A Sad end for my baby....

[FudPucker]

http://elginet.smugmug.com/gallery/5671858_WYdkJ <--Full set of pics from this crash (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/%20)

http://www.elginet.smugmug.com/gallery/5671858_WYdkJ#349256145_DuH3Th ttp://www.elginet.com/images/CrashedMarauder1.jpg

There's a real long story that goes with this, but here's the short version.
My son and I were following a DUI and on the phone with 911 for quite a while waiting for them to find a squad to pull this chick over.

They didn't get there in time, she lost control and hit a 100' light post. We passed her and then CRASH! The light pole came down on top of us. I can't wait to hear the 911 tape on that one. ;-)

Everyone was ok. (I still have a killer head-ache though). She had no license and no insurance.

It's being totaled and I know had we been in anything smaller, we'd probably still be in the hospital!

If anyone knows of someone in the Chicago area with a low-mile car they'd like to get rid of, PLEASE email me at bill@elginet.com

Take care kids, and beware of things falling out of the sky!!! :eek:

[offroadkarter]

Wow thats horrible! You better have (unt punted that bish for totaling your car!

[TAKEDOWN]

Jesus Christ!

[Local Boy]

Oh Brah...That's just terrible, that you got nailed for doing the right thing...

Can't you sue her in civil court for the damages to your car??? I truely believe so...Explore that avenue...

Good luck, brutha...and with all sincerity...Thanks for your efforts to keep our roads safe from these idiots...

BTW; If the Insur. CO. claims it's totaled...Buy it back...and part it out...That's a gold mine...

ALOHA

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I'm sorry but you shouldn't of been following as close, seeing as they were impaired. This is such a waste of a beautiful rare machine, did not have to happen.

[Merc220A]

Well you were trying to be a good citizen and then life bites you in the rear, literally. Sorry to see this. I followed a drunk once...her tire blew and then the rim sparked for miles...i was in my Grand Marquis and now the hood has pit marks from the sparks. But damn yours was a bad one. Best of luck to you!

[Stroszek]

It breaks ones heart to see that. Sorry about the Marauder but thankfully no one was hurt any worse than they were.

[bigbillybbs]

WOWWW :eek: :shake: O MY F*****g GOD..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Taemian]

I'm sorry but you shouldn't of been following as close, seeing as they were impaired. This is such a waste of a beautiful rare machine, did not have to happen.

What an ignorant post.

Perhaps if anyone in the future sees a DUI driver, they should just ignore it all together. Maybe we'll get lucky and the DUI will continue on and hit some ungrateful moron driving a car he doesn't deserve to own.

Seriously, wtf?

EDIT: Nevermind, it all becomes clear when I see your age.

[Merc220A]

BTW; If the Insur. CO. claims it's totaled...Buy it back...and part it out...That's a gold mine...

ALOHA

Instead...turn it into the Convertible Marauder Concept lol.

[DEFYANT]

Well now that is a first! Sorry to hear this.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

Nevermind, it all becomes clear when I see your age.

Yeah speaking of ignorant..as if age has any relevance here, you don't know me.

I'm just saying you see something like this, you back off, keep distance, not knowing what can end up happening. Obviously I wasn't there to see exactly how it went down, but am glad the car protected you guys allowing you to walk out of there.

[Taemian]

Yeah speaking of ignorant..as if age has any relevance here, you don't know me.

I'm just saying you see something like this, you back off, keep distance, not knowing what can end up happening. Obviously I wasn't there to see exactly how it went down, but am glad the car protected you guys allowing you to walk out of there.

Experience usually has a direct correlation with age. I don't know how many DUI driver's you've encountered, or how many wrecks you've attended. I count it a blessing to see that ordinary people are still looking out for the common good.

I do agree with you that you weren't there to "see exactly how it went down", yet you tell him that this was an avoidable event. That is what I deemed a conflicting sentiment.

I also agree with you about the car saving the occupants from damage. I am never sad to see ANY item destroyed if it protects a living person. Period. The car may be a write off for insurance purposes, but it is easily repairable in the big scheme of things. Lots of CV doners out there for roofs!

[offroadkarter]

BTW; If the Insur. CO. claims it's totaled...Buy it back...and part it out...That's a gold mine...

ALOHA


yes, i need the seats! :D


Sorry, Good luck with your situation though :(

Oh right i guess i should step in and say.

That'll buff right out :)

[Blackened300a]

Looks like you just washed and waxed the car too. Sorry about your loss, Im glad you are OK and considering getting a replacement! Good Luck on your search.

[HiHo]

Oh man... well, no good deed goes unpunished!!

[jgc61sr2002]

Sorry about your Marauder.

[Master]

Hey, That's MY Saying!
I am really sorry about this. It really doesn't look that bad to me. I'm kind of surprised that they are writing it off. Wonder how much the buy-back would be?
Oh, and speaking of "No Good Deed Going Unpunished", I'd almost be inclined to get a lawyer now. First, to sue her for the damage to you and your vehicle, and second to be prepared for an out-of-left-field lawsuit against you.
I have honestly heard of cases where the drunk sued the person following them and the case was "I was scared because of this person following me and had an accident". Any variation on this could mean a real headache for you.
Hope no one takes this as me being negative toward you. Just want you to watch your back. When things start going wrong, they can really go wrong.

[larryo340]

The car may be a write off for insurance purposes, but it is easily repairable in the big scheme of things. Lots of CV doners out there for roofs!

First off I'm glad to hear that you and your son are ok.

Your car looks too good to be totaled.

I think that a good body shop can repair that. Like Taemian said there are alot of donor CV's and MGM's out there. The left side quarter looks straight, and the right side looks from the pictures to have just that one spot that wrinkled.

What I can't believe is that POS didn't get more damaged from the pole.

[RoyLPita]

Two words........................ FIX IT!!!!!

[Bluerauder]

Looks like you just washed and waxed the car too.
That's the first thing that I noticed too. Clean as a whistle and ready for a car show. :up:

Glad no one was hurt when that pole landed on the car ... could have been worse.

It looks really bad; but I don't think it should be totalled. Other that the trunk lid, roof and rear window ... I don't see any other damage unless the hood, windshield and doors also took a hit in this.

On 2nd look, the rear part of the frame may be bent looking at that buckled section of right rear quarter panel. :(

[SILVERSURFER03]

So why do bad things happen to good people. I would have done the samething..

Sorry for loss of the car glad no one got hurt...

Good luck on finding another as clean and pretty as that one

[Pops]

I dont think there is frame damage. The amount of damage is enough to total it out.
Roofs are pricey and it will need a lot of interior panels replaced. A new headliner will be over 500.00. It may have some suspension damage on the rear. You would have to repaint 3/4 of the car. The windshield will need to be replaced cause if its not broke now it will be by the time its removed. I spent 40 years in the body shop business and agree that it is a total. It would be a good to buy and rebuild but it would have little value due to the salvage title. It would make a good race car!

[03mara300b]

It is just property. Life is the important issue. Now you can take your time and buy a better low mileage MM!

[SC Cheesehead]

Man, this sucks!:mad2:

Lost my DTR to a DUI as well, fortunately I was able to find a replacement; hope you will too.

[sluggs]

i guess i shouldnt post as you know im pretty ignorant. but this was avoidable.

[FudPucker]

I'm sorry but you shouldn't of been following as close, seeing as they were impaired. This is such a waste of a beautiful rare machine, did not have to happen.

Maybe you should look all all the pics. She went off the roadway and hit the poll. We slowed down to help her and bam....then the pole came down.

Following too closely? lol! Now I WISH I was tailgating her because then the pole would have come down in the street!

Some people...

[FudPucker]

That's the first thing that I noticed too. Clean as a whistle and ready for a car show. :up:

Glad no one was hurt when that pole landed on the car ... could have been worse.

It looks really bad; but I don't think it should be totalled. Other that the trunk lid, roof and rear window ... I don't see any other damage unless the hood, windshield and doors also took a hit in this.

On 2nd look, the rear part of the frame may be bent looking at that buckled section of right rear quarter panel. :(

Yeah, frame was bent(tells you how hard the pole hit it). Car was totalled. They gave me a whopping $9500.00 for it. (I did have 128,000 miles on it!)

Just went and took my plates off of it today. It was quite emotional.
I loved my car.....

[Master]

Yeah, taking the plates off it the hardest part. $9,500.00 though is not too bad. You can get another stocker for not much more than this. If it hadn't been for the frame, I'd still say fix it. My friend is an autobody mechanic and I've seen him jack out more roofs than you could imagine. Its amazing what he can do with portapowers or whatever they call them. He rarely has to replace the roof from what I've seen.
Also, I'm not sure how you can say this was avoidable, apart from just driving away in the first place. Keep in mind, he was already past the scene of the accident when the pole hit him from what must have been nearly a hundred feet away.
How, exactly, does one avoid situations where a 100 foot poles comes out of the sky and hits you from behind?

[magindat]

I dont think there is frame damage. The amount of damage is enough to total it out.
Roofs are pricey and it will need a lot of interior panels replaced. A new headliner will be over 500.00. It may have some suspension damage on the rear. You would have to repaint 3/4 of the car. The windshield will need to be replaced cause if its not broke now it will be by the time its removed. I spent 40 years in the body shop business and agree that it is a total. It would be a good to buy and rebuild but it would have little value due to the salvage title. It would make a good race car!

A shop owner with a porta power and some crown vic parts and I think it would make a good driver. No way there's frame damage. You're right, tho suspension could be a MAJOR issue after that blow.

Part it out or sell to someone to race it. It has VALUE!!!

[Zack]

Please contact me if the entire car is available for sale.

PS glad you are ok.

[rayjay]

Wow I just saw this :eek: Sorry for your loss. I hate it when a good Samaritan takes it in the behind.

[sluggs]

just wondering, how far away from her car were you when you were following her? i wasnt there so i dont know all the details but i would think if you would stop to help her you would park behind her.

[chader]

Wow...what are the odds? Glad you are ok and sorry about the car.Cars are replaceable.As far as all the people saying what you should have done....everyone is smarter after the fact???

[BAD MERC]

Are you ****ing kidding??? Fix the goddamn thing!

[Motorhead350]

Glad you and your son are ok, but I do agree to fix it. The only reason your insurance wrote it off as totalled is because it will cost the company more to fix it than replace it, that's it, bottom line all they care about is profit, not customer satisfaction. It doesn't look that bad, just some glass a roof and a few interior pieces. Heck you could get a roof off a taxi in a junkyard and believe me there are more taxis in Chicago junkyards than should be there. You will have no problem finding a roof. I also agree that you should buy it back and sell it if you choose to part it out. A lot of people on here would want parts includding me... dubs on the rims and tires, if it comes to that.

I think your best bet would be Zack actually if you choose not to fix it.

Keep us posted.

[Bluerauder]

Thanks for the photo link. In that one pic, I counted 25 light poles including the one laying in the road. Seems she was bound to hit one of them.

[RaceLegend79]

Experience usually has a direct correlation with age. I don't know how many DUI driver's you've encountered, or how many wrecks you've attended. I count it a blessing to see that ordinary people are still looking out for the common good.

I do agree with you that you weren't there to "see exactly how it went down", yet you tell him that this was an avoidable event. That is what I deemed a conflicting sentiment.

I also agree with you about the car saving the occupants from damage. I am never sad to see ANY item destroyed if it protects a living person. Period. The car may be a write off for insurance purposes, but it is easily repairable in the big scheme of things. Lots of CV doners out there for roofs!


Unfortunately, he is right. In the grand scheme of life all things can happen and nothing can happen at all. Every decision you make has its consequence. So in actuallity he is right, the accident could have been avoided had he and his son not gone out that day; had he not bought the car; had FOMOCO not decided to build the car. So lets not hassle one another about what our abilities maximum potential is based on age. Because in all reality every facit of life has its highs and lows, but its how we react to the situation that makes us who we are. PS I am sure glad for the passengers saftey and it just shows how truly great these cars are.
Off my box now. :D

[twin03]

You did the right thing, I am a police officer, and some officers just do not pay attention to drivers who appear to be under the influence.......and all who have negative replies, just hope no one hits you, or a family member in the a$$......

[Black_Noise]

just dont let it go to the junkyard!
Part it out or sell it the way it sits.

[Zack]

Sell it as is so I can make a Marauder Convertible :up:

NOT JOKING

[Motorhead350]

Sell it as is so I can make a Marauder Convertible :up:

NOT JOKING

I fully support that. PLEASE sell it to Zack!

Would you make it a 2 door, suicide doors.... what's the plan?

[TAKEDOWN]

The beautiful mind that Zack has!

[DOOM]

Glad you and your son are ok. Someone was selling a black trilogy car in the detroit area for $17,500 low miles here on the site.

[baltimoremm]

Glad you're OK. I think most of us wouldve done the same thing, following the DUI was the right thing to do to make sure something worse didnt happen.

+1 sell it to zack. i want to see a convertible!

[ckadiddle]

It actually looks pretty darned good for having a light pole fall on it. Glad you guys were OK. Helps keep me justifying the expenses of care and feeding of two Marauders.

[Aren Jay]

Another reason to get a Marauder and not a little convertible.