Pria ended up in a ditch (with photos)

Michgal007 · 08-19-2007, 08:59 PM

I took a trip to the Great Smoky mountains in Tennessee on Friday (Aug 17). I had four of my friends with me in the car. On Saturday, we were searching for a trail near Gatlinberg, which is on the edge of the mountains. We took the wrong turn and went on driving. At some point, we decided to go on a diverted dead end route in search for the trail. It was quite a steep hill. After moving for about 40 meters, I decided that I don't want to drive on this hill. This was my first mountain drive, and boy didn't I underestimate the power of gravity!

Instead of taking a U-turn on the hill, I decided to reverse back to the main road. Because of the tree shade, I couldn't properly see from the back up camera. The car was rushing down the hill, and the brakes didn't help much (I probably didn't press it enough in the rush). The tires were not straight, so we were going on a slant. I pressed my brakes hard at this moment, but it continued to move back and then stopped.

We were on a ditch. A pole on the ditch prevented the car being hit a tree, but it damaged the back bumper cover. The chains connecting those poles scratched the side of the car. One of the tires was on air.

We called 911 and got it towed to the road. The tow truck driver and the cop were very intrigued about this mysterious car with no key!

All of us are ok. It's just Pria that is hurt. I feel bad for being careless like this. I shouldn't try climbing mountains with Pria I guess.

Glamour shot before the accident.

[attachmentid=10776]

After ending up in the ditch.

[attachmentid=10775]

[attachmentid=10774]

PriusOwner004 · 08-19-2007, 09:06 PM

Were you not able to get the car out of the ditch yourself? Seems the front tires were firmly on the ground and this is a front wheel drive, so I don't see what's to stop you from getting back on the road yourself.
Anyway, sorry for your troubles.

Michgal007 · 08-19-2007, 09:19 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusOwner004 @ Aug 19 2007, 09:06 PM) [snapback]498886[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Were you not able to get the car out of the ditch yourself? Seems the front tires were firmly on the ground and this is a front wheel drive, so I don't see what's to stop you from getting back on the road yourself.
Anyway, sorry for your troubles.
[/b]

Since the ditch is in between the two front tires, I am not sure if I would've been able to do it myself. I was a little shaken, so didn't want to do more damages to the car.

**Tideland Prius** · 08-19-2007, 09:47 PM

sorry to hear that. Glad to hear everyone's ok!

auricchio · 08-19-2007, 10:50 PM

You must still look out the rear window when backing up; you can't trust the camera to give you an accurate view.

It also sounds like you began to move too fast while backing up, making it hard to maintain accurate position on the road. I don't see why you didn't just make the U-turn, even if it would take several back-and-forth moves to accomplish.

Sufferin' Prius Envy · 08-20-2007, 12:32 AM

It could have been worse. You could have gone off the other side of the road.

As a dumb teen driver, I once loss control and ran off of Highway 1 on the Northern California coast. In the location where we were, if we would have gone off the ocean side, I know I wouldn't be here today - it was probably a 200 foot drop almost straight down to the ocean and rocks. I won't say what we were doing . . . let's just suffice to say I made my girl friend sit on her side of the car for the rest of the trip.

Chamaree, on your list of damage to have fixed, it's now time to have the wheel alignment checked too.

Now you know why when two cars meet on a one lane mountain road, it is the uphill car which is required to reverse back up the hill, rather than the downhill car reversing down the hill. [at least that is the law in California]

Sonny Jim · 08-20-2007, 02:13 AM

I'm sorry to hear about poor Pria, especially after you just got her repaired after the parking lot hit-and-run

I fail to see where second-guessing you helps this situation; I will just say that I am glad to hear that no one is injured and I am confident that your insurance will cover all the repairs, including an alignment, that will be needed to have her as good as new.

Good luck with your studies

Michgal007 · 08-20-2007, 09:47 AM

Thanks everyone. I couldn't see through the back window much since three of my guy friends were sitting there. Anyway, this was a good experience. The other side of the road was not on a cliff, actually, if we went to that side, the damages would be minimal.

usbseawolf2000 · 08-20-2007, 09:49 AM

I am glad that everyone is ok.

Is it me or the rear wheels do not look straight. It looks like toe-in.

patsparks · 08-20-2007, 10:28 AM

The wheels go like that when lifed off the ground.
Use side mirrors when reversing, camera is there for seeing kids and stuff behind the car to supliment the mirrors not for reversing down a hill.
You need to keep speed very slow reversing down a hill, the brakes are the wrong way around when reversing.
Glad no one got hurt.

08-19-2007, 08:59 PM	#1
Michgal007 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan. Posts: 810 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I took a trip to the Great Smoky mountains in Tennessee on Friday (Aug 17). I had four of my friends with me in the car. On Saturday, we were searching for a trail near Gatlinberg, which is on the edge of the mountains. We took the wrong turn and went on driving. At some point, we decided to go on a diverted dead end route in search for the trail. It was quite a steep hill. After moving for about 40 meters, I decided that I don't want to drive on this hill. This was my first mountain drive, and boy didn't I underestimate the power of gravity! Instead of taking a U-turn on the hill, I decided to reverse back to the main road. Because of the tree shade, I couldn't properly see from the back up camera. The car was rushing down the hill, and the brakes didn't help much (I probably didn't press it enough in the rush). The tires were not straight, so we were going on a slant. I pressed my brakes hard at this moment, but it continued to move back and then stopped. We were on a ditch. A pole on the ditch prevented the car being hit a tree, but it damaged the back bumper cover. The chains connecting those poles scratched the side of the car. One of the tires was on air. We called 911 and got it towed to the road. The tow truck driver and the cop were very intrigued about this mysterious car with no key! All of us are ok. It's just Pria that is hurt. I feel bad for being careless like this. I shouldn't try climbing mountains with Pria I guess. Glamour shot before the accident. [attachmentid=10776] After ending up in the ditch. [attachmentid=10775] [attachmentid=10774] Attached Thumbnails __________________ Member of Cool Chicks with Black Prii Club since Aug 31st 2006 2006 Toyota Prius Package #4, Black exterior, Tan interior, "PRIA"

08-20-2007, 12:32 AM	#6
Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: USA Posts: 4,012 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 15 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 0	It could have been worse. You could have gone off the other side of the road. As a dumb teen driver, I once loss control and ran off of Highway 1 on the Northern California coast. In the location where we were, if we would have gone off the ocean side, I know I wouldn't be here today - it was probably a 200 foot drop almost straight down to the ocean and rocks. I won't say what we were doing . . . let's just suffice to say I made my girl friend sit on her side of the car for the rest of the trip. Chamaree, on your list of damage to have fixed, it's now time to have the wheel alignment checked too. Now you know why when two cars meet on a one lane mountain road, it is the uphill car which is required to reverse back up the hill, rather than the downhill car reversing down the hill. [at least that is the law in California] __________________ My words are my word. I refuse to actively participate in any forum where my written words can/are changed by the powers that be. If you don't like what I wrote, delete it – but don't put words in my mouth that aren't mine. Good-bye.

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08-19-2007, 09:06 PM	#2
PriusOwner004 Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 191 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Were you not able to get the car out of the ditch yourself? Seems the front tires were firmly on the ground and this is a front wheel drive, so I don't see what's to stop you from getting back on the road yourself. Anyway, sorry for your troubles.

08-19-2007, 09:47 PM	#4
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,920 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	sorry to hear that. Glad to hear everyone's ok!

08-19-2007, 10:50 PM	#5
auricchio Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cambria, CA, USA Posts: 855 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	You must still look out the rear window when backing up; you can't trust the camera to give you an accurate view. It also sounds like you began to move too fast while backing up, making it hard to maintain accurate position on the road. I don't see why you didn't just make the U-turn, even if it would take several back-and-forth moves to accomplish.

08-20-2007, 02:13 AM	#7
Sonny Jim Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 260 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	I'm sorry to hear about poor Pria, especially after you just got her repaired after the parking lot hit-and-run I fail to see where second-guessing you helps this situation; I will just say that I am glad to hear that no one is injured and I am confident that your insurance will cover all the repairs, including an alignment, that will be needed to have her as good as new. Good luck with your studies

08-20-2007, 09:47 AM	#8
Michgal007 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan. Posts: 810 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks everyone. I couldn't see through the back window much since three of my guy friends were sitting there. Anyway, this was a good experience. The other side of the road was not on a cliff, actually, if we went to that side, the damages would be minimal.

08-20-2007, 09:49 AM	#9
usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 1,638 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 47	I am glad that everyone is ok. Is it me or the rear wheels do not look straight. It looks like toe-in.

08-20-2007, 10:28 AM	#10
patsparks Uneducated bird-brain Aussie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 4,924 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 17	The wheels go like that when lifed off the ground. Use side mirrors when reversing, camera is there for seeing kids and stuff behind the car to supliment the mirrors not for reversing down a hill. You need to keep speed very slow reversing down a hill, the brakes are the wrong way around when reversing. Glad no one got hurt.