ET's Info-Stew

Driving home from work today Jenny got caught in an extremely heavy downpour, hydroplaned the Ford Explorer, and spun off the freeway. The car struck a on-ramp light pole on the rear driver's side door, doing significant damage to the car. But the most important thing is that Jenny is okay. She has a skin burn from the seat belt, and her neck and back are sore. But she doesn't require medical attention. The second most important thing is that there were no other vehicles involved, so nobody else is hurt. The state patrol did have to issue her a 4-point citation, which turns into a 2-point citation after we send in the ticket payment.

The car is in pretty bad shape. I think the major operating components (engine, transmission, etc.) are fine. There may be some damage to the roof part of the frame. The driver's side doors, rear hatch, and bumper will all likely need to be completely replaced. I am worried about the axles and drive train. I'll be talking to the insurance adjuster tomorrow, so hopefully they will tell us good news that the car can be repaired. We have comprehensive and loan pay-off coverage, so we shouldn't have to pay too much up front whatever the result. But it would stink to have to get a new car now. And I'm afraid what the insurance is going to turn into.

Hopefully this is one of those life lessons that changes our behavior before a real catastrophe could occur. In hazardous driving conditions, one must stay strictly focused on driving. And it probably helps to learn safe driving techniques in hazardous weather. Jenny likely hit her brakes when she hydroplaned, which (according to the state patrol officer) changed the driving dynamics of the car causing her to lose control. I know everything will work out fine after this, but I hope this is the last of our Colorado mishaps, at least for a few years.