hey folks just under a year from last post. so much to catch up on this thread! Just as I was finishing up projects that would allow for me to return to the old F1 I got hit on the hiway from a complete stop By somebody at 50-70mph. Miracle that I'm still here, my 98 Tacoma was totaled. I was headed into the Berkeley /Oakland area where my brother lives to help patch dry wall/ plaster de-laminated off a wall in his house. 10:30 am on a Friday. 8 lane hiway. Next thing I know I wake up in the third lane to the left with traffic whizzing by at 70mph. My truck was thrown into a car in front of me and he into a suv in front of him. To say I was dazed would be an understatement. The two guys in front of me didn't get out of their cars(for good reason) but started to pull foward so I followee wanteing to get info in a much safer place. After approx 200 yards lead guy stops figuring no way can we get off hiway. He gets out of car followed by guy in front of me. I am still in shock/concussion so I get out too to exchange info. I tell them I should go back to the smashed Toyota/Honda van that threw me into them, about the time the hiway patrol shows up and makes a traffic break to get us off the hiway. Well flash forward to 20 minutes later Hiway patrol turning the report over to lower level CHP guys. Guy taking report asks if I have a plate or picture of vehicle that hit me, I'm still in shock with heart palpitations so I said no. He then says you could of caused the accident, and have no proof that you didn't . I point out the damage to the truck, and he says unless you can prove that this morning that wasn't htere we will assume you caused the accident. Now I'm freaking out. I have his partner come over to my truck to take pictures of the crushed rear bumper with frame member poked through the chrome bumper, and same on front end. I tell him if you go back to the impact point you will see drywall that flew out the bed of the truck, tail light and bumper parts from my truck and parts of a silver van that hit me. Long story short I drove my truck(yes no idea of the damage done, still driving fine) 50 miles home. It's only when I get home I remember my security camera system with footage of me l with a intact front and rear bumper.
leaving that morning. So two incredible things happened from this. First Insurance company sent an expert 40 year adjuster to inspect the truck which he proves was freshly impacted from rear to front breaking apart the dual frame rails from all cross mounts and trailer hitch, along with assessing total loss value to a very accurate number, Second thing my camera proved no preexisting damage, and no damage to me, no whip lash etc. other than maybe a concussion! I feel blessed to be alive, if I drove my MR2 I'd be dead today. Greatfull truck took care of me, and found new replacement tacoma (2006 4x4 excellent cond. for 11K , after 9.8 k settlement, 1,200.00 dollars more , 8 years newer with 183k on engine and transmission, old truck 198k on the same). New truck looks new inside and out, very happy with Allstate, and frankly with being alive