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What happened, as best I remember it. Writing it down now while it is still reasonably fresh.
Around 7:30 tonight Kris and I were going out to dinner. I was driving Kris' Matrix, she was in the passenger seat, and we were driving west on 50 towards Clermont. It was well after dark. We were stopped at a red light at the intersection of Hancock and SR 50, several cars back from the stoplight. We were having some kind of conversation when suddenly and without warning we were struck from behind hard enough to drive us into the car in front of us. Again, we were at a complete stop. Neither Kris nor I remember hearing the squealing of brakes or any other warning, it is apparent that the vehicle that struck us was traveling full speed without even slowing down. We were both completely stunned and disoriented. I don't know how long we sat there basically not moving.
The vehicle that hit us backed up, then pulled around and drove off at speed. I never saw it. Kris saw a quick glimpse of it, as did the driver in front of us. Both described it as a large SUV, black or very dark with tinted windows. While we were still sitting in the car, another car pulled up behind us unaware that an accident had just happened. He started honking at us, and I was very confused as I got out of the car why this person was honking and yelling at me. I think at that point I thought he was the person who had rear ended us, I didn't realize the guilty driver had fled. In any case, that car left and traffic began to back up around us.
I called 911 to report the accident, and coincidentally an off duty police officer arrived on the scene. She started asking questions, and I had the 911 operator asking questions, and cars honking all around us, and then aid cars and fire engines and all manner of emergency vehicles showed up. Once they quickly ascertained that there were no serious injuries they helped us clear the two cars out of the roadway and into a nearby bank parking lot. Paramedics examined both Kris and I, as well as the driver of the vehicle in front of us.
Two county sheriffs also took our information, but because of where the accident happened they could not actually work the accident. They waited with us until a Florida state trooper arrived to file the report. Kris' left leg is sore, she has a good sized bruise coming to the surface from her leg being knocked forward into the dashboard and then kicking back into the plastic seat adjusting lever on the front of the seat. She also has a bruise on her shoulder from the seatbelt. I am stiff and sore in my upper back between my shoulder blades, and now my neck is also starting to feel sore. I also feel like my left arm banged into something, but I don't see a bruise yet.
Kris' car has serious damage on both the front and back. The back end where the SUV hit us is completely smashed in, with the bumper hanging off. The front end was driven into the trailer hitch of the car in front of us, so the front bumper is punched in. I have not tried to open the hood, I doubt if it will open without a pry bar. The area where the grill is punched in is right in front of the radiator, so I don't know if that is damaged. The car was still drivable, so once we finished with the police report and talked to the insurance company we carefully drove home. The car is now parked in the driveway and is not going anywhere until we arrange with the insurance company for a body shop to look at it. I suspect the car will be totaled, but of course I am not a mechanic. We'll see how that goes.
I will be driving Kris to work in the morning, and then I will start dealing with the insurance company. We are fully covered, including rental car, so I should be able to arrange for a rental to be dropped off at Kris' office. I definitely need to make a doctor's appointment, and I am sure I will need chiropractic as well.
We did finally make it to dinner. The service was poor, and the food was bland.
I am going to bed now.
Around 7:30 tonight Kris and I were going out to dinner. I was driving Kris' Matrix, she was in the passenger seat, and we were driving west on 50 towards Clermont. It was well after dark. We were stopped at a red light at the intersection of Hancock and SR 50, several cars back from the stoplight. We were having some kind of conversation when suddenly and without warning we were struck from behind hard enough to drive us into the car in front of us. Again, we were at a complete stop. Neither Kris nor I remember hearing the squealing of brakes or any other warning, it is apparent that the vehicle that struck us was traveling full speed without even slowing down. We were both completely stunned and disoriented. I don't know how long we sat there basically not moving.
The vehicle that hit us backed up, then pulled around and drove off at speed. I never saw it. Kris saw a quick glimpse of it, as did the driver in front of us. Both described it as a large SUV, black or very dark with tinted windows. While we were still sitting in the car, another car pulled up behind us unaware that an accident had just happened. He started honking at us, and I was very confused as I got out of the car why this person was honking and yelling at me. I think at that point I thought he was the person who had rear ended us, I didn't realize the guilty driver had fled. In any case, that car left and traffic began to back up around us.
I called 911 to report the accident, and coincidentally an off duty police officer arrived on the scene. She started asking questions, and I had the 911 operator asking questions, and cars honking all around us, and then aid cars and fire engines and all manner of emergency vehicles showed up. Once they quickly ascertained that there were no serious injuries they helped us clear the two cars out of the roadway and into a nearby bank parking lot. Paramedics examined both Kris and I, as well as the driver of the vehicle in front of us.
Two county sheriffs also took our information, but because of where the accident happened they could not actually work the accident. They waited with us until a Florida state trooper arrived to file the report. Kris' left leg is sore, she has a good sized bruise coming to the surface from her leg being knocked forward into the dashboard and then kicking back into the plastic seat adjusting lever on the front of the seat. She also has a bruise on her shoulder from the seatbelt. I am stiff and sore in my upper back between my shoulder blades, and now my neck is also starting to feel sore. I also feel like my left arm banged into something, but I don't see a bruise yet.
Kris' car has serious damage on both the front and back. The back end where the SUV hit us is completely smashed in, with the bumper hanging off. The front end was driven into the trailer hitch of the car in front of us, so the front bumper is punched in. I have not tried to open the hood, I doubt if it will open without a pry bar. The area where the grill is punched in is right in front of the radiator, so I don't know if that is damaged. The car was still drivable, so once we finished with the police report and talked to the insurance company we carefully drove home. The car is now parked in the driveway and is not going anywhere until we arrange with the insurance company for a body shop to look at it. I suspect the car will be totaled, but of course I am not a mechanic. We'll see how that goes.
I will be driving Kris to work in the morning, and then I will start dealing with the insurance company. We are fully covered, including rental car, so I should be able to arrange for a rental to be dropped off at Kris' office. I definitely need to make a doctor's appointment, and I am sure I will need chiropractic as well.
We did finally make it to dinner. The service was poor, and the food was bland.
I am going to bed now.
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Take care... you are both in my thoughts and prayers.