That was an interesting day.

[dagibbs]

When Kate called me, she said everyone was ok.

Today's weather was gorgeous, just gorgeous. And it had been forecast as such. So, I had decided that there was no way I was going to spend such a lovely November day inside. No, I was going out climbing, even if it was a work day. And, I managed to recruit four other people to join me for the day: Kate, Kathleen, Helen, and Ariela.

We aimed to collect for 9am at my place, but everyone was late. We finally collected everyone by about 9:30, and headed off to Home Cliff. The drive and hike in were pleasant, and a couple of us stripped off layers of long underwear after arriving at the cliff. We had a wonderful day of climbing: warm, comfortable temperatures, lovely views, and a great sunset as we finished for the day. I lead several climbs, including red-pointing (first successful lead) Rupert Bear Goes Walking, a solid 5.9 trad climb.

We managed to hike out in the twilight, negotiating the stairs, scrambles, and path covered in slippery oak leaves. At the cars, Kathleen headed out with me, since she needed to be back at her place for about 6:15 and Helen, Ariella and Kate followed in Helen's car.

On the 148 east bound, about 15-20 kms east of Luskville, something dropped off a pickup truck in front of us. Kathleen noticed it spark, and thought it might be a hubcap. I slowed down, though not enough to stop when I saw that it was, as far as I could tell, a spare tire. I managed to hit it dead center, and seemed to mostly bounce over it with some mild crunching noises. My car seemed to be driving ok, so I continued, onwards, though I noticed an emergency vehicle passing us going the other way. Then I got the phone call from Kate.

They had also hit the tire, but had ended up in the ditch, with the car rolled on its left side. We saw a lot more ambulances and other emergency vehicles going the other way. We also managed to catch up to the pickup, and get make, colour, and license plate.

I just got a call from the hospital from Ariela, she and Kate are ok. Helen is on a restraint board, and they'd X-rayed her. The car landed on the left side, so she got more beat up. I'm hoping she is ok.

Update at midnight: Kate & Ariela have checked-out ok at the hospital. Helen has a fracture in a vertabra in her neck. Doctors want her seen by an expert tomorrow -- but aren't greatly worried. Likely will be wearing a fancy collar for a while, though.

Comments

[switterbeet]

YIKES! I am glad most of you are doing ok, and hope your friend is alright. :(

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Me too, me too!

[switterbeet]

*hugs*

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

*hugs* back.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

My car is going to be towed to the shop tomorrow morning, and I will have a rental car for a bit.

[xinef.livejournal.com]

Even more yikes. Your post doesn't indicate any damage to your car. Hope nothing serious and hope that your friends recover quickly. How nasty.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

I did hit a pickup truck tire straight on. Smashed up front bumper, crushed radiator, at least. Not sure if any further damage done in the passage over the tire.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

And there were some hints... "my car seemed to be driving ok".

[xinef.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you did say you heard crunching noises but it seemed to be driving ok. So I had assumed that the damage wasn't too major. Anyhow, glad that you are ok. Sounds like the car damage is non-trivial but not total, so that is good too.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

It was subtle.

Damage I could see: smashed front bumper; smashed/crush radiator; front bumper & hood not aligning. Might be other damage I couldn't see under the car.

[kattale.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I missed that too - went back and re-read it, that everything was okay until you received the call from Kate. How was she phoning you from the ditch? So glad your friends are mostly okay - horrifyinng about Kate though. And very glad you were able to catch up to the pickup truck and get the license plate. Did you file a police report or anything yet? Keep us posted on Kate and on the cars!

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

It was subtle.

Damage I could see: smashed front bumper; smashed/crush radiator; front bumper & hood not aligning. Might be other damage I couldn't see under the car.

Kate and Ariela crawled out of the car & helped Helen out. She called me on a mobile phone, Helen's in fact. I'm guessing the other phones were still in the car, since everyone called me from Helen's phone -- she probably had it in a pocket instead.

Helen (the one with the cracked vertabra) was texting me this morning. She seemed in good spirits, but I don't have further detail on her injury. If/when I get such detail, I'll make a follow-up post.

[xiphia.livejournal.com]

Yikes!

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Oh, geez - that must have been terrifying for everyone! Thank goodness it wasn't any worse, and my thoughts are with your friend. Sending hope that she recovers quickly and easily....

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[ironphoenix.livejournal.com]

Sympathies; I hope Helen recovers well!

I always get veeeeery nervous about pickup trucks, trailers, etc. with piles of crap in the back. I was behind one and changed lanes on the Queensway because I didn't like the look of it, and passed him; seconds later, I saw a wheelbarrow fall out of his truck, and traffic swerving to avoid it. Even when stuff appears to be tied down, I'm not confident: I don't want to trust my life to random strangers' knot-tying skills.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

I don't think this was in the bed loose, else it would likely have been rolling/bouncing when we encountered it. I think it was mounted under the truck, and just dropped down flat, that way.

[ironphoenix.livejournal.com]

I'd have a lot more sympathy for the truck driver in that case!

[elizilla]

That's where they carry the spare tire. In my old truck there was a little hole in the bumper, and you put the jack handle in it, and turn it like a screwdriver. This makes a little chain grow longer and gently set the spare onto the ground. It's held by this chain that goes through the middle, with a rectangular plate that is longer than the hole in the tire is wide. With the chain tight it doesn't pull through, but with slack in the chain you can manipulate it to take it out of the hole and get the spare loose.

It always seemed like a bad system to me, though I was more concerned about the mechanism rusting solid and making it impossible to get it out when needed. But I bet there are also a lot of possible weak points.

Curious what make of pickup? Steve has a Toyota that had its entire frame replaced in a recall due to rust. They had a huge problem with it. I wonder if this truck rusted to a point where the spare tire was no longer held properly. Does Ontario have inspections where they would catch something like that? Michigan doesn't.

I too avoid following too close behind pickups because they can lose things.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

The pickup was a Dodge, 4x4 sticker on it, but not sure what model. It was a Quebec-plated car (and the incident was in Quebec), so Ontario inspections would have been irrelevant. I don't know if Quebec has regular safety inspections -- Ontario doesn't, at least not for cars. There are regular emissions testing, and on vehicle ownership transfer, safety checks, but not otherwise.

[con-girl.livejournal.com]

This was my reaction, too. Pickup trucks and stuff hapzardly stored are a thing I have encountered too. I had a piece of wood smash in front of my car (ever so glad i wasn't closer or would have hit my car).

I do not know whether to be happy that this was not what happened here, or yet more paranoid about pickups randomly spewing stuff from random locations.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Paranoid seems the choice to me.

[beable]

Scary!
I hope Helen is ok.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

She texted me a few times this morning; sounded in good spirits. I don't know any further details, but I also hope she will be ok.

[oni-neko.livejournal.com]

what an awful scary end to an otherwise lovely day! And I am very glad things did not turn out worse than they did.


Much sympathy for Helen, hope she recovers well and swiftly.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

BTW, long time, no hear... how are you doing?

[oni-neko.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. and yes it has been awhile. it's been a long year...But I guess I've been alright.

[ragnhildr.livejournal.com]

Holy crap! I hope everyone makes a full recovery from the adventure! *hugs*

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

*hugs* and thanks.

[tanac.livejournal.com]

Oh how awful! Glad you're ok, and quick recoveries to all involved. Hugs.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *hugs* back.

[http://users.livejournal.com/niall_/]

I think I'm glad to read this the day after and that things are not as dire as they could have been left hanging otherwise.

One never knows when you can encounter things like this.

Best of recovery to your friends.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

P.S. Jex continues to use and appreciate your chocolate guide to Montreal.

[http://users.livejournal.com/niall_/]

Glad Jex enjoys the guide and the chocolates!