Elk hunt was over before it started.

droptine

Active Member
May 19, 2014
236
0
Minnesota
BD14A947-89E7-437A-8BF2-F53612026860.jpgBD14A947-89E7-437A-8BF2-F53612026860.jpg47BA80FB-63D6-47A2-A8B2-A74CB247F402.jpg3A501A30-FCF7-4FF4-9742-7767E7F76AE0.jpg3C9FDD95-82D6-412C-983F-9001E63FE716.jpgC84789F5-8F72-4FA8-AEB9-24DAE1A0E60C.jpgWe headed out Thursday night to southwest Montana. 13 miles from out destination for the night. It all came to an abrupt stop!! We were doing 70 mph in the slow lane pulling a 4x8 enclosed trailer with all our gear in it. When out of nowhere a guy slams into our rear!! The trailer literally exploded. He drove up on the trailer and into the back of the pickup!! Stuff was strung all over the freeway for a quarter mile!! Bear in mind, we were doing 70 and the guy slammed into us like we were standing still. The guy said he fell asleep at the wheel.
Needless to say, I?m not too impressed the the Montana highway patrol. After it was all over, he allowed the guy to back his truck off the trailer and go about his way. Don?t even think the guy got issued a ticket!!
 

SteveCNJ

New Member
Oct 24, 2017
29
0
Whoa! Lucky nobody was hurt! I hope you got your gear back in one piece. As far as letting him drive off? Maybe they knew him, he was "on the job" or they just didn't care!

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JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
7,313
8,693
72
Gypsum, Co
Sad to see something like this happen but unless he was under the influence or his vehicle was undriveable there would be no reason to hold him.

I would possibly follow up with the county DA's office where it happened. Hopefully he has enough insurance to take care of what he destroyed.
 

shootbrownelk

Veteran member
Apr 11, 2011
1,535
196
Wyoming
Sad to see something like this happen but unless he was under the influence or his vehicle was undriveable there would be no reason to hold him.

I would possibly follow up with the county DA's office where it happened. Hopefully he has enough insurance to take care of what he destroyed.
Inattentive driving? Sounds like he should have gotten some kind of ticket for being an idiot.
 

JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
7,313
8,693
72
Gypsum, Co
Quite often in a accident they will not issue a ticket until they do the investigation the next day or even later. I have a friend that got a ticket for reckless driving a week after the accident he had. He claimed one thing but the investigation proved otherwise. He got a knock on his door one night and there the trooper was with his ticket book in hand.
 

dan maule

Veteran member
Jan 3, 2015
1,024
1,275
Upper Michigan
Sounds like a miracle that nobody was hurt! Really sorry for you, all the planning and excitement that goes into a trip to end like that really sucks.
 

Prerylyon

Veteran member
Apr 25, 2016
1,334
511
52
Cedar Rapids, IA
Man, that's a heap of bad luck with a side of aggravation. [emoji54]

Sorry this happened. As others have said, this person should be liable for the damage they caused. Saying it doesn't make it so, but hopefully the police report and insurance will do you right. You know this, but the silver lining is you walked away from what could have been far worse. All those things can be replaced, but a broken body, not so much.

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AKaviator

Veteran member
Jul 26, 2012
1,819
1,084
Bummer, but very glad you're okay. I hope the other guy is held accountable for the damage he caused. It's hard to believe he may have left without a citation or two in his hand.
 

RICMIC

Veteran member
Feb 21, 2012
2,014
1,793
Two Harbors, Minnesota
Get a copy of the accident report; then contact a good attorney. (Yeah, I know that's an oxymoron). Your damages far exceed the cost of your equipment.....not to mention the "whiplash".
 

rmetcalf

New Member
Feb 27, 2013
46
0
Indiana
Had a similar experience returning from my 2017 Wyoming Deer and Antelope Hunt. I was hit head on by an 85 year old woman that was driving the wrong way down Interstate 90. After being hit we jackknifed in the median, rolled a couple times, hit a light pole, and came to a rest on our wheels in the median. Thankfully all 4 of us in the truck lived even though we were beat up pretty bad! Bad ending to a great trip, but glad to be alive! Glad you were ok also! truck2.jpgscene.jpgranger.jpgtruck.jpg
 

droptine

Active Member
May 19, 2014
236
0
Minnesota
Thanks everyone for the kind words. Yes, I am greatfull for my dad I to be able to walk away from this. It really scared the hell out of me.
After he hit us, he must’ve panicked and hit the gas instead of the breaks because the speedometer went from 70 to 85 and he kept pushing us. I honestly thought the guy was doing it on purpose!! It just sucks because my dad is getting to the age where he may not be able to hike back where we usually hunt.
 

Prerylyon

Veteran member
Apr 25, 2016
1,334
511
52
Cedar Rapids, IA
Had a similar experience returning from my 2017 Wyoming Deer and Antelope Hunt. I was hit head on by an 85 year old woman that was driving the wrong way down Interstate 90. After being hit we jackknifed in the median, rolled a couple times, hit a light pole, and came to a rest on our wheels in the median. Thankfully all 4 of us in the truck lived even though we were beat up pretty bad! Bad ending to a great trip, but glad to be alive! Glad you were ok also! View attachment 22449View attachment 22448View attachment 22450View attachment 22451
[emoji44]

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