Prius vs. Pedestrian: car saved my life.

DocVijay · 09-19-2007, 06:10 PM

I've been wondering whether I should post this, as it is quite upsetting for me. I finally decided to do so, in order to praise the safety of the Prius. This only happened a week ago today, so it's still very hard to even type about it. I haven't had a decent night's sleep since then.

Here is a link to the news story on it. I'm not going to go into details, just on how well the Prius did. Read the story first, then read about the Prius.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/sep/14/me.../?news-breaking

First, keep in mind that it was raining quite hard that night. The median was about 40 feet wide, with a guard rail in the middle. The median is basically a shallow ditch, and there was about 8-12 inches of water at the very bottom. It was raining, so speeds were well below the 70 mph limit. The interstate was also quite crowded.

Anyway, I swerved hard to the left as soon as I saw them. The Prius swerved hard onto the shoulder and then the grass median. Because it was so wet, I slid for quite some distance, but I did not spin out or loose control. The entire time, while the situation was out of control, the car was not. It never felt as though it was going to spin or anything. I eventually came to a stop in the grass about 6 feet from the guard rail. You could see the tracks through the tall grass were quite straight. The traction control, ABS, and stability control all performed exemplary, especially considering the terrible conditions.

As far as I am concerned, these things probably saved my life. In fact, I was completely uninjured. I know that if I had been driving my previous car, an SUV with no such technologies, I probably would not be typing this now.

The damage is fairly extensive, but it is localized to the extreme right side of the car. I may not even need a new hood. the only thing I'm concerned about are the dents along the frame of the car above the doors. Don't know it's structural or not. The passenger side door does not open any more. The airbags did not go off, as you would expect from an offset impact. I don't know about damage to the internals, and I could not see the suspension to see if there was any damage there, but I doubt it. The headlight and fog light were still operational. I only got my car back from the State Troopers today, so I haven't spent much time going over it.

Hopefully I can get her fixed up soon, and have her back to normal.

BTW, if this seems very analytical and impersonal, it's because it helps me deal with it all. I tell myself there was nothing else I could do (no charges for any of the drivers involved), but it is still hard. It doesn't just go away that easily. If it weren't for my family and friends I'd probably be a complete mess.

Anyway, that's all. We should all feel good about driving such a safe car.

PriuStorm · 09-19-2007, 06:26 PM

I am very very sorry for your experience in this... glad that you are unhurt... but I can only imagine how shaken up you must be. Knowing myself, this would play through my mind over and over again... Thumbs up to the Prius for being such a safe car... Condolences to the girls' families for such a tragic event.

prius2go · 09-19-2007, 06:27 PM

terrible
equally terrible being in accident you can do nothing about
condolences to relatives of pedestrians too

H2OSkier · 09-19-2007, 06:27 PM

I've sat here and read this a few times and still don't know the right words to say. I'm glad to hear you are not injured. I wish you the best in dealing with this tragedy.

Ken

prius2go · 09-19-2007, 06:32 PM

that's one of the worst things - not being able to talk about it
or finding that no one wants to talk to you about it
the loneliness of silence........

**efusco** · 09-19-2007, 06:42 PM

Wow Bjorn, it took a lot of courage to share this. Be sure to take some time for yourself and your family to adjust to this, what a sad sad event for all, and so unnecessary.

boulder_bum · 09-19-2007, 06:58 PM

I think the women's friend said it best in the story "I don't know what she was thinking" to have run across the interstate highway during a rainstorm.

Even though it wasn't your fault, I know what happened was tragic and probably pretty traumatic for you, too.

SSimon · 09-19-2007, 07:03 PM

I'm sorry for you and for all affected by this tragedy. Hope you pull through this ok.

PriusOwner004 · 09-19-2007, 07:04 PM

Pedestrians have no business on highways.
Sorry you had to suffer through this and thank God you're OK. The car did amazing! VSC is one of the most unbelievable things I've ever seen. There was a great demonstration of the technology on TV a few months ago. Hard to believe what it does.

catgic · 09-19-2007, 07:19 PM

HTTP 404 Not Found

09-19-2007, 06:10 PM	#1
DocVijay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,455 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	I've been wondering whether I should post this, as it is quite upsetting for me. I finally decided to do so, in order to praise the safety of the Prius. This only happened a week ago today, so it's still very hard to even type about it. I haven't had a decent night's sleep since then. Here is a link to the news story on it. I'm not going to go into details, just on how well the Prius did. Read the story first, then read about the Prius. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/sep/14/me.../?news-breaking First, keep in mind that it was raining quite hard that night. The median was about 40 feet wide, with a guard rail in the middle. The median is basically a shallow ditch, and there was about 8-12 inches of water at the very bottom. It was raining, so speeds were well below the 70 mph limit. The interstate was also quite crowded. Anyway, I swerved hard to the left as soon as I saw them. The Prius swerved hard onto the shoulder and then the grass median. Because it was so wet, I slid for quite some distance, but I did not spin out or loose control. The entire time, while the situation was out of control, the car was not. It never felt as though it was going to spin or anything. I eventually came to a stop in the grass about 6 feet from the guard rail. You could see the tracks through the tall grass were quite straight. The traction control, ABS, and stability control all performed exemplary, especially considering the terrible conditions. As far as I am concerned, these things probably saved my life. In fact, I was completely uninjured. I know that if I had been driving my previous car, an SUV with no such technologies, I probably would not be typing this now. The damage is fairly extensive, but it is localized to the extreme right side of the car. I may not even need a new hood. the only thing I'm concerned about are the dents along the frame of the car above the doors. Don't know it's structural or not. The passenger side door does not open any more. The airbags did not go off, as you would expect from an offset impact. I don't know about damage to the internals, and I could not see the suspension to see if there was any damage there, but I doubt it. The headlight and fog light were still operational. I only got my car back from the State Troopers today, so I haven't spent much time going over it. Hopefully I can get her fixed up soon, and have her back to normal. BTW, if this seems very analytical and impersonal, it's because it helps me deal with it all. I tell myself there was nothing else I could do (no charges for any of the drivers involved), but it is still hard. It doesn't just go away that easily. If it weren't for my family and friends I'd probably be a complete mess. Anyway, that's all. We should all feel good about driving such a safe car. Attached Thumbnails __________________ -- Bjorn -- 2007 Dark Amethyst Lincoln Navigator L 2005 Magic Blue Volvo XC90 T6 AWD Coming in 2009: Chrome Orange Lotus Exige S * 2006 Classic Silver Metallic, Package 7+Leather * sacrificed itself to keep me safe Thanks Prius. My Prius Mod Website

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09-19-2007, 06:26 PM	#2
PriuStorm Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 825 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	I am very very sorry for your experience in this... glad that you are unhurt... but I can only imagine how shaken up you must be. Knowing myself, this would play through my mind over and over again... Thumbs up to the Prius for being such a safe car... Condolences to the girls' families for such a tragic event.

09-19-2007, 06:27 PM	#3
prius2go Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 254 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	terrible equally terrible being in accident you can do nothing about condolences to relatives of pedestrians too

09-19-2007, 06:27 PM	#4
H2OSkier Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 161 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I've sat here and read this a few times and still don't know the right words to say. I'm glad to hear you are not injured. I wish you the best in dealing with this tragedy. Ken

09-19-2007, 06:32 PM	#5
prius2go Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 254 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	that's one of the worst things - not being able to talk about it or finding that no one wants to talk to you about it the loneliness of silence........

09-19-2007, 06:42 PM	#6
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,225 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 24	Wow Bjorn, it took a lot of courage to share this. Be sure to take some time for yourself and your family to adjust to this, what a sad sad event for all, and so unnecessary.

09-19-2007, 06:58 PM	#7
boulder_bum Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Castle Rock, CO Posts: 1,120 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	I think the women's friend said it best in the story "I don't know what she was thinking" to have run across the interstate highway during a rainstorm. Even though it wasn't your fault, I know what happened was tragic and probably pretty traumatic for you, too.

09-19-2007, 07:03 PM	#8
SSimon Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: N/W of Chicago Posts: 1,266 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	I'm sorry for you and for all affected by this tragedy. Hope you pull through this ok.

09-19-2007, 07:04 PM	#9
PriusOwner004 Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 191 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Pedestrians have no business on highways. Sorry you had to suffer through this and thank God you're OK. The car did amazing! VSC is one of the most unbelievable things I've ever seen. There was a great demonstration of the technology on TV a few months ago. Hard to believe what it does.

09-19-2007, 07:19 PM	#10
catgic Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: HTTP 404 Not Found Posts: 223 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	HTTP 404 Not Found