just totaled my 69 and almost totaled me

[augie]

Get well , and count your blessings

[72Levi]

Sorry to hear about your accident, I hope you heal fast, take care and our prayers are with you.

[bouncytruck]

Looks like you've got someone watching over you. That is the most damage I've seen to one of these old trucks.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by CG

Glad you made it out ok. Must be weird for you to look at that mass of metal and realize you were in it when that happened.

As for the fella that passed. I have zero sympathy for him. I do feel for his family though. Does anyone have any idea how many innocent people are killed or injured every year because someone makes the decision to drive drunk? You may as well just take out a gun, close your eyes and just start shooting it...you may hit someone you may not. I see no difference. Recently some lady out here was driving drunk down the freeway the wrong way. She hit an innocent young couple head on. Killed the 18 year old girl and the boy will probably never wake up from a coma. The most the drunk will get is 6 years...Where is the justice in that????????

Take care of yourself. You can always pick up another one of these tanks...I mean trucks.

I can't say it any better than that. I absolutely hate drunk drivers.
I wish you a speedy recovery!

[shaneschevys]

Glad to see you are ok. Good luck with your recovery.

[Gray Ghost]

WOW...that's a bad wreck...you are very lucky. I often tell people how these old trucks are tough as nails and they always tell me about 'crumple zones'. Didn't do the other guy much good huh?

Thanks for showing us the carnage, very sorry about your truck but damn glad you made it through the ordeal.

[HeavyD]

Can't believe your chest isn't crushed after seeing that bent steering wheel. Glad you will be Ok.

[griesel72]

glad to hear that you are ok, just imagine the damage if you were driving a new truck

[PDomes7277]

I'd say that your truck saved your life, all that time and work into it...paid off and well worth it.
Glad to hear you are good, and hope for a great recovery!

Regards,
Paul D.

[Ivan D.]

Originally Posted by HeavyD

Can't believe your chest isn't crushed after seeing that bent steering wheel. Glad you will be Ok.

That's what I was thinking too! Berencam, you're one lucky lucky man!

As for drunk drivers, I have zero sympathy for them but also zero tolerance - if you're endangering me or someone I care for, you're off the road, one way or another! Had to disable a car with drunk college guys once, they were displaying a major case of road rage towards a drop-top Mustang full of girlfriends of mine who were not quite interested in whatever the drunks were offering them - picked a nice field to run them off into, obviously, no point in making parents and relatives pay for their retarded kids' mistakes... Still sucks for that Dave fella's family tho

[WorkinLonghorn]

berencam,I hope you can put this entire incident behind you,the sooner the better.You have some pretty serious injuries,but reading your posts and seeing your spirit,I have no doubt that you will make a speedy and complete recovery.As for the truck,you got out way more than you put in.Now you need to fix that ding in the front. No really,best wishes for a bright future.-Brian

[Palf70Step]

Glad you are doing better. Sorry to hear about the truck, but you are more important.

[kyull67]

WOW! Glad to hear you made it out alive. If you need any help on your next one, I'm in Springfield.

[basketcase]

I wish you a speedy recovery. You are a lucky guy to be here today.

My '69 just came with lap belts but I have been thinking about 3 points since the anchors are in the rear pillar. This convinces me to put in the best I can. I also don't have a lot of faith in the webbing on old belts either. I've seen a lot of them with worn places that could start a tear under extreme forces. We all should think about installing new belts to protect ourselves and passengers. They don't cost that much. Think of the force those belts were subjected to.

Tom

[RicksTrucks]

Originally Posted by berencam

just heard from my employer. she is keeping me on her payroll at 40 hours per week till i get better. i about fell out of my seat when i heard it.

Glad you came out of it as well as you did. Great about your employer - who do you work for - I think they deserve a plug if you want to give them one. That is the kind of business I like doing business with - they take care of their people and it is not always about the bottom line. Get better and save another truck.

[NONHOG]

Get well soon ! I find your actions and attitude after this event very impressive .
I do have to wonder if after seeing your injuries and the truck damage
what would you do "for safety's sake" on your next truck ?
seems like 3 point belt is a no-brainer , anything else ?
Good things sometime come from bad situations , I for one am going to go after 3 point belts sooner than later for my old rides.
good luck to you !

[grayw0lf]

Hope you get feeling better. 2 things saved you. 1. The Lord above. 2. Your truck being a good old steel 1969.

[berencam]

Originally Posted by NONHOG

Get well soon ! I find your actions and attitude after this event very impressive .
I do have to wonder if after seeing your injuries and the truck damage
what would you do "for safety's sake" on your next truck ?
seems like 3 point belt is a no-brainer , anything else ?
Good things sometime come from bad situations , I for one am going to go after 3 point belts sooner than later for my old rides.
good luck to you !

only had the two point lap belts and the original ones at that as for ways to make my truck safer bungy cording a pillow to the sterring wheel seems appropriate because my face hurts really bad

[72BlckButy]

Originally Posted by 70cst

One thing we need to remember...David Argo had a Mother & Father and now they are mourning the loss of their son. Maybe he had children? Yes what he did was STUPID but he has paid the ultimate price. When my son was killed back in 2001 this board was very compassionate for ALL who were involved in the accident especially for me. My son made a mistake (he pulled in front of a van--no DUI) and he lost his life and others were hurt in the process. I am glad berencam will be ok and like it has been said...we can always replace our trucks...not our lives. Lets show the respect for all involved. That is what has made this board so special. JMHO
Again berencam if we can be of help just let us know. We all will do the best we can to assist you. Best wishes!

[72BlckButy]

Originally Posted by kyull67

WOW! Glad to hear you made it out alive. If you need any help on your next one, I'm in Springfield.

I'm with kyull67, I'm only a few hours away, so if you need any help let me know.

[nyncompute]

Originally Posted by 70cst

One thing we need to remember...David Argo had a Mother & Father and now they are mourning the loss of their son. Maybe he had children? Yes what he did was STUPID but he has paid the ultimate price. When my son was killed back in 2001 this board was very compassionate for ALL who were involved in the accident especially for me. My son made a mistake (he pulled in front of a van--no DUI) and he lost his life and others were hurt in the process. I am glad berencam will be ok and like it has been said...we can always replace our trucks...not our lives. Lets show the respect for all involved. That is what has made this board so special. JMHO
Again berencam if we can be of help just let us know. We all will do the best we can to assist you. Best wishes!

Amen to that sentment.
I too am glad for you and sad for him. Back in the day I've been stupid enough too drive plenty of times in that condition. It was amazing I didn't have the same outcome. Not proud of it mind you. All the same, from those days to these, I would like to think I've done more good than harm. No excuses just fact.
Too bad Mr Argo made a dumb choice (who doesn't at 21) and you, him, and your respective families paid a great price. No telling what good was yet to come from young David.
Heal fast my friend

[Luvlegs]

I've been inside and outside identical crashes - first as a youngster and then as a police officer - things like this do not get enough attention by anyone except those involved. People make poor judgements everyday but what about the persons who had let him drive away? I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT that after these type of incidents, the vehicles are left there for a month and local schools should haul all the soon to be drivers out to see them in person. I have lost numerous friends to these things and sometimes was the first on the scene. People need to wake up and straighten up. It's not hard to fathom how much more seriously you could have been hurt. Not only has your life been impacted but look at the other fellas - who amongst us wants to put others through that? I'll get down off my soap box now. Glad to hear you are ok and wish you a speedy recovery. I only have junk parts but when you start wrenching and need something, let me know - I'll consider it payment for the reminder pictures.

[BACKYARD88]

Glad to see you are still around, sorry about all of the damage to you and your ride. It's been said before, but if you need anything from us just let us know.

[67stepC]

makes me wanna go buy up all chevy trucks, they're death proof

[tkeduk8r]

wow... I read all the comments about being in a tank and surviving, and I agree if you werent, you wouldnt have made it... you needed every inch of that thing... I know personally that I am watching head lights and what they are doing on each car that approaches me at night, and the later it gets the more paranoid I get... I almost refuse to drive anywhere after the bars get out around here... anyway, finally the good guy survives one of these and not the other way around... now, at least, you get to look for a new project truck.. i would save a few remaing good pieces from your wreck to put on the new one for charma....
--Mike