The ultimate sacrifice
In an automobile accident, there are three collisions.
The first occurs when the vehicle hits the other vehicle- or an inanimate object. THis is the most violent, and causes the most visible harm.
The second occurs when the occupants of the vehicle hit the inside of the vehicle, which rarely causes any harm to the vehicle, but which can be brutal to the occupants.
The third is when the occupant’s internal organs hit the insides of their body cavities. This is usually what is fatal, and it often causes malingering damage.
Mark Alger’s real-life daughter and granddaughter were in what can only be described as a horrible accident. Go see the car here.
In 1979 I got in an accident with my 69 Chevy Impala. It was horrible, and I don’t want to talk about it right now.
But the car saved my life, like SWMBO’s Daughter’s car did her’s.
The day after the accident, bruised and still bleeding a bit, I rode with Dad to the yard to see the car. Or what was left of it. Scared the crap out of me to see what I’d walked away from. Still does. It was really horrible.
The key had broken off in the ignition and was laying on what was left of the floor. I unwound the broken key off the ring and put it in my pocket. It’s in my nightstand now, a memory of a vehicle that sacrificed it’s life that I would live.
I have always had attachments to vehicles, and this is one of the reasons why.
I worked at GM for a few years as a welder equipment repairman. Willow Run Assembly. We made Bonnevilles. One day the Body Shop got a thank you letter from a guy out west. He was driving down the freeway at night and ran into the back of a parked dump truck that had stopped in the middle of the road with no lights.
Every thing worked perfectly. The buckle points (sheet metal ripples and notches) all folded perfectly. The MVSS welds held. The hood folded. The engine and trans went under the cabin. Accordion up to and stopping at the firewall. The old guy got out and walked. Another Satisfied Customer.
Wish they all ended like that.
Ed, Dad had similar experiences with the Ford Truck. he had a truck hood on his toolbax that ended up around 12″ long- and saved the occupants of the cab.