the aftermath
My mom and her aunt are okay.
Turns out Mom was driving my great-aunt back from the chiropractor's because she's been getting treatment for injuries she suffered in another car accident. They were about half a mile away from her house, going up the hill, when my great-aunt saw a car speeding down the hill before the 4-way. She said something like, "That car is coming down really fast. I don't think she's going to stop!" Seeing this, Mom was able to turn the van at an angle and move to the other lane, but it didn't completely help. The other driver was on the cell phone and completely flew the stop sign, crashing directly into them. If the van hadn't been turned, it would have been a head-on impact.
The other driver was a 22 year-old girl who didn't even own the truck she was driving. It belonged to her boyfriend, who owns a towing/body shop service in Wenatchee. They didn't want to call the cops, offering to "fix things between" mom and them, maybe paying some money under the table. Under the table? Are you fucking kidding me? The whole side of the van was completely totalled. The truck impacted the wheel, so that and the bumper are gone. The side mirror was hit with so much force that the metal actually twisted and now the mirror hangs upside down at an angle. And they wanted to keep this "between them"? Please.
Anyhow, seeing how angry my mom was, the girl finally called the cops herself. And even if she hadn't wanted to do so, as luck would have it, my great-aunt lives by the courthouse, and a meter maid pulled up a few minutes after. She made sure a squad car was on its way. I saw the cop report; the cop wrote that the other driver was at fault. They didn't tell him that she'd been on the phone. I bet otherwise she would have gotten a huge ticket too. I hope she can sleep with the guilt.
The total damage is estimated at over $3500. We had insurance, but I don't think the other people did. The van is now at Leonard Evans' body shop and Mom is driving a blue 2004 Jeep Liberty. The insurance people have been gods; they've helped us out in every way possible (okay, okay, my cousin is our agent) and things were taken care of right away.
So all in all, health-wise, which is what we were worried about, they're okay. My great-aunt bumped and bruised her arm a bit, but it's not major. As far the van, it might be a while before we get it back, but well. Metal is metal and not quite as important as a life.
Turns out Mom was driving my great-aunt back from the chiropractor's because she's been getting treatment for injuries she suffered in another car accident. They were about half a mile away from her house, going up the hill, when my great-aunt saw a car speeding down the hill before the 4-way. She said something like, "That car is coming down really fast. I don't think she's going to stop!" Seeing this, Mom was able to turn the van at an angle and move to the other lane, but it didn't completely help. The other driver was on the cell phone and completely flew the stop sign, crashing directly into them. If the van hadn't been turned, it would have been a head-on impact.
The other driver was a 22 year-old girl who didn't even own the truck she was driving. It belonged to her boyfriend, who owns a towing/body shop service in Wenatchee. They didn't want to call the cops, offering to "fix things between" mom and them, maybe paying some money under the table. Under the table? Are you fucking kidding me? The whole side of the van was completely totalled. The truck impacted the wheel, so that and the bumper are gone. The side mirror was hit with so much force that the metal actually twisted and now the mirror hangs upside down at an angle. And they wanted to keep this "between them"? Please.
Anyhow, seeing how angry my mom was, the girl finally called the cops herself. And even if she hadn't wanted to do so, as luck would have it, my great-aunt lives by the courthouse, and a meter maid pulled up a few minutes after. She made sure a squad car was on its way. I saw the cop report; the cop wrote that the other driver was at fault. They didn't tell him that she'd been on the phone. I bet otherwise she would have gotten a huge ticket too. I hope she can sleep with the guilt.
The total damage is estimated at over $3500. We had insurance, but I don't think the other people did. The van is now at Leonard Evans' body shop and Mom is driving a blue 2004 Jeep Liberty. The insurance people have been gods; they've helped us out in every way possible (okay, okay, my cousin is our agent) and things were taken care of right away.
So all in all, health-wise, which is what we were worried about, they're okay. My great-aunt bumped and bruised her arm a bit, but it's not major. As far the van, it might be a while before we get it back, but well. Metal is metal and not quite as important as a life.