Bad day on the free way

[steveorama]

Headed home this afternoon when I was rear ended by an EMS vehicle while on I35. Traffic came to a stop, I stopped and the guy driving the EMS vehicle slammed into the rear passenger side of my truck! He said, “I looked down and when I looked up you were stopped!” ? The guy didn’t have time to brake much and when he hit me I was literally spun around into the next lane and I ended up facing an 18 wheeler head on. Scared the crap out of me! The impact knocked my tonneau cover clean off the bed! Thankfully I made it to the side of the interstate in one piece! I just bought it a couple of months ago and am pretty pissed that an EMS employee was distracted while driving. Not sure what the total damage is, but the bed and rear are f’ed.

A special thanks to whomever left me the duck later this afternoon! Made my day much brighter!!!

Stay safe out there Jeepers…

I'm really sorry to see this, you just got that truck! I'm not surprised though I narrowly avoid at least two accidents a day it seems like. Hopefully the insurance doesn't take too long to process and you see yourself into a new Jeep. It looks like that was a Travis County vehicle that hit you so like others said I imagine they will handle the claim pretty quickly. Especially with the dash cams these days to prove who was at fault.

On a side note where are you looking at moving to? We might not be far behind you.

Hate that you're having to deal with this - definitely glad you're OK. Hopefully you end up with an even nicer ride whether repaired or replaced.

Traffic in the Austin metroplex has gotten so bad many of us are contemplating leaving. My family has been here 23 years, and traffic is just crazy now. With all the folks moving in, tempers just flare so easily, and people continue to get worse and worse with their behaviors. Tons of folks on their phones, lots of folks trying to aggressively pass others, brake checking, etc...

I'm seriously afraid to be the first person at a traffic light now - "Red" now means "two more through" more often than not. Anyone visiting Austin for the first time, seriously look both ways when the light turns green, b/c there's a big chance someone is going to keep going through a newly turned red light.

Stay safe out there y'all!

This year marks 25 years here in Austin for me. My wife is one of the elusive "Austin natives" that were born and raised here. We've talked about leaving for the same reasons, it's just a mad house now. Property taxes through the roof, traffic worst than it ever was (which is saying a lot!), and honestly the people are starting to really suck. It all seems to have happened in the last few years and coincides with the mass influx of people. It appears when "California" sends its people, they’re not sending their best....

Luckily the wife and I both work remotely now ever since COVID and both of our employers have announced it is permanent. We don't have to commute anymore other than picking up and dropping off the kiddos. Still though, moving somewhere else is looking more and more appealing each day. Which is really sad, Austin and the surrounding towns used to be a really great place to live and enjoy that was relatively unknown for quite a while there. I blame ACL.

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[Awhitebuff]

I would never even think about visiting Austin. Then again I try to avoid all cities. Unfortunately the spread is everywhere. Good luck on the truck and I hope for the best.

 

[brianinca]

I visited Austin back in '92 to see about the LBJ School of Gov't, and it was totally unrecognizable in early 2018 when I went back for a security talk. Half-dozen visits in 2018 and 2019, freeways getting expanded, airport getting changed around, every time I came back downtown it was a different path. Such a nice city and interesting, nice folks, it's sad to hear it is changing like that.

Same thing happened in the Bay Area, I know that's no consolation, but "progress" is what it is called.

Figuring to come back for a conference in September, now rethinking that - why ruin some really pleasant memories, you know?

I'm really sorry to see this, you just got that truck! I'm not surprised though I narrowly avoid at least two accidents a day it seems like. Hopefully the insurance doesn't take too long to process and you see yourself into a new Jeep. It looks like that was a Travis County vehicle that hit you so like others said I imagine they will handle the claim pretty quickly. Especially with the dash cams these days to prove who was at fault.

On a side note where are you looking at moving to? We might not be far behind you.


This year marks 25 years here in Austin for me. My wife is one of the elusive "Austin natives" that were born and raised here. We've talked about leaving for the same reasons, it's just a mad house now. Property taxes through the roof, traffic worst than it ever was (which is saying a lot!), and honestly the people are starting to really suck. It all seems to have happened in the last few years and coincides with the mass influx of people. It appears when "California" sends its people, they’re not sending their best....

Luckily the wife and I both work remotely now ever since COVID and both of our employers have announced it is permanent. We don't have to commute anymore other than picking up and dropping off the kiddos. Still though, moving somewhere else is looking more and more appealing each day. Which is really sad, Austin and the surrounding towns used to be a really great place to live and enjoy that was relatively unknown for quite a while there. I blame ACL.

 

[jbehrn]

I'm really sorry to see this, you just got that truck! I'm not surprised though I narrowly avoid at least two accidents a day it seems like. Hopefully the insurance doesn't take too long to process and you see yourself into a new Jeep. It looks like that was a Travis County vehicle that hit you so like others said I imagine they will handle the claim pretty quickly. Especially with the dash cams these days to prove who was at fault.

On a side note where are you looking at moving to? We might not be far behind you.


This year marks 25 years here in Austin for me. My wife is one of the elusive "Austin natives" that were born and raised here. We've talked about leaving for the same reasons, it's just a mad house now. Property taxes through the roof, traffic worst than it ever was (which is saying a lot!), and honestly the people are starting to really suck. It all seems to have happened in the last few years and coincides with the mass influx of people. It appears when "California" sends its people, they’re not sending their best....

Luckily the wife and I both work remotely now ever since COVID and both of our employers have announced it is permanent. We don't have to commute anymore other than picking up and dropping off the kiddos. Still though, moving somewhere else is looking more and more appealing each day. Which is really sad, Austin and the surrounding towns used to be a really great place to live and enjoy that was relatively unknown for quite a while there. I blame ACL.

We are headed to Montgomery, TX. Closer to family in Louisiana. Fortunately, our jobs are allowing for remote work as well. We’ve been in Austin since ‘07 and have watched the population growth along with bad governance over the last few years…

 

[jbehrn]

Glad you're okay! And sorry about your rig.

If the EMS driver was on a legitimate call, go after the EMS insurance. I don't know what the EMS system is like in your area but when I worked EMS in Brooklyn there were a lot of "tactical medics" that pimped out their cars/SUVs and would abuse lights & sirens to bypass traffic, when there was no call/emergency. You may have more success with the EMS outfit than with the driver's private insurance.

The county EMS employee was in a Ford Explorer, thankfully (?) no lights or sirens on. He wasn’t paying attention and ran into me! ?
The county is self insured; I’ve never had to deal with a case like this before… it’ll be interesting!

 

[AmosMoses01]

We are headed to Montgomery, TX. Closer to family in Louisiana. Fortunately, our jobs are allowing for remote work as well. We’ve been in Austin since ‘07 and have watched the population growth along with bad governance over the last few years…

I'm getting more and more enamored with East Texas over time - though Montgomery might be a bit too close to Houston for me. I've really liked being in Texas, but as I am at least able to see retirement on the distant horizon, Texas' property taxes are a major concern. Unless I see real change, if we move we'll be evaluating places with more friendly property tax profiles. I have friends who've seen the house they planned to retire in with property taxes now in the mid 20K's. It sucks to have to move from a house that you've raised your family in, paid off, and is close to everything you know and love simply because you can't afford to pay out what the property taxes have grown to, and will continue to grow post retirement.

 

[rr11]

They should settle quickly. I have been retired 8 years now but the agency I worked for was self insured and moved quickly to settle, the feeling was that it was cheaper than being sued. I got hit in a intersection stopped with all warning lights on and they paid because it was cheaper in the long run.

 

[jbehrn]

They should settle quickly. I have been retired 8 years now but the agency I worked for was self insured and moved quickly to settle, the feeling was that it was cheaper than being sued. I got hit in a intersection stopped with all warning lights on and they paid because it was cheaper in the long run.

Hoping so, however it seems that Travis County has 1 person handing all claims… ?

 

[rr11]

Hope it is quickly resolved.

 

[cdyoung9799]

Glad you're OK. Sorry about the truck. Austin traffic is the worst. I always take the loop on the east side, no matter how much longer it takes me.

 

[it_trailblzr]

I was stationed at Ft. Hood in 1980-82 and Austin was the joint!
I have heard that since then it is has digressed significantly, so sad. It was an amazing city in the day, and has the capacity to be so once again, but all the politics got2go.

 

[jeepers29]

I was stationed at Ft. Hood in 1980-82 and Austin was the joint!
I have heard that since then it is has digressed significantly, so sad. It was an amazing city in the day, and has the capacity to be so once again, but all the politics got2go.

I have lived in Austin since 91. In my opinion, Austin is like any other large democrat run city. Past the point of no return. We are moving out of state in the next year to get away from the stupid high taxes abd crime/traffic.

 

[jbehrn]

Got an update on Friday, the rear passenger frame is bent. Shop is set to check the deviations this coming Tuesday. I’ll see if the truck will be totaled or not…

 

[Toyfrog]

Headed home this afternoon when I was rear ended by an EMS vehicle while on I35. Traffic came to a stop, I stopped and the guy driving the EMS vehicle slammed into the rear passenger side of my truck! He said, “I looked down and when I looked up you were stopped!” ? The guy didn’t have time to brake much and when he hit me I was literally spun around into the next lane and I ended up facing an 18 wheeler head on. Scared the crap out of me! The impact knocked my tonneau cover clean off the bed! Thankfully I made it to the side of the interstate in one piece! I just bought it a couple of months ago and am pretty pissed that an EMS employee was distracted while driving. Not sure what the total damage is, but the bed and rear are f’ed.

A special thanks to whomever left me the duck later this afternoon! Made my day much brighter!!!

Stay safe out there Jeepers…

Sorry about the jeep and glad you’re ok, but looks like the Jeep win that battle even with the grill guard on the EMS vehicle.

 

[jbehrn]

Long awaited update…

Truck was declared a total loss due to a bent frame. Finally got everything worked out with the insurance company - they did a great job and provided an awesome compensation amount.

Currently at a dealership buying my 4th Gladiator in 2 years. Went with a White Rubicon this time… While I love the Hydro Blue color, it’s a jinx for me now…

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