MINI2

Marcus-SanDiego · Nov 28th, 2002, 03:56 AM

The accident occurred at around 8:50 pm on the 52 West freeway in San Diego. We were just passing, I believe, the 163 freeway.

Without getting into all of the details, let me just say that my wife was driving and we lost control of the car, mainly because she overcorrected the steering. We were travelling the speed limit, which is about 65mph.

We hit a car that was on our right side and hooked his rear quarter panel, which twisted our car slightly. At that point, we flipped the car on its side (driver's side) and skidded about 50 or 60 yards. After that, and I have no idea how this happened, we got turned upside down on the roof. We have a panoramic sunroof (backseat and front seat) and those exploded because of the friction with the freeway.

Sparks were shooting into the vehicle as we travelled upside down and there was a very bright orange glow, which really scared me as I thought the car might start on fire. (The car never started on fire, by the way.) We were completely harnessed in by our seatbelts so there was plenty of room between the roof and our seats. Probably a good foot and a half. We travelled upside down for a good five seconds (not sure on distance).

I was alert the entire time and was thinking that I wanted to stop. I had no injuries that I could feel. My wife had no injuries that we could see.

When the car came to a complete stop, we both looked over at each other and confirmed that neither of us were seriously hurt. At that point we both released our seatbelts and dropped with a thud on the ground. I bumped my head and so did my wife, which gave her a concussion. But she was still conscious.

Next, I yelled at the wife to bolt out of the car. That wasn't a problem since my wife's door was completely gone. It was down the road somewhere.

We both, miraculously, only sustained minor (and I mean minor) cuts and bruises. Aside from my wife's concussion, we made it out with flying colors. My wife was kept in the hospital tonight just for observation. She is completely alert and doing well. It's just a precaution.

The MINI, by the way, was totalled. No two ways about it. But it handled like a champ and saved its passengers. That's all that counts. The fact that we both walked away says a lot about the safety of this car. Airbags deployed as they should. The car's gas line was cut off, the battery was disabled, the car's hazards flashed as they should, and the doors remained locked during the entire incident (except my wife's, of course, which was sheered off).

Four hours after the accident and I am home. My wife would be home, too, except for the fact that they want to watch her overnight. A CAT scan revealed no injuries.

So, we are safe, the car is totalled, and we have a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.

We will be getting another MINI Cooper S.

A friend took pictures, and I will eventually post them up.

Take care.

Paul · Nov 28th, 2002, 04:04 AM

Sorry to hear about this, but I am very glad you are both OK.

zoooooom · Nov 28th, 2002, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul Mullett
Sorry to hear about this, but I am very glad you are both OK.

DITO

You can get a new car but you cant get a new life,glad you are both OK

FONTAL · Nov 28th, 2002, 04:25 AM

Glad to here that you are both ok and walked away.

It's good to know that everything works the way it should.

Richard

Dom · Nov 28th, 2002, 04:40 AM

Sounds like a big accident

Glad you're OK, as they say, cars can be replaced, people can't

Dom

AprilWhine · Nov 28th, 2002, 05:15 AM

The hubby and I lived in San Diego for many years, so I can visualize the accident scene clearly. I'm glad you and your wife are ok.

I know San Diego roads can be treacherous this time of year.

Mini Cruiser · Nov 28th, 2002, 05:20 AM

OMG

at least u and ur wife r ok.

Cape Cod MINI · Nov 28th, 2002, 05:41 AM

Another MINI gives its life for its owners.
How lucky are you both to be unharmed! Glad you are OK, sorry about the car, but it's replaceable.
Take care.

Damo · Nov 28th, 2002, 05:45 AM

Glad to know your both ok, shame about the poor car

But at least you can replace that

rich · Nov 28th, 2002, 06:47 AM

Wow! That's gripping & scary stuff. So good you are here to tell the tale & your wife is OK

The MINI did it's job. You can buy another

A sobering story for anyone driving a MINI, or anything else for that matter

Stay safe, people...

odieone · Nov 28th, 2002, 06:59 AM

Sorry to hear about your accident but it is nice to know that the Mini is as advertised. SAFE!

IgorTheHunchback · Nov 28th, 2002, 07:18 AM

Igor is happy that you are ok but sorry about Cooper

Gee4orce · Nov 28th, 2002, 07:26 AM

Ouch !

What was the root cause of the accident ? Did you have DSC fitted to that car ?

miniblue · Nov 28th, 2002, 07:52 AM

wow, that's some accident!

thank goodness you and your wife made it through ok. here's wishing your wife a speedy recovery back into your next "S"...

MINIblue

Mike Clarke · Nov 28th, 2002, 07:53 AM

Thanks for sharing the details of what must have been a vary scary accident.
Glad that you and your wife are both OK.

SoggyCornFlakes · Nov 28th, 2002, 08:02 AM

Property can be replaced, people can't. Your safe and the MINI has proved again how people friendly it is in an accident. Glad you're both fine

Ginger · Nov 28th, 2002, 09:00 AM

Bad accident - glad to hear you're both OK though.

NEMINI · Nov 28th, 2002, 09:13 AM

Glad you both are safe.

dukesantos · Nov 28th, 2002, 09:24 AM

Glad you are both safe. I had an upside down-sliding down the freeway- experience many years ago, a very strange sensation.

I already see a request for more accident details, my suggestion is to ignore it. You already shared enough; your wife's privacy and legal rights are more important.

All the best for the holiday.

CUTiger3 · Nov 28th, 2002, 10:26 AM

It's good to hear that you and your wife only suffered minor injuries. Yes, you have many reasons to be THANKFUL.

Nov 28th, 2002, 03:56 AM	#1
Marcus-SanDiego MINI2 Regular Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Diego Local Time: 03:47 PM Posts: 56 Offline	I was in a serious accident tonight in MINI Cooper S... car is completely totalled. The accident occurred at around 8:50 pm on the 52 West freeway in San Diego. We were just passing, I believe, the 163 freeway. Without getting into all of the details, let me just say that my wife was driving and we lost control of the car, mainly because she overcorrected the steering. We were travelling the speed limit, which is about 65mph. We hit a car that was on our right side and hooked his rear quarter panel, which twisted our car slightly. At that point, we flipped the car on its side (driver's side) and skidded about 50 or 60 yards. After that, and I have no idea how this happened, we got turned upside down on the roof. We have a panoramic sunroof (backseat and front seat) and those exploded because of the friction with the freeway. Sparks were shooting into the vehicle as we travelled upside down and there was a very bright orange glow, which really scared me as I thought the car might start on fire. (The car never started on fire, by the way.) We were completely harnessed in by our seatbelts so there was plenty of room between the roof and our seats. Probably a good foot and a half. We travelled upside down for a good five seconds (not sure on distance). I was alert the entire time and was thinking that I wanted to stop. I had no injuries that I could feel. My wife had no injuries that we could see. When the car came to a complete stop, we both looked over at each other and confirmed that neither of us were seriously hurt. At that point we both released our seatbelts and dropped with a thud on the ground. I bumped my head and so did my wife, which gave her a concussion. But she was still conscious. Next, I yelled at the wife to bolt out of the car. That wasn't a problem since my wife's door was completely gone. It was down the road somewhere. We both, miraculously, only sustained minor (and I mean minor) cuts and bruises. Aside from my wife's concussion, we made it out with flying colors. My wife was kept in the hospital tonight just for observation. She is completely alert and doing well. It's just a precaution. The MINI, by the way, was totalled. No two ways about it. But it handled like a champ and saved its passengers. That's all that counts. The fact that we both walked away says a lot about the safety of this car. Airbags deployed as they should. The car's gas line was cut off, the battery was disabled, the car's hazards flashed as they should, and the doors remained locked during the entire incident (except my wife's, of course, which was sheered off). Four hours after the accident and I am home. My wife would be home, too, except for the fact that they want to watch her overnight. A CAT scan revealed no injuries. So, we are safe, the car is totalled, and we have a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. We will be getting another MINI Cooper S. A friend took pictures, and I will eventually post them up. Take care.

Nov 28th, 2002, 04:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 12:47 AM Posts: 41,220 Offline	Sorry to hear about this, but I am very glad you are both OK. There aint no party like my nana's tea party

Nov 28th, 2002, 04:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
FONTAL MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Shetland Local Time: 12:47 AM Posts: 496 Offline	Glad to here that you are both ok and walked away. It's good to know that everything works the way it should. Richard SOLD

Nov 28th, 2002, 05:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
AprilWhine Loves the Fuzzy One Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gypsy Local Time: 04:47 PM Posts: 16,995 Offline	Oh my goodness! The hubby and I lived in San Diego for many years, so I can visualize the accident scene clearly. I'm glad you and your wife are ok. I know San Diego roads can be treacherous this time of year. Global Moderator

Nov 28th, 2002, 05:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mini Cruiser Pain In The ... Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Midlands, uk Local Time: 12:47 AM Posts: 2,785 Offline	OMG at least u and ur wife r ok. www.MINI2mini.org the original and best MINI club in the UK

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Nov 28th, 2002, 04:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
zoooooom MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Aberdeen,Scotland Local Time: 12:47 AM Posts: 2,470 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by Paul Mullett Sorry to hear about this, but I am very glad you are both OK. DITO You can get a new car but you cant get a new life,glad you are both OK

Nov 28th, 2002, 04:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dom Test thread infiltrator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Swindon Local Time: 12:47 AM Posts: 8,543 Offline	Sounds like a big accident Glad you're OK, as they say, cars can be replaced, people can't Dom

Nov 28th, 2002, 05:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
Cape Cod MINI Exposing the Beast Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Cape Cod, MA Local Time: 07:47 PM Posts: 5,365 Offline	Another MINI gives its life for its owners. How lucky are you both to be unharmed! Glad you are OK, sorry about the car, but it's replaceable. Take care. Missing my buddies Dan and Ed but glad I have two angel buddies, And on a quest to Right Secco's Wrongs

Nov 28th, 2002, 05:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
Damo MINI2fosi My Classifieds Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: MINItorque.com Local Time: 12:47 AM Posts: 10,681 Offline	Glad to know your both ok, shame about the poor car But at least you can replace that

Nov 28th, 2002, 06:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
rich MINI2 Master Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Sydney, Australia Local Time: 09:47 AM Posts: 1,586 Offline	Wow! That's gripping & scary stuff. So good you are here to tell the tale & your wife is OK The MINI did it's job. You can buy another A sobering story for anyone driving a MINI, or anything else for that matter Stay safe, people... Cooper S, Jet Black w/ white roof, silver 16" X-Lite wheels, DSC, MFSW, dark tinted windows ...It's here & I love it!

Nov 28th, 2002, 06:59 AM	#11 (permalink)
odieone MINI2 Newbie Join Date: May 2002 Location: Italy Local Time: 01:47 AM Posts: 49 Offline	Wow ounds like it is a very safe car! Sorry to hear about your accident but it is nice to know that the Mini is as advertised. SAFE! Qwner of Cooper S Electric Blue and white top, Premium package. INCREDIBLE!

Nov 28th, 2002, 07:18 AM	#12 (permalink)
IgorTheHunchback MINI2 Regular Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hertfordshire Local Time: 11:47 PM Posts: 280 Offline	Igor is happy that you are ok but sorry about Cooper The Bells The Bells

Nov 28th, 2002, 07:26 AM	#13 (permalink)
Gee4orce MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: UK Local Time: 11:47 PM Posts: 106 Offline	Ouch ! What was the root cause of the accident ? Did you have DSC fitted to that car ?

Nov 28th, 2002, 07:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
miniblue MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Berkshire, UK Local Time: 12:47 AM Posts: 180 Offline	wow, that's some accident! thank goodness you and your wife made it through ok. here's wishing your wife a speedy recovery back into your next "S"... MINIblue IB/W Chilli Cooper ~ White 16" 5-stars ~ 6CD Changer ~ Sat-Nav ~ MFSW ~ ACC ~ Remote Alarm ~ PDC ~ ASC+T ~ Heated Bits ~ 'OOO2 OOO' Private Plate ~ 'MINI Drivers Have Extra Ooomph' & 'WWW.MINI2.COM' Stickers

Nov 28th, 2002, 07:53 AM	#15 (permalink)
Mike Clarke You are number 6 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Perth WA Local Time: 07:47 AM Posts: 5,243 Offline	Thanks for sharing the details of what must have been a vary scary accident. Glad that you and your wife are both OK.

Nov 28th, 2002, 08:02 AM	#16 (permalink)
SoggyCornFlakes Awwww %%%% it! My Classifieds Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Northampton Local Time: 12:47 AM Posts: 33,479 Offline	Property can be replaced, people can't. Your safe and the MINI has proved again how people friendly it is in an accident. Glad you're both fine Cotswolds 6, you sixy thing you, come join the fun MINI2 Charity Ball 2009 ....... Global Moderator

Nov 28th, 2002, 09:00 AM	#17 (permalink)
Ginger Lovin my iPod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Back darn sarf Local Time: 11:47 PM Posts: 2,002 Offline	Bad accident - glad to hear you're both OK though.

Nov 28th, 2002, 09:13 AM	#18 (permalink)
NEMINI NEMINI.org Join Date: Sep 2002 Local Time: 06:47 PM Posts: 7,911 Offline	Glad you both are safe. NEMINI.org, NEMINI.us, NEMINI.info, NYMINI.org

Nov 28th, 2002, 09:24 AM	#19 (permalink)
dukesantos Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Viva Las Vegas Local Time: 04:47 PM Posts: 747 Offline	Glad you are both safe. I had an upside down-sliding down the freeway- experience many years ago, a very strange sensation. I already see a request for more accident details, my suggestion is to ignore it. You already shared enough; your wife's privacy and legal rights are more important. All the best for the holiday.

Nov 28th, 2002, 10:26 AM	#20 (permalink)
CUTiger3 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Upstate South Caroli Local Time: 07:47 PM Posts: 345 Offline	It's good to hear that you and your wife only suffered minor injuries. Yes, you have many reasons to be THANKFUL. Coop 2 (Speedy) - '07 DS/DS MCS

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