Hello everyone,
I figured I would post this not only as a reminder to buckle up but to also show the amazing way our cars are built.
So despite my username I also have a 2012 CLS550, or should I say had. Last night after a few glasses of wine I got a call that my mom and hour away (who is in her 70’s) couldn’t breathe and was on her way to the hospital. My sister fearing the worst said I needed to get there ASAP.
Luckily my best friend lives two doors down from me and agreed to take me to her. I felt fine but I am not one to drive after consuming alcohol, period. Lesson learned in my 20s. So we decide to take my CLS as it’s newer and capable of comfortable highway travel at speed.
On the way and while he was admittedly driving too fast on I-10 he was trying to change menus to be able to use the steering wheel buttons to change audio tracks. (Why he would try to figure this out at speed is beyond me and I was focused on my thoughts) we came to a section of construction. Being this was at 11 pm it was empty and not well lit. Well sadly as he was looking at menus the detour approached where the lanes split.
The last thing I remember is looking up and seeing the end of a new section of concrete barriers that we were now headed straight for (he never made the lane switch to the detour) before I could even scream and at a speed well above the limit we had the most violent impact I’ve ever experienced. I have vivid memories of the entire event. Since the seatbelts clamped down and every single airbag in the car blew I could not see outside nor could I feel rotation.
The left side of my car struck the bookend of these barriers which not only rotated the car counterclockwise but launched it into the air. The people who saw it happen and came to check on what they thought were bodies states that the car went airborne, rolled all the way over in air and came down just on the drivers side roof. It then proceeded to roll three more times before coming to rest backwards in a ditch.
In all of this we never lost consciousness, we’re able to open the doors and get out and stand there in disbelief. It happened so fast I had no idea we rolled or changed direction. The gentleman who came to the car to “check for a pulse” kept repeating how he could not believe we were alive much less walking around and waiting for the paramedics. My friend who was driving was bleeding quite a bit from his head which we later found out was concussed but he was awake, taking and walking. I got burns from the airbags and I am sore today but that’s it. Now I am not upset, yes he was driving to fast and panicking thinking we were trying to beat the clock with my mother. But no one else was around thankfully, and we were okay. There is not much left of my car but I absolutely cannot believe we are at home and I even went to work today. Seatbelts really do save lives and I am so thankful this did not turn out far worse in all of the ways it could have. When the medics did arrive they were astonished how calm and okay we were. We did go in for observation and my friend did have to get scalp staples but oh my god no one died. We didn’t break any bones, we don’t need physical therapy and no one else was hit. I am very thankful for all of this and the fact that my mother is going to be okay as well. She had an allergic reaction to something she’s never been allergic to before but was able to get treated.
So yes I am sad about the loss of my car but I am so proud of her for making this a survivable event. Stay safe and always buckle up guys!
I figured I would post this not only as a reminder to buckle up but to also show the amazing way our cars are built.
So despite my username I also have a 2012 CLS550, or should I say had. Last night after a few glasses of wine I got a call that my mom and hour away (who is in her 70’s) couldn’t breathe and was on her way to the hospital. My sister fearing the worst said I needed to get there ASAP.
Luckily my best friend lives two doors down from me and agreed to take me to her. I felt fine but I am not one to drive after consuming alcohol, period. Lesson learned in my 20s. So we decide to take my CLS as it’s newer and capable of comfortable highway travel at speed.
On the way and while he was admittedly driving too fast on I-10 he was trying to change menus to be able to use the steering wheel buttons to change audio tracks. (Why he would try to figure this out at speed is beyond me and I was focused on my thoughts) we came to a section of construction. Being this was at 11 pm it was empty and not well lit. Well sadly as he was looking at menus the detour approached where the lanes split.
The last thing I remember is looking up and seeing the end of a new section of concrete barriers that we were now headed straight for (he never made the lane switch to the detour) before I could even scream and at a speed well above the limit we had the most violent impact I’ve ever experienced. I have vivid memories of the entire event. Since the seatbelts clamped down and every single airbag in the car blew I could not see outside nor could I feel rotation.
The left side of my car struck the bookend of these barriers which not only rotated the car counterclockwise but launched it into the air. The people who saw it happen and came to check on what they thought were bodies states that the car went airborne, rolled all the way over in air and came down just on the drivers side roof. It then proceeded to roll three more times before coming to rest backwards in a ditch.
In all of this we never lost consciousness, we’re able to open the doors and get out and stand there in disbelief. It happened so fast I had no idea we rolled or changed direction. The gentleman who came to the car to “check for a pulse” kept repeating how he could not believe we were alive much less walking around and waiting for the paramedics. My friend who was driving was bleeding quite a bit from his head which we later found out was concussed but he was awake, taking and walking. I got burns from the airbags and I am sore today but that’s it. Now I am not upset, yes he was driving to fast and panicking thinking we were trying to beat the clock with my mother. But no one else was around thankfully, and we were okay. There is not much left of my car but I absolutely cannot believe we are at home and I even went to work today. Seatbelts really do save lives and I am so thankful this did not turn out far worse in all of the ways it could have. When the medics did arrive they were astonished how calm and okay we were. We did go in for observation and my friend did have to get scalp staples but oh my god no one died. We didn’t break any bones, we don’t need physical therapy and no one else was hit. I am very thankful for all of this and the fact that my mother is going to be okay as well. She had an allergic reaction to something she’s never been allergic to before but was able to get treated.
So yes I am sad about the loss of my car but I am so proud of her for making this a survivable event. Stay safe and always buckle up guys!
