08 HHR Head On Collision
03-03-2009, 11:25 AM
#25
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 10-14-2007
Location: NC
Posts: 84
The driver of the van crossed completely into her lane. She rounded a hill and a curve and had just made it into the straight away and there he was. She had no time to react. He on the other hand could see around the curve and to the top of the hill from over a mile down the road. The state trooper charged the other drive with travelling left of center. As far as we know his entire family was ok too.
03-03-2009, 11:33 AM
#26
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Join Date: 10-14-2007
Location: NC
Posts: 84
I have a picture but do not feel comfortable posting it online since it is not my vehicle. The entire front was crushed like the HHR but the rest of the van looked fine except the entire body looked lifted off the frame. I would say the airbags plus 80's steel protected them while air bags and crumple zones protected my family. The state trooper actually said the HHR shot the van up into the air and backwards. I can tell you one thing. My new vehicle hunt has taken the iihs ratings heavily into account. Although I liked the HHR very much I think I might buy something a tad larger and a bit nicer used. Maybe a GMC Acadia or something. On a different note, I own a suburban too and the state trooper said if she had been driving that she would have plowed right through them and their family would have been much worse off. As bad as things were and although she got hurt I am actually thankful that she was not driving the suburban. I hate to see tradgedy even if it would have been their fault. It's not like the children in the back seat can help what vehicle they are in and who is driving.
03-03-2009, 05:32 PM
#28
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Join Date: 10-24-2006
Location: The Show-Me State
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Just one other thing, if you're still involved with litigation on this case or the other driver is still going through the criminal process, don't post anything else here or on other forums you don't want used against you later.
03-03-2009, 05:44 PM
#29
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Join Date: 02-07-2009
Location: Denver
Posts: 58
Wow! Thank goodness you guys are all right! I can't believe how far back the hood was crushed in. You guys were really lucky, that's a VERY severe crash at 55 MPH. Before I bought my HHR, I actually considered buying a PT Cruiser (I always liked them) but the Chevy HHR had WAY better crash test results (IIHS) and it had many more standard safety features. It's good to know we are all driving a safe car. Best of luck to you guys and hope everyone heals up ok :)
