Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 01:05:51 -0500
Reply-To: "William A. Killian" <killian@MNSINC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From: "William A. Killian" <killian@MNSINC.COM>
Subject: Long sad story about the probable death of a Eurovan...
In-Reply-To: <199710300903.EAA23012@mail1.mnsinc.com>
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This is a sad story to write.
As some may remember I have a '93 EV MV. I consider it the best vehicle
I've ever owned. I may have saved my life in a way.
Driving down a two lane road here in rural Virginia (outside of
Winchester) when both my wife and I see a pair of headlights that we
think is a truck or something. No other lights. BUT it was the head
lights of a tractor/trailer with no running lights elsewhere on the rig
or trailer. The truck was making a left turn onto the road heading
towards me. With no lights on the trailer at 8:30 PM it was invisible to
us until we reached the cab of the truck. This left me thirty feet to
stop from 50 MPH. EV brakes aren't THAT good. I veered right but with a
five to ten foot ditch along the side that wasn;t a good option either.
Couldn;t decide so I ended up hitting both. Well decision is not really
right. I had time to say "S**t. Trailer." then BAM...
Say what you like about not wanting VW to move the engines forward with
the T4 but it gave me protection somewhat. With the savage destruction
of the hood, quarter panels and even the engine itself I'm extremely
grateful that the engine took it not me. I've always been amazed at how
small the EV engine really is. It was big enough. I will NEVER own a
mini van either. A truck is normally built tougher than a car. The EV
hot a hard blow to the trailer, slid into the ditch, took out a 9 to 12
inch diamter post, (we believe) flipped/rolled ont the front edge of the
roof (based on our impressions in the cab with two times the roof came
"up" toward us and the marks on the roof. It might have been standing on
its nose instead of being upside down, its disorienting to go through.
My wife and I have bruises on our shoulders and ribs from the seatbelts.
I have a jammed finger. My wife wasn't wearing socks so she has a few
small glass cuts on her ankles. Thats all. I still love my EV. The
passenger box retained its integrity for the most part. The front tire
in front of the driver is now turned 90 degrees and is perpendicular to
the body and that wheel well came closer to the drivers seat. The dash
is well... gone. But I have a slight abrasino on my knee. No broken
legs. No entrapment. Just an abrasion through my jeans. All of the
interior from the seats back is fine.
The verdict hasn't come back from the insurance folks but well with all
doors(except the rear hatch), all quarter panels, the roof everything in
front of the cab bent up, he base of the sliding door is about 9 inches
in from where its supposed to be, and everything else I'm expecting a DOA.
I'm planning on buying back the remains for a potential transplant into
an EV GL/CL if I find a decent van later. I might be able to use the
carcass to store hay or something.
But ironically Mark Flynn's post about his Syncro came at a good time.
Its back 7 years in age but its more likely to fit the budget after the
insurance folks speak...
I strongly believe I and my wife are alive becase this happened in an
EV. Well without seatbelts I'd suspect we'd be dead as well.
Okay maybe we do have a guardian angel or we've built up enough good
karma. But what ever. The news about the van is horrible but we lived.
I've been in accidents before but this is by far the most violent. The
only time I kind of expected to die. Glad I didn't.
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
mailto:killian@zenferret.com mailto:killian@mnsinc.com
http://www.zenferret.com/
