Poor Lightning McQueen!!! 12/16 Accident :(

It started with a quick run to the Wawa a half mile from my office for a sandwich.  Instead of going back on the "busy" street, I opted to take the less congested back road.  Little did I know what awaited me.

I was the only car in the left turn lane waiting for the light to change.  When the turn signal turned green, I proceeded into the intersection.  Not more than about a car length into the intersection, I saw a big blue and silver object coming at me from the left.  That's when everything went into slow motion.  I knew what was about to happen--she was going way too fast to stop, I immediately hit my brakes, but I as quickly realized there was no way to avoid the pending impact; I braced myself and even recall saying before the impact, "Oh, come on!!!"

BAM.  Crash.  Drag...  My just-filled diet Dew went flying; the Wawa sack containing my hot chicken, spinach and tomato sandwich also took flight.  Then silence for a brief moment. 




OUCH!!


Ironically, this all happened right in front of the Henrico County Police Headquarters.  We had an unmarked officer on the scene in less than a minute directing us off to the side of the road.  Poor "Lightning McQueen" (as my kids have named my Camry) moved forward, albeit unwillingly and while making unpleasant sounds. 




From the side that was NOT hit...  can't even open the passenger side door!  Not good. :(


Another uniformed officer showed up to take over.  Fortunately a couple who witnessed the whole thing from a front row seat (while obeying the red light) immediately pulled over and gave their info and testimony to the officer.  Turns out the witness is a cop too.  Phew.  I never even had to talk to the other driver or her 2 or 3 passengers--all the better; not sure what I would have felt like saying to her. 

Fortunately, I was able to walk away from the crash.  I was both shaken and shaking (from a chill in the air) but counting my blessings that I didn't make it any farther into the intersection.  She plowed into me with a lot of force.  Had it been just a couple of feet closer to the driver's side door, I could have been going a block the other direction to the Parham Doctors Hospital.  In the end, I walked a block West instead to my office and tried to finish my work day.

Poor lightning McQueen!  We'll see what his fate is next week.



This pic reminds me of Doc Hudson from the movie Cars.  Sad day!  I love my Camry.  Hope they can fix it, but the insurance guy said this kind of impact often leaves cars "totaled."