Yesterday my dad was driving northbound on a three-lane highway when he saw a car in the southbound lanes lose control, smack the right hand guardrail and then fly across all three lanes and hit the guardrail on the dividing median.

My father, a retired fire chief, stopped on the left shoulder of the northbound side and went to provide assistance/first aid to the passenger of the car that wrecked.

A few minutes later someone also traveling on the northbound side wasn't paying attention and plowed into the rear of my father's car on the shoulder of the highway. The speed limit on the highway is 55 so I imagine the car was traveling at least that fast at the time of or just prior to the impact. The highway is very straight with a few hills but otherwise excellent visibility and the skies were clear at the time of the accident. I wouldn't be surprised to learn the driver who struck my father's car was distracted somehow (texting, cell phone, programming navi, etc).

I'm pretty sure the car is a total loss. The passenger C pillar is crushed and I wouldn't be surprised if there is frame damage in the rear as well. The gas tank was punctured too. It's a 2008 335i, auto, navi, sport, premium, etc. It had 11,000 miles on it. Luckily my father wasn't in the car at the time of the accident as that likely would have stung a little. The driver of the car who struck my father's broke an arm.

Here's the only picture I have:

 

glad he wasnt in the car when it happened

 

Damn, that sucks. Looked like a beautiful car, too. Did your father put the hazard flashers on?

Methinks that's totaled. that rear quarter panel is a huge pain to replace. Airbags?

What did the other driver say? Did he accept fault? I'd be interested to see how this plays out if he blames your father for being so close to the edge of the lane.

Best of luck to you and your father with getting this sorted out, and props to him for stopping to help.

 

Hazard lights were on and yes he's quite close to the edge but he is on the shoulder and like I said there's a half mile or more of visibility before you would have reached his car on the shoulder.

His car was pulled over as far as it could be while still allowing him to open his door without out hitting the guardrail on his side.

 

He also said when his car was struck it was pushed into the guardrail so there's damage to the driver side front fender. Oh, and the roof is buckled. Yeah.. I'd say it's a loss.

 

Is he interested in getting another 335?

 

Probably upgrade to a 5 if he sticks with BMW.

 

What road was that on, 28 or 7? That sucks hope it all works out!

 

Ouch, sorry to see

 

Bummer, I remember a driving instructor always telling me to never fixate on people/cars on the side of the road, because you WILL tend to drift in that direction, which is why I try my best not to rubberneck and get annoyed when people do. Might have been what happened.

 

Bet the other driver was distracted by the accident across the highway and wasn't watching where HE was going.

 

That's exactly what happened.

 

Was this on 66 steve? Glad he wasnt in it at the time!

 

29 in Howard County, MD

 

Damn held up well considering it was hit at 55mph. Bet the other guys car didnt do so hot?

 

Ouch, sorry to see. Glad your dad is OK, though.

 

Most likely.

A couple of years ago, I was on my motorcycle and a BMW 3-series (coinkidenki) behind me was rear-ended by an inattentive driver in a Silverado. The BMW driver had left plenty of space between us, so I escaped unscathed.

While waiting for police to take my statement, I stood on the shoulder and just watched. I counted 4-5 near-misses on the other side of the road due to people looking at the accident and not paying attention. It was just simply amazing how stupid people could be.




Glad your father wasn't in the car at the time. The woman in the 3-series had to be stabilized before being taken out of the car and transported to the hospital.

 

Wow, glad he wasn't in the car. If the bags were deployed, then i would say it will be totalled. It looks to be about 18-21k worth of damage.

 

Man, glad your Dad is OK... his car appears to be done... studies have shown that if a person focuses on an object on the side of the road while they are drving... many times they are actually drawn to it... so happy your Dad wasnt trying to get in or out of his car when this happened...

 

glad your dad was okay man.

 

It's hurt pretty bad for sure.

 

That'll buff right out.

Glad to hear your Dad wasn't hurt, but damn, poor Bimmer.

 

Glad your dad is OK, mrsteve. That Bimmer's a goner.

 

Ouch, sorry to see that-even in a BMW. Glad your Dad is alright.

 

I hate to say it because I think of myself as pretty helpful, but unless there is a HUGE shoulder or an absolute life threatening emergency, I am not getting out for someone on the side of the road.

Wreck? I can call 911 for you as I drive on.
Disabled car? You have a cell phone, use it.

It is SO risky to stop your car on the side of the freeway, it's just not worth it to me.

 

Last year he stopped his car on the same road at nearly the same spot to move a dog that was struck by a car from the middle of the road to the shoulder. The dog was still alive and people were swerving all around and another accident was bound to happen.

The dog bit his had and left him with a nice puncture wound.

I think my dad should avoid that stretch of highway from now on.