Distracted Driver Seriously Hurt My Baby!

[Ruffian118]

Coming back from lunch today, cruising along in righthand lane. Slowing down as I approached traffic light, light turns green when I'm about 150 yards back. Start to accelerate again, up to about 35-40 mph. No one ahead of me in lane.

Woman in center lane, 3 cars back from light, at a dead stop. When light turns, she starts to accelerate, then out of nowhere decides to turn into my lane. At this point I'm about 25-30 feet back. I can see her silhouette and she's talking on the f---ing phone!!! As I'm about to hit her, she finally looks over her shoulder to see me coming. Not enough room for the brakes - I hit her right rear quarter panel.

She gets out of her car, comes to my passenger window and asks if I'm ok. "OKAY!!!??! Look at my car! And you were on the f---ing PHONE!!!" Her response: "yeah, I know." And walks back to her car. Are you kidding me??! She gets cited, and my car is wrecked.

My car? Well you can see the damage below. I'm just heartbroken! This car is more than just metal - litho, signatures from Team Camaro on the shock towers, and I was going to drive it to Oshawa in 3 WEEKS!! Shop will have it for at least 3 weeks, more like 4. They want to put it back together right. I've been looking forward to taking my car on this trip since December.

I just had the CAI installed at C5Fest. Scott Settlemire had selected her as his favorite. I keep going from tears of heartbreak to thoughts of going to this bitch's house and taking a sledgehammer to her MDX (or worse) .

I just need a place to vent and some shoulders to cry on . Physically, I'm ok, but emotionally I'm a mess. Positive: the airbag didn't go off so the interior was spared.

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

[MARINE1991]

OH MY GOD... I feel for you, I know I would be a mess too, but the important thing is your ok and its kind of hard to see all the damage but looks like it wont be too hard to fix and you get back up and running... That does suck, but it will get fixed and your ok... :thumb up: She got cited so her insurance will pay for everything and they should replace the CAI as well. I can not tell but the strut tower was damaged??? hopfully it was not, but it should be ok.. I hope so I know that ment alot to you, hopfully you can get the signatures again if it was... just tried to take a closer look the best I could, does not seem like frame damage was done, the engine bay should still be good.. I really hope so for you... It looks bad as the fender is thin metal and the bumper is plastic, and the hood is also thin. You will probley need a new wheel as well. It will be ok..once its fixed up Lucky for you it was not the quarter panels, that would have been 100 times worse.

Well look foward to talking to you and seeing how the repair comes.

[angie7]

my heart goes out to you...I wish they would make illegal everywhere to talk on the phone. People cant drive and listen to music at the same time let alone talk on the darn phone

{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}

[shl4Z28]

I think the Fbodfather needs to drop a suburban here. Sorry about your ride, but the important thing is your OK.

[ron10]

OUCH ! sorry to see that happen.

[Kahdir]

Glad you're okay physically... hope your baby is back to new soon.

[Camarowguy]

I didn't see anything mentioned about your baby. Your not talking about a car being your baby are you?

[nycoupe11]

Wow man that is absolutely horrible .. I feel so bad.. It's 2011the fact people still use their hands to talk on the phone while driving is pathetic!

[Z28RockStar]

SO sorry for your loss hun! Its great news though you and your car will be fine! Glad you're OK!

[yotaman96]

Sorry it happened. The good news is you're okay. The damage appears to be just cosmetic. Hopefully it gets back to you looking new again.

[mfr1950]

[Sawyer]

Man that sucks. Sorry to hear this but it happens so often you really have to drive for other people. They are so preoccupied with stupid shit they forget about OTHER people on tbe road. Hope its fixed right. Hang in there.

[Ruffian118]

Originally Posted by Camarowguy

I didn't see anything mentioned about your baby. Your not talking about a car being your baby are you?

Silly as it may seem, my car IS my "baby" now - my kids are grown & gone.

Originally Posted by MARINE1991

OH MY GOD...She got cited so her insurance will pay for everything and they should replace the CAI as well. I can not tell but the strut tower was damaged??? hopfully it was not, but it should be ok.. I hope so I know that ment alot to you, hopfully you can get the signatures again if it was... just tried to take a closer look the best I could, does not seem like frame damage was done, the engine bay should still be good.. I really hope so for you... It looks bad as the fender is thin metal and the bumper is plastic, and the hood is also thin. You will probley need a new wheel as well.

I'm at home now printing off my receipts. My shop guy said they will do everything they can to save the strut tower. He knows how important that is to me. Whole front fascia, front & left side gfx (separated from body at the wheel well), grills, left fender panel, wheel well, tire, wheel, hood, ugh - these were just the "obvious" things. Preliminary look does not appear to be frame damage - I hope this doesn't change. Will get estimate tomorrow. I'll definitely keep you posted!

Originally Posted by angie7

my heart goes out to you...I wish they would make illegal everywhere to talk on the phone. People cant drive and listen to music at the same time let alone talk on the darn phone

{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}

seriously - too many can't even walk & chew gum at the same time

Originally Posted by nycoupe11

Wow man that is absolutely horrible .. I feel so bad.. It's 2011the fact people still use their hands to talk on the phone while driving is pathetic!

Looking over her shoulder before she changed lanes would've been a plus instead of pulling out ... oh, wait, that would've meant she had to think about driving instead of talking on THE PHONE!

Thanks to all of you for your support - nothing like Camaro buddies in a time of crisis!