Rear-Ending Bastard!!!!!

[darrelplant]

My wife's at the store in the Escort and I decide to pop over to the gym to exercise the knee I busted up last fall. I run across her on the way out, we roll windows down to exchange info and a minute later I'm stopped at the light on SE 39th & Main by the Hawthorne Fred Meyer's and I get that big jolt that means you've been rear-ended.

I'm in the middle lane on 39th, the people on the right let me pull across to get onto Main, but the guy in the Subaru Brat behind me just takes off. Which is pretty stupid, because it being 3:30 in the afternoon there are an ungodly number of people who've just picked their kids up from school out shopping, not to mention a lot of other folks on the scene. I get an old lady walking half a block to give me her phone number, a guy with a photo of the license plate, two girls the guy had been tailgating before he hit me, and a contractor who circles back around in his truck after following the guy for a couple of lights and calling him in to 9-1-1. Plus there were a couple of other emergency calls. The cops are there in just a couple of minutes (and I mean more than just one cruiser), plus they're out looking for the car.

Damage looks superficial, but even though the jolt didn't move Stendahl forward much (if at all) it the Brat connected with more than a love tap. The rear bumper's hanging down, there's paint damage on the back deck and rear bumpers, and I don't think the exhaust system is supposed to have that crease in it....





Appraiser's supposed to come by on Friday, I'll be taking Stendahl to the scp after that.

[Turbo42]

They should fix that im sure they will just change the panels since that is cheaper than painting it. Sorry to hear what happened. Im glad you got the plate though. Since he took off you have a pain in your neck now huh lol!

[SuperGeek]

Sorry to hear about the damage. Around here people would just point, laugh and drive on. I'm impressed that you got that much response ... maybe because you had such an unusual car, some people felt more of a connection to you as a driver. Maybe Oregon's a more friendly place. Of course, when the guy gets picked up by the cops for fleeing the scene of an accident he caused, yeah, he may see the inside of a jail cell. Hopefully he's got insurance and you'll get reimbursed 100%. If not, he's in bigger trouble.

[NCC1701]

Dayum, I hate that! Not surprised the hit & run SOB was previously observed tailgating.
Good to hear so many people were willing to help.

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by SuperGeek

Maybe Oregon's a more friendly place.

You got THAT right!

[smartHHO]

Hope they toss that sucker in jail for a bit. It is always better to deal with no insurance then to run from the scene.

[Kermit]

Subaru Brat is an easy catch - few and far between and might just be one of 20 in your state, they should have them in custody by now. Hopefully it can rebuilt better than new....they have the technology.

3 panels and a muffler at minimum. (aka 2 panels and the rear skirt) Once they get the parts in, it should be fixed in less than 2 hours....if your tech is inexperienced. It may have bent the rear bumper brace under the rear bumper. Still, a quick change out that only takes mere minutes to change once rear center panel is off - I took mine off the other day just to see how it came apart and went back together ( I'm crazy like that ).

Don't feel so bad. Some bastard tore up my left rear fender the other day and I have to replace it AND repaint it. I'd love to kick his booty but I suppose I'm done beating myself up. No insurance claim since it was me that screwed it up.

I hope they catch the person that did it then make them pay.

[Dunerunner]

Glad you're ok Darrel!! Did they catch the person driving the Brat?

[John_H]

The only bright light that may come out of this experience is finding out how quickly scp will have you back out on the road with a car that looks like new.

As for all the support you got at the scene: yay to those fellow Portlanders!

[Suze]

ohhh, Darrell, So sorry to read this story. Damn hit and run idiot.

Good on the cops, prolly came from the major cop shop about a mile north.

And extra good on the witnesses.

To the comments about the friendliness, I believe Oregon is a very friendly, helpful place. Darrell's rear-ender happened in the middle of Portland's hippie district. Where there's always an odd collection of people ready to get involved in anything.

Do keep us updated on the repair process and what the perpetrator gets. I hope he had insurance.