Barry Johnson

Today, was not a good day. Some of you have alread received emails of the once pretty, now mangled S4. Its not all that bad, but the fact it happened, again, hurts. Came around a corner, lift throttle, very similar happenings as last time, back end came out and mashed the brakes, but looking at the skid marks, the car didn't spin at all, it just kept turning even though I corrected and went directly into the hedge and didn't come out for a bit. I'm baffled by it, but its a sign that I need to make some changes in my life and this finally got my attention. Please, all of you, if you think something is trying to get your attention, listen before it gets more drastic like it has with me. Most of you know my passion for these cars and the things I have in mind for mine, but it may work out for the best. I can only pray for grace and mercy, and guidance. Right now, I'm staying here, as I can't go outside to look at the car anymore, its too painful. I am fortunate that no one was hurt, no living thing was involved, and it just looks like some body pieces and paint for the most part. It could have been much worse. 6" more to the left and I would have hit large log pilings... I have made a simple web page with pictures to show the scene and aftermath. I hope you're sitting down for this...

<a href="http://home.attbi.com/~gq-beej/928/928crash2.htm" target="_blank">http://home.attbi.com/~gq-beej/928/928crash2.htm</a>

Barry Johnson

I forgot to mention. I had 3 friends in the car, 1 male up front, and 2 female in passenger, all unharmed. I was taking the women home, and after I assessed the damage, I drove about 1/4 mile to drop them off at home at which point I was going to call the police as I was heading back to the scene. Unfortunately, someone called it in and they arrested me and put me in jail for a hit and run with a $2000 bail to make things worse, on top of the ticket for reckless driving and hit and run. My insurance will no doubt be cancelled, and with my record, a license suspension is ever more likely. I may just get lucky and have it all dropped, so thats what I'm praying for. I would really appreciate your thoughts and prayers in this matter, as I love these cars too much to lose it in a total loss insurance claim, and also my license which would prevent me from driving it if and when I resurrected it. Thanks a lot you guys, I'm very happy to know I have the support of a great group of people such as the ones on the Rennlist here, and the PacNW 928 group at home. Take care of these cars at all costs!

Mark

Beej -

SOOO SOORRRYYY....I sure hope you have good insurance! At least it doesn't look like it was bad enuff for any fram twisting.

Oddly enuff - the smashed headlight receptacle loks kinda like the Jacquemond kit!!

Barry Johnson

Mark, funny you should say that... I was thinking about that too.... Doesn't look so bad in person (the body kit idea). I think the frame is just baaaarely ok, but my insurance is going to cancel me for sure. Especially after they see my record... I can't look at it anymore... I'm going to sand or something.

onebad928s

so Barry how fast were you coming from the s-turn( so it looks from your pic)?So you were also arrested for a hitting a bush?Ok so i know not to move to Washington and i thought New York was bad.

Lou
supercharged 84
03 Z71 Tahoe sitting on 24s

Bernie

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Barry Johnson:
<strong>I forgot to mention. I had 3 friends in the car, 1 male up front, and 2 female in passenger, all unharmed. I was taking the women home, and after I assessed the damage, I drove about 1/4 mile to drop them off at home at which point I was going to call the police as I was heading back to the scene. Unfortunately, someone called it in and they arrested me and put me in jail for a hit and run with a $2000 bail to make things worse, on top of the ticket for reckless driving and hit and run. My insurance will no doubt be cancelled, and with my record, a license suspension is ever more likely. I may just get lucky and have it all dropped, so thats what I'm praying for. I would really appreciate your thoughts and prayers in this matter, as I love these cars too much to lose it in a total loss insurance claim, and also my license which would prevent me from driving it if and when I resurrected it. Thanks a lot you guys, I'm very happy to know I have the support of a great group of people such as the ones on the Rennlist here, and the PacNW 928 group at home. Take care of these cars at all costs!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Hi Barry,
Its very unfortunate that this happened but you must always remember that your cup is "half-full" not "half-empty".
Your passengers were uninjured and that is what matters the most.
Remember that cars can be replaced, humans can't.

As to your legal woes,
You just might have to go through a little hell for awhile. They will probably measure off your skid to determine how fast you were going. They probably already did hence the reckless driving charge. I doubt a hit and run will make it to court unless the bush decides to press charges. Its VERY common for people to drive away after hitting bushes and such due to the low property damage. Just claim stupidity and apologize. The reckless driving is gonna hurt. Why? because you had passengers and the court is not going to take that lightly.
My advice?
Get a lawyer and get ready for a court appearance. You're gonna need a loophole on this one.

But remember, you are alive and your friends are alive. You've got a busted car but you WILL fix it. Take this time to reflect back on what has happened here and make changes for the better.
Getting rid of the shark is not going to solve anything. It will probably turn you into a Echo driving geek for the rest of your life.

Get back in the saddle my friend.....

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Russell82

Man, that just hurts to look at. Sorry for your troubles, wish you the very best of luck with the aftermath.
RAS

928ssss

Barry,

Real sorry about the car; best thing though is that you and all your passengers are alright.

I always was afraid of crunching it up--but you gotta drive em. Thanks for your input on the board.

Good luck to you and yours,

BC

What? !

They arrested you? For hitting a freaking bush? Is washington a police state? Jesus. I say a lawyer should bring up that it was some sort of unusual and uneeded arresting action.

Barry Johnson

Hey Lou I was heading into the turn at no more than 40, and its a single left hander, one that I've driven on countless times. Yes, Washington is bad, particularly Edmonds, because they're pretty clueless as far as whats ethical and just. But then again, if I was that hedge, I'd be pretty happy for a brief meet and greet with a 928 any day! My friend just told me that a wreckless driving ticket is an automatic one year suspension here, so I'm going to make a few phone calls to the attorney friends and I'll be sure to let you all know what comes of this. Still hoping for the best! Bwaah on my friends, bwah, on.

JasonO

I think the arrest stems from damaging private property (the hedge) and leaving the scene before contacting authorities/owners. I'm sure if he got a lawyer the hit and run would be dropped as he was returning to the scene, but the license may still be suspended because of the reckless driving charge...

My dealings with the Washington court system (limited to traffic court <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> ) in no way reflect a police state...

-jason

Shane E.

!

kaamacat

Barry.......Hey (and sure you've heard this 100x), but #1 is that you and the passengers are safe. In the grand-scheme-of things, that's what matters.

On the up-side.........is it possible the damage is ft bumper, fender, and door only......I mean all bolt-on parts? (see, getting better already).

On the creepy-side. When you mentioned what happened, it immediately brought me back to a LONG time ago in my dad's 260z, light blue metallic, still new, coming home from work.......I was beind a string of 4 other cars going around a easy bend-in-the-road........and not fast at all (like you 40mph at best)......tail end went out, rolled the car 1x.........THEN I SEE YOUR PICTURE........and whats in front of it....."move over John Edwards....."

Get "Back on the Shark" and ride again my friend.

Bob

John.

It isn't that much damage, just hang a fender, hood and have the car painted any you will be back in business.

It can be fixed!

Gregg K

So sorry. There is always risk involved when we climb into our cars. My last car was in 1981. A Datsun 510. Porsche seats, Cromadora wheels, turbocharged, propane, five speed... It was almost as fast as my new shark. Well, one night I took an unknown onramp. It had a curb. I slammed that curb and cartwheeled onto the freeway at 70 mph. Not a very polite entrance. I regained consciousness, holding the wheel, with the car on it's passenger side. I climbed out, unhurt, and walked home, VERY emotionally hurt. I didn't drive another nice car until last week. When I bought my 928, last week, I sat in the garage looking at it, paranoid. I'm older now, but the risk is still there. Your car will heal. I hope you find the right path to healing yourself. And be happy you all survived unhurt.