On December 14th I turned 22 years old. To celebrate a couple friends and I went downtown drinking. We had a pretty good time, and got pretty drunk. By the end of the night we relized we couldn't drive back to the base so we got a motel to sleep it off.
Of course my ship was leaving in the morning and we didn't get our wakeup call. Worst of all my car was in another part of town so we had to go get it first. Thankfully when I got my car I still had an hour to get to the ship. Just a few hundred feet from the gate and that's when it happened.
I was in the right lane, a SUV swurved (sp?) in front me. I couldn't see above or around the fucker's oversized vehicle from my little car. Which is why I hate SUVs in the first place, they take up too much space and make it difficult for people in smaller cars. So anyway... the SUV moves back over to the left lane and when he does the rising sun blinds me for a few seconds. When I regain my vision all I can see is a huge black construction truck not moving and I couldn't move over to the next lane so I tried to stop to avoid hitting it unsucessfully.
The next thing I know it, the front end of my car is smashed up into the back of the truck and my right leg is pinned by the gas and brake pedals. An ambulance soon arrives and using the jaws of life tear off my door and slide me out of the car.
After arriving at Balboa Naval Hospital I learn my left ankle is broken and both bones in my lower right leg are broken. They put me to sleep for the surgery, and when I woke up I had two bulky casts on my legs and couldn't move.
It's been nearly 2 weeks since the accident, I'm able to move around more but I'm still confined to a wheelchair for the time being. In a couple weeks I should be able to get around a little bit on crutches. But it could be as long as 3 months before these things come off my legs and I can walk again.
I doubt the Navy will kick me out for medical reasons, if I'm lucky my legs will heal up enough where I can go back on a ship.
So that's about it from me. Hope you guys had a good Christmas, mine kinda sucked.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Dude, that sucks, but I'm glad you're okay. If anything, I think this will prevent the Navy from ever letting you pilot the ship ... "Are you nuts, he'll crash into that tanker and then blame the sun..."
But at least you didn't have Siggy's Christmas ... he got kicked in the nuts a few dozen times by his little cousin, and now Siggy is "with" Bubba while he awaits his trial on the charge of murder.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Get better soon Hobbes: then go out and run as many SUV's off the road as possible. Hate them fuckers.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
Sorry to read about the accident.
Get well soon and here's hoping the mobility comes back quickly.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Actually, I have killed the little runt... yet.
Hobbes, that really sucks, but at least you're still alive. That could easily have been much worse. So, I'm glad that you're still here with us, but I'm sorry that this happened to you.
I posted a story here once a while back about my own car/bicycle accident when I was little kid. It fractured my femur and tibia, and it crushed my fibula. In the case of my tibia, it actually protruded from my skin. So, I know what you're going through.
After the casts come off, you're also looking at some time for physical therapy. I had to endure many months of that from my accident, but I was in a worse position than you are. You are fit, young man who will be able to move around on crutches a bit. Your leg strength should recover pretty quickly. Good luck.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Damn it! I knew I should have proofread! I meant to say that I haven't killed the little runt.
Terrific. Now Jeff is going to hang that over me forever.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Say hi to "Bubba" for me, Siggy.
Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :
I hope the accident was not classified as your fault. That would really suck.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
That's awful, Hobbes. You know you're not supposed to have this much fun for 22, don't you? You're supposed to get it out of your system for 21. Or something. Hope it isn't too painful. On the upside you can catch up on a lot of reading or possible videogames (though prolly not DDR, sorry). Get well soon.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
quote:Originally posted by Malnurtured Snay: Dude, that sucks, but I'm glad you're okay. If anything, I think this will prevent the Navy from ever letting you pilot the ship ... "Are you nuts, he'll crash into that tanker and then blame the sun..."
"It was my first day!"
hope you are feeling better Hobbes... does that mean that you haven't seen "The Return of the King"!?! Maybe you can get a day pass!
When you Americans say SUVs - do you mean "4 wheel drives"?
Again, hope you're feeling better and get well soon Hobbes.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Andrew
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by AndrewR: When you Americans say SUVs - do you mean "4 wheel drives"?
Stupid Useless Vehicles
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
People carriers, I think. Basically, "big cars".
I'm really sorry Hobbes. Still, you're alive, you'll recover, and that's the important thing.
Crazy American habits rear their heads again though. You go out to get drunk, and then realise you can't drive back? Tsk. Book a taxi in advance. There's a fair chance you'll still be drunk in the morning, and won't realise it.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Damn. You Sailor Boys don't do anything piecemeal, do you? B)
Anyway, make a speedy recovery for us, eh?
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
An SUV isn't necessarily a 4 wheel drive, as many cars now have 4 wheel drive... Basically an SUV is a vehicle that's based on a pickup (small or large) that can carry 5+ people.
Posted by Peregrinus (Member # 504) on :
It stands for Sport Utility Vehicle. Think Jeep Cherokee (after the yuppies got hold of them); Ford Explorer, Expedition, and Excursion; Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe... It was bad enough when a legitimate vehicle for hauling stuff and people around got co-opted by people who didn't feel safer in lesser vehicles -- and being incompetent, thus proceeded to cause the accidents they were afraid of -- but now every single freaking auto maker has at least one model of SUV. Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Honda, Lamborghini. Hell, even Franco Sbarro did one. Oy.
--Jonah
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Don't forget the new XUVs. Because things with X in the name sell better. Fact.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
I think XUVs are different in the manner that they can be turned into functional pickup trucks, like the Avalanche and Envoy XUV.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
It was bad enough when a legitimate vehicle for hauling stuff and people around got co-opted by people who didn't feel safer in lesser vehicles...
Which is doubly ironic, since the safety in driving an SUV as opposed to a regular car is more perceived than real...
Posted by LOA (Member # 49) on :
Hobbes~ I am SOOOO sorry about your accident! *hugs* I've got you in my thoughts and prayers right now....
Being a veteran of the car accident scene myself (many times over) I know a little of what you're going through.... if you need anything, or want to talk at all, PM me and we'll arrange it, okay? *hugs* Take care of yourself....
~LOA
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Well when I mean 4WD I mean - yeah the ones that are only driven by pretentious parents to pick their kids up from school and home again... they actually don't go into the outback with them! Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Which is doubly ironic, since the safety in driving an SUV as opposed to a regular car is more perceived than real...
Well, you can run over a Civic and not notice, so there is some safety advantage in hitting other cars. However, you have no crunch zone, which I gather is a slight problem if you hit a stationary object. You hit a telephone pole in an SUV and you die.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Hell, if you turn too quickly in an SUV, you die.
Posted by Styrofoaman (Member # 706) on :
Even more fun if you use Firestone tires!
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
And yet even more fun if you turn too quickly in SUV with Firestone tires while getting a hummer from the prostitute you picked up from the police station and being shot at from the drug dealers you stiffed!
Not that I speak with experience.
Posted by Styrofoaman (Member # 706) on :
Isn't that a video game or somthing?
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
If not, it probably will be soon.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
How To Drive Fast on Drugs While Getting Your Wing-Wang Squeezed And Not Spill Your Drink: The Game?
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
quote:Originally posted by Omega: You hit a telephone pole in an SUV and you die.
I don't think its that drastic. There is some safety in SUVs, I think. However, I wouldn't want to be in the backseat of a Ford Bronco or an older model Chevy Blazer/GMC Jimmy in a rollover...
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
I saw that in a movie once. So it must be true.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
My boss at the indy pizza shop drives a big pickup truck. He does use it for actual tasks requiring a big pickup truck - picking up dry goods for the store, lending it to employees when they're moving (thanks Gary), etcetra. Anyway, about two months ago, he was backing out of the parking lot and ran over the Civic parked next to the truck (he cut the wheels a bit too sharply). Lucky on two counts, the first being no one was in the Civic, and two being the Civic was his wife's car and he was going to buy her a new car the next day anyway. Anyway, that Civic was pretty beat up, but the truck was fine.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Holy crap in a pita pocket. He ran over a Civic parked next to him!? Like, he didn't bump it but went Monster Truck Rally on it!?
Posted by MaGiC (Member # 59) on :
That would be so much FUN!!
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
MaGiC, you think anything that involves pain, destruction, and/or mayhem is fun. Posted by Styrofoaman (Member # 706) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lee: How To Drive Fast on Drugs While Getting Your Wing-Wang Squeezed And Not Spill Your Drink: The Game?
No, I think it's called "Vice City" or somthing. For the PS/2.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Well, which one? The PS, or the 2?
OR
What is this "Vice City"? And why wasn't it advertised in any way, and why has no-one ever heard of it, ever?
(Note: Sarcasm is only to be used sparingly in posts. Your actual milage may vary.)
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
I think he meant PS/2 Warp.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
I got the accident report from the police. It places me as responsible for the accident due to my speed and the wet road I wasn't able to stop in time to avoid the Mack truck. Thankfully the only good news is that no one else was injured. Although my insurance, Geico, will be paying for damages.
I went for a follow-up, my right tibia/fibula which was an open fracture and my left ankle are healing fine. It'll still be several weeks before I can start walking again.
No Andrew I have not yet seen The Return of the King.
I'm not against 4-wheel drive cars like the Subaru WRX STi and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. I'd love to own either of those cars. Once I'm walking again I'm probably going to get an 2003 Lancer OZ to replace my totalled Nissan 240SX.
Regarding SUVs. I've always hated them, my accident just gives me one more reason. The majority of people that own SUVs buy them as status symbols of wealth to show off they have $30,000+ to spend on a vehicle. Then complain how expensive gas is when they only get 15 MPG. Luxury SUVs is the biggest oxymoron, no way would you go offroading with a Porsche SUV and godforbid it get dirty.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
quote:Originally posted by Hobbes: [quote]I went for a follow-up, my right tibia/fibula which was an open fracture and my left ankle are healing fine.
That's great news that you're healing fine. Sounds like your tibia did the same thing mine did. It's going to leave a hell of a scar, though.
quote:Regarding SUVs...
Speaking of the devils, one almost hit me today. I was going through an intersection, and an SUV on the cross street decided to run the red light he had. If he hadn't stopped in time, he would have hit me dead center on the driver's door.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Well, which one? The PS, or the 2?
OR
What is this "Vice City"? And why wasn't it advertised in any way, and why has no-one ever heard of it, ever?
OR
Mice run games now?
OR
something something overrate something something IBM something something.
Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
Sorry to hear it Hobbes.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Yep, ran right over the Civic. Not quite all "monster rally", but he crushed the trunk and the side. It was craaaaaazy. We call him Gary "The Civic Killer" now.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
The Civic Killer. The Deer Slayer.
I fear your circle of friends.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
I saw my car yesterday. The driver side was completely fucked up beyond belief. The windshield was damaged from the outside by the Mack truck. I flew up from my seat slamming into the steering wheel which forced me back, not to mention my seatbelt locking up too. Had I kept going forward I would have gone through the windshield and head-first into the bottom of the truck. The point is, looking at my car, I'm lucky to come out of it with only a broken leg and ankle. Of course now all I want to do is get back to work. Sitting around a hospital all day doing nothing is hardly how I like spending my life.
Posted by Styrofoaman (Member # 706) on :
Yes, but you can gawk at the nurses.
Unless you're on the floor that's only staffed by bitter ugly man-nurses.
Then you'd better not otherwise somthing else might break.
Posted by Proteus (Member # 212) on :
JESUS CHRIST HOBBES. Im just glad you are okay. Man that fucking blows.
On a unrelated note: did you change your cell phone number? I tried calling just before xmas and it said the number was disabled/disconnected.
Email me [email protected] mabye I can come down, i'll buy you a drink.
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