[stealthdrake]

I was on the way home from work driving on a two lane road. As I was approaching an intersection, the light turned from red to green. I switched from the left lane to the right to pass by the stopped large pickup that had been stopped at the light. The last thing I can remember is hearing a horn honking. I woke up with the breath knocked out of me, airbags deployed, and a voice asking me if I needed assistance.

A car ran the red light from left to right. Because of the topography, a tree and the pickup, neither of us saw the other. It seems the driver of the other car thought he could cut in front of the truck and avoid sitting at a long light not realizing that I was coming at ~40mph. I impacted him at the front passenger side wheel, spinning him around. I was diverted and continued up onto the grass in front of the local Quick Trip gas station where I came to.

Fortunately the driver of the pickup truck pulled over to check on me and reported to the police what had happened. Even more fortunate were the paramedics who had been filling their truck up at the station that turned to look at the honking horn from the truck and saw the events unfold.

The fire department had to use the jaws to get me out of the car. I was taken to the hospital where all of my CT scans and X-Rays came back negative. Other than some amazing bruising on my chest and an inability to take a deep breath for about a week I came out essentially unscathed. The other driver ended up with some broken bones from what I was able to learn. Oh yeah, the scumbag was also uninsured...

In the end my car was obviously totaled.

The BMW safety systems worked incredibly well. To walk away from that impact uninjured speaks volumes to their effectiveness.

As to my replacement, I ended up with a 2019 F31 M-Performance.

Be safe out there.

[dmaxdmax]

Wow...amazing you're alive! I survived a side swipe in my e46--it spun my car around 270 degrees...it saved my life. Yours really f'n saved your life.

Sell your story to bmw...get a new car.

You stay safe yourself! Having a Bass Ale for your car!

[RMachuca3d]

NOOOO the precious 513m's!!!! please tell me you took them off the car before insurance took it!!!!

Glad to hear you're ok, where the 513m's unscathed too? they dont look to badly damaged from the pictures :P

[stealthdrake]

Sadly the 513m's went to the car graveyard as well. After popping over the curb I would not trust them in any case. The good news is I provided the receipt for them to my insurance company and they reimbursed me. Another set will be on the way...

[Car 65]

Extremely fortunate that weren't traveling faster.
The outcome if you were hit on your driver's side by to offender would have not been good.
Glad you suffered no major injuries.
Enjoy your newest F31.

[stealthdrake]

I honestly think if I had been faster and he t-boned me, or if I was just a bit slower and had center punched him, it would have been much worse. All things considered I got lucky.

[Salty B.]

Originally Posted by stealthdrake

I honestly think if I had been faster and he t-boned me, or if I was just a bit slower and had center punched him, it would have been much worse. All things considered I got lucky.

You sure did.

I came about 6" from this, or worse, when some jackhole in a Benz ran a red doing about 90+mph. He would have torn the front of my car right off had he hit me, and my legs with it. I had to pull over and hyperventilate for a few after.

[stealthdrake]

Originally Posted by Flying Badger

You sure did.

I came about 6" from this, or worse, when some jackhole in a Benz ran a red doing about 90+mph. He would have torn the front of my car right off had he hit me, and my legs with it. I had to pull over and hyperventilate for a few after.

Hmmm, the idiot in my case was also driving a Benz...

[davewes]

Wow 🤭. Glad you walked ok man.

[Al Bundy's Dodge]

Glad you are alive...those pictures are absolutely crazy.

[BimR]

You are alive and that's all that matters. The car and the wheels and anything else can be replaced. Praise your lucky stars!

[floridaorange]

Praise God you're ok!!!

[Elvisfan]

I’m glad you are ok. One of the reasons that I would think twice about passing a stopped car at a light. The truck driver may have seen the car coming.

[cfm56d7b]

I had to pause for a few seconds before typing a comment which cannot possibly even approach the notion of how lucky you are. So glad you are OK.

As others have said earlier, cars and wheels can be replaced.

By any chance, did you car have a dash cam? Worth getting one for the new vehicle.

I still remember my driver's ed instructor telling me ...

- Never follow a truck or anything that is being towed. Just pass them and create enough distance.
- Pass vehicles which drive too slowly and create enough distance
- Never drive behind or inside a "cluster of cars". Pass them and find a pocket where you can drive with plenty of free space in front or behind
- When a light turns green, wait 1 second before taking off to allow anyone in the intersection to drive through
- Check tire pressure once a week

I still follow these suggestions.

[stealthdrake]

I appreciate everyone's comments. A little bit of luck and safety systems that worked as designed let me walk away from this one.

Hopefully the pics and story will help keep folks a bit more aware as they are on the road and helps them avoid the same situation.

[Danddd]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

I had to pause for a few seconds before typing a comment which cannot possibly even approach the notion of how lucky you are. So glad you are OK.

As others have said earlier, cars and wheels can be replaced.

By any chance, did you car have a dash cam? Worth getting one for the new vehicle.

I still remember my driver's ed instructor telling me ...

- Never follow a truck or anything that is being towed. Just pass them and create enough distance.
- Pass vehicles which drive too slowly and create enough distance
- Never drive behind or inside a "cluster of cars". Pass them and find a pocket where you can drive with plenty of free space in front or behind
- When a light turns green, wait 1 second before taking off to allow anyone in the intersection to drive through
- Check tire pressure once a week

I still follow these suggestions.

I follow this too. Five years ago, I broke rule #2 because I was soon turning right. Got rear ended...hard at 40mph. End of the E91 at that point.