Chaser's car crash--in-car video

[B. Kotcher]

I finally got around to posting this on YouTube. Awhile back I was chasing in Oklahoma. Occasionally, I pick up my camcorder and hold it over my shoulder and hit "record" to provide an audio log of my trip. I keep my eyes on the road when I'm doing this and never look through or even at the camcorder--it's just for the audio. That's what I was doing, when...

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dsf9Uw8EIAo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

--Bob

 

[Matt Ashworth]

...wow. Wow. At least you guys were okay but still...wow. Did that box just fall off that truck or...?

 

[B. Kotcher]

Actually, it was just me in the car. The box was part of the undercarriage of the truck, mounted just forward of the rear wheels of the tractor. The driver said that he'd noticed that it was loose. When it detached, the rig's tires shot it out forward. My first impulse as it shot out and bounced was that it looked so light--it was probably an empty plastic tub, so don't worry. I was really surprised when everything seemed to explode when it hit me.

 

[Matt Ashworth]

Well your comment at around 0:31 sure did sum up the collision quite nicely.

I was actually driving south to OKC a few years back with my dad along I35. We were just passing the Stillwater area and there was a huge hail storm just to the east that we were focusing on because we had heard on the radio that it was headed right for Tulsa, which is where we have some relatives. Well while we were listening to the radio and glancing out at the storm, this guy towing a boat on a trailer in front of us had an explosive blowout, and before either my dad or myself could react a piece of the tire flew up and nailed our windshield. Fortunately it wasn't enough to cause any damage but still, when things suddenly come flying at you like that there's hardly anything you can do about it.

 

[Elinor McLennon]

You are so fortunate! I can not even imagine something like that happening. There was absolutely no time to react. You kept your composure alot better than I think I would've done. My knees would've buckled once I got out and realized the severity of the accident. Thank goodness you are ok. Hey, did that by chance happen on highway33?

 

[B. Kotcher]

Thanks, Elinor. Yeah, I think it was on Highway 33 eastbound, just west of Kingfisher.

--Bob

 

[Kirk Garwood]

I believe this was shown at the Denver conference many years ago - as frightening now as it was the first time I saw it.

 

[Elinor McLennon]

I know that could happen on any other road but I hate that hwy 33. it's too narrow for the speed and amt of traffic. there's no room for error. no time to react. we traveled that road a few times going to woodward. i have since found some back roads so i can avoid that road. i showed that video to my husband. he drives a big truck like that and he just cringed. again glad u were ok!!

 

[cdcollura]

I remember this was shown at chasercon (NSCC) back in 2003...

Really scary stuff and glad you were OK!

 

[B. Kotcher]

Yeah. It's funny how the general public thinks that we're crazy to put ourselves in the vicinity of tornadoes. But I've never heard of a chaser being killed by a tornado, yet I know of two or three who were killed in car crashes. It's all the time on the road that constitutes the real risk. Be careful out there...

--Bob

 

[Paul Knightley]

Bob, wow - that is a sobering video. As you say, and I think most of us realise (even if we don't try to think about it too much!) the driving part is the single most dangerous part of driving - indeed, it's probably one of the most dangerous things humans do on a regular basis.

Glad you were OK.