Not the kind of excitement we were really hoping for. So I'm sitting here reading some Hatrack threads, when there's a loud screech and a booming noise outside that sounded kinda like a car hitting something. And it sounded close. First thought crossing my mind is that I hope nobody's hurt. And I head outside.
A pickup truck is driving off my front lawn.
Apparently some teenage maniac (the teenage part according to a witness next door, the maniac part is my contribution) came speeding down our street. We live at the intersection of two streets that both end, so in effect this person needs to make a slightly-over-90-degree left turn. He was probably unaware of this, and had no chance of succeeding.
The screeching tires was apparently his failed attempt at stopping. The boom was hit front tires hitting the curb in front of our house, missing the Honda by about three feet on one side, and a tree by five feet on the other. He seems to have finished skidding to a stop on the grass a few feet from the garage. Well, it was grass when he started. Now it's mud. He then circled around through the front yard, and drove down the driveway (missing the other three cars) and sped off down the street.
There's no longer really a thought crossing my mind regarding this driver not being hurt, much to my shame. However, I still hope he avoids hurting anyone else.
He hit nothing. He hit nobody. The sum-total of damage is skid marks on the street, torn up grass in my front yard (which will grow back, I hope), and hopefully a couple thousand dollars damage to his alignment. Maybe he bent the frame. *fingers crossed*
Gives a whole new meaning to "Get off my lawn!"
And it didn't even send Mama into labor...
Yet.
--Pop
Posted by BelladonnaOrchid (Member # 188) on :
No second mooselet yet, Papa? You both should be getting impatient, I would think.
Anyway, I'm glad none of your property was (badly) damaged, and that nobody was injured.
A little shook up, I hope, but not injured.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Yikes!
Glad y'all are safe. Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
There have been a couple of incidents in Utah recently of drunk drivers running over pedestrians who weren't even on the road. One family was in their front yard. So you gave me a bit of a start there anyway...
Posted by Wetchik (Member # 3609) on :
quote: He hit nothing. He hit nobody. The sum-total of damage is skid marks on the street, torn up grass in my front yard (which will grow back, I hope), and hopefully a couple thousand dollars damage to his alignment. Maybe he bent the frame. *fingers crossed*
Sorry to hear that Pop. And I'm sorry to say that your grass has little chance of growing back. I would recommend either paying somebody to replant your lawn, or rent a roto-tiller after killing the remaining lawn. Then, spread the seeds. To save money, you could use a hoe, but I wouldn't recommend it.
All in all, you're talking about: $700 approximate for paying somebody $50 roto-tiller, $80 for seeds, plus your own labor.
Grass is one of those things that is tough when it's alive, but it's hard to get it growing.
Sorry.... Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
I'll see if I can get a decent digiphoto tomorrow and link it here. As time goes on, I realize that while I am pretty ticked about it, I'm still very glad that nobody, even including the driver, was hurt.
And it's a good thing we tape West Wing, because this made us miss the beginning.
Posted by Nick (Member # 4311) on :
Did anybody get a license plate?
Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
Too fast, too dark. Most who saw it saw it through windows.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
That's great that no one was hurt, and that there wasn't even any real damage (except possibly to his vehicle)!
Posted by beatnix19 (Member # 5836) on :
I was in a similar situation, but unfortunately I was in the passanger seat of the car. Driver was looking between seats for cigatrette and didn't notice car in front of her. Swerved to miss, drove up a lawn, over stone landscaping wall and right into house.
Worst part was that it was labor day and the family was having a party. This is going to sound like a very bad stereotype but the family was Japaneese and the entire house emptied and they ALL started taking pictures of us. Just like in the movies.
Needless to say I never drove with her again. And we did not escape, in fact she totalled her brand new jeep wrangler. (she's loaded and was driving her dad's Jag the next day, I hate rich people!)
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"I hate rich people!"
Is it more annoying that her dad loaned her his sportscar the day after she wrecked her Jeep doing something ridiculously stupid, or that she did something ridiculously stupid while you were in the passenger seat?
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
(((((Pop and Mama)))))
Glad to hear nobody was hurt!! And tell that child to get here already, we're al waiting for him!! Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Yeah, beatnix, why are you even friends with that eemo?
Posted by beatnix19 (Member # 5836) on :
actually the "ride" it self was fun. Once I realized I was still alive and uninjured. I tell people it's the kind of theing you would pay for at Cedar Point.
What really bothered me was the fact that she didn't borrow his Jag. He gave it to her and got a new car. I don't really hate rich people I just know that If I had totalled my '83 Cordoba I would be walking every where.
Oh, well. At least I've got a great story.
By the way, I haven't talked to her since high school (1997). She was a nice enough person though, can't blame a person for the stupidity of their parents.
Also, to Pop, hope the big day hurries here. Our first daughter was born to the day and our second daughter was a scheduled C-section so I don't know much about the wait and see game. But a new life sure is exciting.
[ November 13, 2003, 09:01 AM: Message edited by: beatnix19 ]
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
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And I'm sorry to say that your grass has little chance of growing back. I would recommend either paying somebody to replant your lawn, or rent a roto-tiller after killing the remaining lawn. Then, spread the seeds. To save money, you could use a hoe, but I wouldn't recommend it.![[The Wave]](graemlins/thewave.gif)