I had a traumatic experience this week -- just wanted to share it with you.

Tuesday morning, the weather here was terrible. Wet snow, wind, difficult road conditions. So I was on the highway towards Montreal, at about 95-100 km/h -- to get to a meeting -- when all of a sudden the car, a Mazda 3, started slip-sliding. I didn't brake. Tried to regain control but, after a few seconds of vain maneuvers, the car started spinning and I flew off the road, hit some obtacle, and did 4 or 5 barrel rolls to end up upside down.

Man, I could have died! The car is a total loss... But, strangely enough, I had no injuries at all, except for a slightly stiff neck and a "carpet burn" on my forehead -- because the roof had been crushed as I rolled.

Conclusion : I'm really glad to be alive and will try to enjoy every second of this life even more from now on. Starting with a Cohiba DC EL 2003, which I am lighting up roght now!

Cheers! And may you all take care and live life to the fullest.

Wow. Very lucky.
You're like Bruce Willis in "Unbreakable".
Have you had your neck checked out?
An experience like that can really change your outlook.
Good luck. As if you need it!

You're a lucky man, flash. Congrats on living to tell the tale.

After you stop shaking, it's sort of invigorating, ain't it? Personally, in my accident a while back, I thought the sight of the airbags going off was scarier than the accident itself.

It got me thinking: I'd rather have dozens of Japanese engineers looking after my safety than a St. Christopher medal.

quote:

Originally posted by AnRyan:
Wow. Very lucky.
You're like Bruce Willis in "Unbreakable".
Have you had your neck checked out?

Yeah, they took me to hospital for some tests : nothing. But, afterwards, speaking of Bruce Willis, I had more a "Sixth Sense" feeling. Like, what if I'm dead and this is all in my head. LOL. But when I got my bills in the mail wendnesday, I knew I was still alive...

quote:

Originally posted by Scottological:
After you stop shaking, it's sort of invigorating, ain't it? Personally, in my accident a while back, I thought the sight of the airbags going off was scarier than the accident itself.

Funny thing. I didn't shake or have a nervous reaction. Sure, I was sort of walking in a dream but I got out of the car, thanked the forces that be, lit a cigarette and waited for the police and ambulance to arrive. But, indeed, very envigorating the day after...

And the airbags didn't even deploy since the impact was on the side of the car before it started rolling. In retrospective, it's a good thing cause I would have been stuck upwards when the roof was crushed.

1979. I am car pooling with three passengers on Route 30 going from Sorel to Montreal. Dark evening. Snow, blowing snow and wind. Snow covered ice. So far so good eh?

Four school buses. Gotta pass. Get in the left lane. Vroom vrooom.

Lets see what these Dunlop snow tires in front and these Barum summers in back can do. (Great British and Czechoslovakian tires). Lets see what these 12 inch wheels on this 1200 pound, 1.2 liter power house, loaded down with four big guys, 1978 Honda Civic can do.

School bus number one. RRRRRRRRRRRRR.
Woah baby. She's a slaloming on me. Keep the gas on. Getting worse. oooops. Into the median, over the snow bank, one roll over in 4 feet of snow.
Tow truck had us out 30 minutes later & we drove home no problem except the roof was 3 inches lower.

Next day I bought four studded snow tires.

For the rest of the winter I cringed and got white knuckles every time the wind blew and at every patch of snow covered road.

As for the nut behind the steering wheel. He got a few more accidents but has not had any in the recent 25 years.

Sounds like you were wearing a seat belt. Good for you. Glad you were not injured. Unlike Gov. Corzine

Happy to hear you are ok,sory that your ride it a total lose.

someone was wathching over you nicolas ..

glad you're ok... wouldn't want anything to happen to a nice person... too few of those left

A sincere thanks to all for your concern! I didn't start this thread to fish for sympathy, but I must admit that it is a nice feeling...

God -- or whichever superior power you may choose -- bless you on this beautiful saturday morning !

Yikes ...

Flashman, I'm just so happy that you came through all of that and are fine! That's great.

Also, your point of making sure that we take notice of each day and make it special is really true (and sometimes so easy to forget).

quote:

Originally posted by flashman:
I had a traumatic experience this week -- just wanted to share it with you.

Glad you made it through OK flashman.

Wow, that sounds scary! Thank God you are OK, my friend.

I'm suspicious of the origin of the carpet burn though

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a Gift

I'm glad you're ok Flash. Those small Japanese cars are very safe. My brother got hit by a semi in a Honda Civic and was perfectly ok. Granted, the car was destroyed, but who cares about the car at that point.