got the oil changed in my trusty 2006 Toyota Prius, a.k.a. the Sanctimobile. The service tech showed me a bulge in the left rear tire and recommended I get it replaced soon. I had plans that night and last night, and that bulge could have been there for weeks, so I figured I could get it taken care of this coming Saturday. I drove the length of Seattle a couple of times going to various Halloween festivities.
This morning, m'boy was on his way to school, going from southbound I-5 to eastbound I-90, when one of his tires blew. He lost control of the car, and as I later pieced together from multiple phone calls and texts, he hit the barrier, then another car, then the barrier again. He called me. I called AAA from the bus. The Seattle police showed up and called a tow truck. He cancelled the AAA tow. Ex picked up my badly shaken son and took him home. He'll be staying the night at her place.
Since this morning, I've found out that one of the axles broke, which must have made the car damn nigh impossible to control, a nightmare scenario for a driver. Ex generously paid for the tow, and I've since phoned in the insurance claim. Because of the broken axle, there's a good chance the insurance company will declare it totaled.
I've learned something that makes me feel better, if not my poor son: the tire that blew was one of the front tires. The one with the bulge? The left rear, if you'll recall. Replacing that one tire, which I was planning on doing*, would have done him no good.
Poor kid. This was a learning experience for him, but I wish it didn't have to be quite so scary. And he's understandably mad at me, or at least he was a few hours ago.
*Yeah, you're supposed to replace them in at least pairs and preferably full sets, but they were pretty good for tread. I'm pretty sure they were within their projected lifespan.
This all started on Saturday afternoon when I got the oil changed in my trusty 2006 Toyota Prius, a.k.a. the Sanctimobile. The service tech showed me a bulge in the left rear tire and recommended I get it replaced soon. I had plans that night and last night, and that bulge could have been there for weeks, so I figured I could get it taken care of this coming Saturday. I drove the length of Seattle a couple of times going to various Halloween festivities.
This morning, m'boy was on his way to school, going from southbound I-5 to eastbound I-90, when one of his tires blew. He lost control of the car, and as I later pieced together from multiple phone calls and texts, he hit the barrier, then another car, then the barrier again. He called me. I called AAA from the bus. The Seattle police showed up and called a tow truck. He cancelled the AAA tow. Ex picked up my badly shaken son and took him home. He'll be staying the night at her place.
Since this morning, I've found out that one of the axles broke, which must have made the car damn nigh impossible to control, a nightmare scenario for a driver. Ex generously paid for the tow, and I've since phoned in the insurance claim. Because of the broken axle, there's a good chance the insurance company will declare it totaled.
I've learned something that makes me feel better, if not my poor son: the tire that blew was one of the front tires. The one with the bulge? The left rear, if you'll recall. Replacing that one tire, which I was planning on doing*, would have done him no good.
Poor kid. This was a learning experience for him, but I wish it didn't have to be quite so scary. And he's understandably mad at me, or at least he was a few hours ago.
*Yeah, you're supposed to replace them in at least pairs and preferably full sets, but they were pretty good for tread. I'm pretty sure they were within their projected lifespan.
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Second: ...was this around Ravenna? Was it the one that was on the news this morning with the huge traffic backup? Because that would be totally amazing. I've been in accidents, I've seen accidents, I've known people in accidents, but never heard any of them on the radio before.
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I'll bet you $10 the axle didn't break until the impact with the barrier. And, not that this helps with all the rest of the damage, but if it were just a broken axle that's not too expensive. On FWD cars they're fairly easy to replace (depending on what exactly broke: I'm presuming it was the stub axle/spindle that keeps the wheel attached to the steering knuckle.)
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I am terrified just reading this. I am glad he is okay.
Condolences on the Sanctimobile and the on the car shopping in your future.