Last week we visited my family in San Diego, as we do several times a year. Tuesday afternoon we decided to take a trip to Oceanside to walk around the pier, with my two little kids, wife and parents. We have a newer Toyota Sienna (has great safety ratings). Had the 3rd row seat up in the very back to accommodate everyone.
As I was driving down Hwy 76, I stopped at a red light. No one behind me, normal stop (I'm always looking around). The right lane had about 5 cars already lined up. Sat there for about 12 seconds at the red light. I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed a car traveling at an extremely high rate of speed and not slowing down. I checked the intersection to make sure no cars were coming, and then got off the brake and started to go forward through the red light. Before I could make another move, he slams into me at over 50 MPH (slammed on his brakes last second).
Needless to say, I was more than pissed. Long story short, we're all lucky to be alive today. Had the car been any larger, such as an SUV or pickup, I'm afraid the outcome would have been horrible. Additionally, had I attempted to make a u-turn or turn my van in either direction, I may have flipped over. What if I wasn't there? He would have blown through the red light and potentially center punch someone and causing a tragedy. What if I didn't get off the brake? The impact would have been worse. All these thoughts won't stop going through my head.
Unfortunately our Sienna is totaled, as the entire rear end is gone, and both sides of van misaligned. The back seat was barely spared.
Count your blessings every day, and always be aware of your surroundings. Thank God we're all ok...
As I was driving down Hwy 76, I stopped at a red light. No one behind me, normal stop (I'm always looking around). The right lane had about 5 cars already lined up. Sat there for about 12 seconds at the red light. I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed a car traveling at an extremely high rate of speed and not slowing down. I checked the intersection to make sure no cars were coming, and then got off the brake and started to go forward through the red light. Before I could make another move, he slams into me at over 50 MPH (slammed on his brakes last second).
Needless to say, I was more than pissed. Long story short, we're all lucky to be alive today. Had the car been any larger, such as an SUV or pickup, I'm afraid the outcome would have been horrible. Additionally, had I attempted to make a u-turn or turn my van in either direction, I may have flipped over. What if I wasn't there? He would have blown through the red light and potentially center punch someone and causing a tragedy. What if I didn't get off the brake? The impact would have been worse. All these thoughts won't stop going through my head.
Unfortunately our Sienna is totaled, as the entire rear end is gone, and both sides of van misaligned. The back seat was barely spared.
Count your blessings every day, and always be aware of your surroundings. Thank God we're all ok...