USVI-On-Line

... could have done without the dramatic end to a two week trip north.

UF Prof had work in the Washington D.C. area, so we spent some weekend time in the mountains of southern West Virginia and finished up in D.C. Wednesday.

After a good start this morning (9/24)... about twenty minutes into our drive home I see a large pickup rapidly coming toward us from behind - then it smacked into us! A 360 spin and slide across the road into the guard rails left us with only very, very minor injuries.

We feel so lucky!

The hit and run driver was apprehended an hour later. No insurance... driving a rented truck he didn't rent... estimated speed 100 MPH... "must have dozed off".

We feel so lucky!!!

Our little "fun" car protected us well.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/floridalin ... 952590236/" title="Multimedia message by lprof, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/395 ... 4a03c1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Multimedia message"></a>

Wonderful people stopped to help... we were so lucky.

Give those you love a hug and a kiss... we just never know what is ahead of us... or behind....

Wow! So glad that you both are ok. The insurance hassle should shake out ok for you, though I'm sure it will end up being a pain in your assets.

Whoa! glad you are ok........

Very very lucky-must have been so frightening-glad you're all right.

Toni

Wow, you were beyond lucky. Truly, this is the first day of the rest of your life.

Oh gosh! So thankful for the outcome.

Wow! Your little fun car protected you well! I can't believe there's not more damage to both you and the car after getting hit at high speed like that! Isn't it always the case that the perp doesn't have insurance? Happened to me before, too, only not nearly as bad! Glad you are both ok!

Oh my, I am glad you are OK!!

John and I had the same thing happen to us 12 years ago. We were hit from behind by a drunk driver who then fled the scene (tossing beer cans out the window as he went ). We spun off the road and our car was totalled, but like you guys, we were completely fine other than a bruise from our seatbelts.

The guy that hit us was eventually found in the woods nearby. He turned out to have four prior DUIs.

I am really glad you are OK. Good luck with the insurance thing.

That's just incredible! Glad you are okay - maybe you need to have some recovery time in crystal-blue water?

so glad you are ok, that must have been really scary!

WHEW! Glad you are OK!

Just getting back from DC ourselves in a nearly twin BMW of our own. It was a GREAT weather week for having a little roadster! How does the rest of the car look? Front? I have to say that for as horrific as the accident sounds it looks like the car took the blows pretty well altho I'm sure it's totaled.

Where did the accident happen? I keep thinking 20 minutes outside of DC would put you on the beltway or at least some highway, and you would have been moving at a good speed w/ alot of other cars around.

Once again... I am soooo glad you are not seriously injured!

Everyone,

Thanks so much for the uplifting comments and caring thoughts. We are feeling the bruises tonight and by tomorrow my face may look as if I lost round three, but we are OK.

--- JT, no doubt there will be pain from the bruises to the assets as well.

--- CA Girl, sadly, these are experiences none of us should have... C'est la vie

--- liamsaunt, there's amazing similarity in our accidents; I'm glad that you and John only had bruises too.

--- vi lover, check my ticker... today it changed to 1 month til paradise no plans; no worries...

--- Carolyn, we left Rockville, MD Wednesday afternoon and had a nice drive out of the DC area, stopping for the night in Lumberton NC. The accident was on I-95 just south of one of roadside America's greats, "South of the Border" in Dillon SC. The front of the car isn't so bad. ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/floridalin ... 325220259/ ) When we went to collect our belongings my husband started thinking it might be salvageable, but the claim adjustment isn't finished. Traffic was moving around 70-80 MPH; we were fortunate that no one else was close behind us. One person who stopped was an incredible young woman on her way to Atlanta for a friend's surprise birthday party. She saw it all and gave a report to the trooper. We so appreciated all who stopped to help.
Did you ever go to the Labor Day BMW Roadster Homecoming that BMW held in Spartansburg SC for twelve years? We went to the tenth and eleventh - great fun and so neat to see roughly 500 Z cars in one place. The homecomings also benefitted "Make-A-Wish" charities. The tenth year anniversary was dress up - "Black Tie and Blue Jeans" and BMW threw a great party.

Good fortune or luck has many faces and many sources. We were and are so lucky, and we are so thankful for all the good found in this unfortunate event.

Thanks for the additional info. I showed the photos to my husband. Neither of us are very materialistic but our roadster is about as cherished a possession that we have ... I think it might just break his heart to see our car in that shape! ... of course to walk away "safe and sound" is what REALLY matters. I hope you will let us know what happens w/ the appraisal. He asked what year your Z is?

We have not gone to the BMW event you mentioned but he said he has heard of it. It sounds as if you speak of it in the past tense? We were discussing the fact that the Z's are assembled down there... so an event like that makes sense. Nice!

Once again I'm glad you escaped serious injury!

Carolyn,
Thanks again for your good wishes.
Our (his) Z is (was) a 2004...
Last year -2008- was the last Z Homecoming at BMW SC as manufacturing of the roadsters is now in Germany. I believe the Spartansburg/Greer plant is now totally SUV.
An unoffical homecoming website with pics might interest you:
http://www.zhomecoming.com/
I will let you know how things turn out for us.

Lucky you may be, but I'm still sorry to hear about this unfortunate event on your trip. I hope you are both feeing better soon.

- Ruth