How in the Name of Physics did that Happen?

[CarolinaKat]

Ever pass a wreck and wonder "How in the name of physics laws did that happen?' 

So on my way to work today I passed a car wreck. It was a single car, well a full sized truck. It was sitting on it's roof in someone's cow pasture. There were about 12 cars stopped to stare at it. Anyway, it had managed to get over a 5ft cattle fence without breaking it and land on it's roof. I am mystified as to how this could have possible happened. I doubt it belonged to the farm owners because A) it was in pristine condition other than the wreck damage and B) the radio reported it as a hwy accident and not a farm accident. No one was hurt (except the truck) amazingly.

Ever seen anything that made you go WTF?

[billisonboard]

Watched a Ford Expedition do a 540 length-wise,  not sideways. I was the only other car around. I was so scared walking up to it, fearing what I would find. When my tentative "Hello" was met with the same, I was so relieved. I was even more so when I learned she was on the way to the babysitter to get her young child. 

[sheilaincali]

We had one in town the other day. Guy had a medical issue and passed out. Somehow on the 35 mph stretch of road in town- he jumped the curb, drove over the sidewalk, down the embankment into a parking lot of a nail saloon, hit a parked car so hard that that car went up over the parking curb and into the front of the nail saloon. Like all the way inside the nail saloon. Fortunately it was at like 8 am on a Sunday so they weren't open yet.

I'm assuming he must have hit the accelerator when he passed out?

[Sam_2.0]

There was a show awhile back, something along the lines of "I can't believe I survived". They showed horrific accidents that people just walked away from, and using the video of the accidents re-created what happened. Lots of little tiny things lining up perfectly along the way. Seriously amazing.

DH and DD saw a terrible wreck a few weeks back. Some lady ran through a stoplight and into a building. DH stuck around as a witness and when the police were trying to speculate on what happened, they were amazed when he told them what he had seen. I guess from the angles and wreck they thought she had been going the opposite direction and couldn't figure out how she ended up like she did until DH filled in the pieces. Then they thanked him for staying, because apparently no one does.

[alabamagal]

My house is at the top of a T in the road.  When you are at the stop sign you are looking at my front yard.  The first part of the front yard has an incline up about 3 feet above road level.  Over the years we have had people at night see the stop sign at the last minute (speeding I'm sure) turn and go up into neighbors yard.

A couple years ago, we had a car actually come into our yard and hit the house while our kids were home with babysitter.  Never hit the breaks, and had a medical issue (seizure I think).  There were no skid marks.  Our first thought was that is was a contractor who did our addition and was just released from jail (other problems than our house, but we were included as a victim).  But it was a friend of our neighbors who was driving neighbor kids home from school.

The lucky part about it (if you think there is anything lucky about a car hitting your house) is that it hit right at an outdoor faucet and broke it and it was spraying all over the front of the car, which prevented a fire.  It did some minor damage to our house, mostly to the exterior brick, and we had got new paint in our living room.

[billisonboard]

Jul 14, 2014 10:52:25 GMT -5 alabamagal said:

My house is at the top of a T in the road.  When you are at the stop sign you are looking at my front yard.  The first part of the front yard has an incline up about 3 feet above road level.  Over the years we have had people at night see the stop sign at the last minute (speeding I'm sure) turn and go up into neighbors yard.

A couple years ago, we had a car actually come into our yard and hit the house while our kids were home with babysitter.  Never hit the breaks, and had a medical issue (seizure I think).  There were no skid marks.  Our first thought was that is was a contractor who did our addition and was just released from jail (other problems than our house, but we were included as a victim).  But it was a friend of our neighbors who was driving neighbor kids home from school.

The lucky part about it (if you think there is anything lucky about a car hitting your house) is that it hit right at an outdoor faucet and broke it and it was spraying all over the front of the car, which prevented a fire.  It did some minor damage to our house, mostly to the exterior brick, and we had got new paint in our living room.

Thought occurs: maybe build up the front yard creating like a terrace with a retaining wall they would hit before they made it to the house.

[CarolinaKat]

Jul 14, 2014 10:57:40 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Jul 14, 2014 10:52:25 GMT -5 alabamagal said:

My house is at the top of a T in the road.  When you are at the stop sign you are looking at my front yard.  The first part of the front yard has an incline up about 3 feet above road level.  Over the years we have had people at night see the stop sign at the last minute (speeding I'm sure) turn and go up into neighbors yard.

A couple years ago, we had a car actually come into our yard and hit the house while our kids were home with babysitter.  Never hit the breaks, and had a medical issue (seizure I think).  There were no skid marks.  Our first thought was that is was a contractor who did our addition and was just released from jail (other problems than our house, but we were included as a victim).  But it was a friend of our neighbors who was driving neighbor kids home from school.

The lucky part about it (if you think there is anything lucky about a car hitting your house) is that it hit right at an outdoor faucet and broke it and it was spraying all over the front of the car, which prevented a fire.  It did some minor damage to our house, mostly to the exterior brick, and we had got new paint in our living room.

Thought occurs: maybe build up the front yard creating like a terrace with a retaining wall they would hit before they made it to the house.

There's a church out in the rural area where I grew up. The hwy runs straight toward the Church before turing away sharply and down at the last second. Everyone from the area is familiar with this (and is parnoid about this curve), but occasionally you'll get someone who isn't familiar. Especially at night it looks like the road goes straight until the last second. Over the years many cars have ended up in the ditch or even worse, jumped the ditch and hit the church itself.

Now the church has a very solid brick wall that is also a the sign for the church. It's got large reflective letters with the name of the church and is strong enough to keep the cars from going into the building (hopefully). It's only been hit once since it was installed.

[Opti]

Ever pass a wreck and wonder "How in the name of physics laws did that happen?'

Not yet, but I think it would be informative to watch it happen.

Would be interesting to know what happened to get that result as odds are it involved

hitting something large, running up a nice ramp, or something that most likely was

not a solo truck incident.

[CarolinaKat]

Jul 14, 2014 11:10:20 GMT -5 Opti said:

Ever pass a wreck and wonder "How in the name of physics laws did that happen?'

Not yet, but I think it would be informative to watch it happen.

Would be interesting to know what happened to get that result as odds are it involved

hitting something large, running up a nice ramp, or something that most likely was

not a solo truck incident.

The part that confuses me is the fact the entire fenceline was intact. There were plenty of witnesses, so I'm thinking it might make the evening news.

[wvugurl26]

I wondered that about mine in February. The answer is apparently a whole lot of G force since the other person was speeding. It should have just clipped the edges but apparently G force slammed them together head on and then flipped me around 90 degrees. I've had a couple people tell me that sort of thing can kill people.

[tloonya]

Imagine the slope. On the top of the slope is a fence that fencing an apartment complex. Heavy duty fence.
At the bottom of the slope a telephone pole. And a car that ran down the slope and hit the poll. Fence is intact.
I am still thinking I was drunk...early in the morning.

[greeniis10]

Yes, I often wonder the same thing.  Not sure if it is "physics" related or not but a few weeks ago 4 people in a car hit a light pole head-on at a very high speed.  Three of the people (including the driver) RAN from the accident scene (and still have not been located or identified) and left a 16 yr. old girl dead in the front seat.  I cannot imagine leaving a "friend" dead (or to die) in the car while all the others fled the scene.  

That happened at 2:00 AM about a mile from my house.  I'd just gotten up for something or other, heard the screeching tires and waited to hear the sirens.  Instead I heard all the screaming.  Terrible.  Never really did get back to sleep that night.

[billisonboard]

Jul 14, 2014 13:48:11 GMT -5 greeniis10 said:

Yes, I often wonder the same thing.  Not sure if it is "physics" related or not but a few weeks ago 4 people in a car hit a light pole head-on at a very high speed.  Three of the people (including the driver) RAN from the accident scene (and still have not been located or identified) and left a 16 yr. old girl dead in the front seat.  I cannot imagine leaving a "friend" dead (or to die) in the car while all the others fled the scene.  

That happened at 2:00 AM about a mile from my house.  I'd just gotten up for something or other, heard the screeching tires and waited to hear the sirens.  Instead I heard all the screaming.  Terrible.  Never really did get back to sleep that night.

Car stolen? Hard to believe that if the others were close at all in age that they have been able to keep quiet about it.

[moon/Laura]

Jul 14, 2014 10:24:38 GMT -5 sheilaincali said:

We had one in town the other day. Guy had a medical issue and passed out. Somehow on the 35 mph stretch of road in town- he jumped the curb, drove over the sidewalk, down the embankment into a parking lot of a nail saloon, hit a parked car so hard that that car went up over the parking curb and into the front of the nail saloon. Like all the way inside the nail saloon. Fortunately it was at like 8 am on a Sunday so they weren't open yet.
I'm assuming he must have hit the accelerator when he passed out?

<-- wonders what you drink at a nail saloon. Nail polish? Polish remover? (just teasing a tiny bit, sorry)

[billisonboard]

Jul 14, 2014 17:43:24 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

Jul 14, 2014 10:24:38 GMT -5 sheilaincali said:

We had one in town the other day. Guy had a medical issue and passed out. Somehow on the 35 mph stretch of road in town- he jumped the curb, drove over the sidewalk, down the embankment into a parking lot of a nail saloon, hit a parked car so hard that that car went up over the parking curb and into the front of the nail saloon. Like all the way inside the nail saloon. Fortunately it was at like 8 am on a Sunday so they weren't open yet.
I'm assuming he must have hit the accelerator when he passed out?

<-- wonders what you drink at a nail saloon. Nail polish? Polish remover? (just teasing a tiny bit, sorry)

Probably shouldn't ride in the hot hair balloons mentioned on another thread after drinking at the nail saloon.

[Opti]

Jul 14, 2014 16:48:49 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Jul 14, 2014 13:48:11 GMT -5 greeniis10 said:

Yes, I often wonder the same thing.  Not sure if it is "physics" related or not but a few weeks ago 4 people in a car hit a light pole head-on at a very high speed.  Three of the people (including the driver) RAN from the accident scene (and still have not been located or identified) and left a 16 yr. old girl dead in the front seat.  I cannot imagine leaving a "friend" dead (or to die) in the car while all the others fled the scene.  

That happened at 2:00 AM about a mile from my house.  I'd just gotten up for something or other, heard the screeching tires and waited to hear the sirens.  Instead I heard all the screaming.  Terrible.  Never really did get back to sleep that night.

Car stolen? Hard to believe that if the others were close at all in age that they have been able to keep quiet about it.

A stolen car is possible, although seems odd for 4 people likely under 18. My guess is they are all minors

and it won't be reported to the papers when they do find them or at least the driver.

[billisonboard]

Jul 14, 2014 17:54:34 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jul 14, 2014 16:48:49 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Car stolen? Hard to believe that if the others were close at all in age that they have been able to keep quiet about it.

A stolen car is possible, although seems odd for 4 people likely under 18. My guess is they are all minors

and it won't be reported to the papers when they do find them or at least the driver.

Was just thinking that a car is a very easy piece of evidence to connect to a specific someone. Not sure that they wouldn't report identified but "Name withheld" for minors.

[Opti]

Don't know Bills. In general, minors aren't reported on here so a story like that wouldn't

be updated. Everywhere is different. It just felt rude to ask Greeniis10 before you posted

how she knew no one had been identified.

Unless the car is stolen, it probably is owned by a parent, the driver, or a relative.

[alabamagal]

Jul 14, 2014 11:06:19 GMT -5 CarolinaKat said:

Jul 14, 2014 10:57:40 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Thought occurs: maybe build up the front yard creating like a terrace with a retaining wall they would hit before they made it to the house.

There's a church out in the rural area where I grew up. The hwy runs straight toward the Church before turing away sharply and down at the last second. Everyone from the area is familiar with this (and is parnoid about this curve), but occasionally you'll get someone who isn't familiar. Especially at night it looks like the road goes straight until the last second. Over the years many cars have ended up in the ditch or even worse, jumped the ditch and hit the church itself.

Now the church has a very solid brick wall that is also a the sign for the church. It's got large reflective letters with the name of the church and is strong enough to keep the cars from going into the building (hopefully). It's only been hit once since it was installed.

I douby zoning would let me put up a big sign.  We do have a 3 foot terrace with a pretty big angle.  anyone that is halfway awake and took their foot off the gas would not hit the house.  The guy that hit it was totally out

[JustLurkin]

I saw a car wrapped around the *middle* of a tree...like halfway up and wrapped around. I assumed there was a police chase...I don't understand how else the car became airborne.  It was at a corner, but was someone's residence, I assume the emergency presence was in case in the car exploded or something, if it weren't for the major presence I would've take a picture. I actually drove by it twice, and didn't see what was happening the first time, when I returned (picked my son up and was returning) I saw the car "up there".

[mollyc]

I know this truck had to have been cartwheeling through the yard but I can't figure out how it managed to end up here.

Truck plows into home

[mollyc]

Fortunately for all concerned, the man sleeping in that bedroom had gotten up to go to the bathroom shortly before the accident happened.

[sheilaincali]

wonders what you drink at a nail saloon. Nail polish? Polish remover? (just teasing a tiny bit, sorry)

 Maybe I shouldn't have taken so many sips off my "desk bottle" yesterday before typing.

Salon not saloon- although saloon would be more fun.

makes me wonder why the car that was parked was parked there.  In that little strip mall the only thing there is Nail SALON, Liberty Tax place and a Sandwich shop.  None of which were anywhere near being open at that time on a Sunday morning.

[Value Buy]

Jul 14, 2014 9:40:52 GMT -5 CarolinaKat said:

Ever pass a wreck and wonder "How in the name of physics laws did that happen?' 

So on my way to work today I passed a car wreck. It was a single car, well a full sized truck. It was sitting on it's roof in someone's cow pasture. There were about 12 cars stopped to stare at it. Anyway, it had managed to get over a 5ft cattle fence without breaking it and land on it's roof. I am mystified as to how this could have possible happened. I doubt it belonged to the farm owners because A) it was in pristine condition other than the wreck damage and B) the radio reported it as a hwy accident and not a farm accident. No one was hurt (except the truck) amazingly.

Ever seen anything that made you go WTF?

Maybe there were no cows, so the kids tipped over a truck for kicks.

[greeniis10]

Jul 14, 2014 18:06:28 GMT -5 Opti said:

Don't know Bills. In general, minors aren't reported on here so a story like that wouldn't

be updated. Everywhere is different. It just felt rude to ask Greeniis10 before you posted

how she knew no one had been identified.

Unless the car is stolen, it probably is owned by a parent, the driver, or a relative.

No worries.  I didn't consider it rude.  I'm sure the car was stolen and that they were all under 18 or close to it.  I thought by now someone would talk or show up with injuries, but nothing has been found out yet that I've heard of (other than the funeral for the young girl that died).