Vantastic2
Hi all,
Last Sunday ( 20th Sept 20) was our Ruby wedding anniversary ( 40th) and our first trip since lock-down to a C&CC campsite outside Kidderminster.
We had been a bit too early to check in so went 'around the block ' near there for a look at the area then just before 1pm we joined a line of 7 cars in the dedicated right turn lane to climb the hill to the campsite. When it was our turn to cross the white line (with the green arrow still illuminated I must point out) I drove into the cross roads and as I straightened the van to climb the hill our beloved Cali was shaken with a massive impact. In the immediate shock I thought I may have collided with a bollard or something in the road but my wife shouted out that we had been hit by a white car.
Fortunately we were uninjured and immediately got out of the Cali to see the damage - shockingly bad - and to see what had actually hit us. At this point other motorists are checking if we are okay - whilst others are squeezing their cars around us on the damaged passenger side.
The driver of the Nissan that collided with us is trying to start his car with air bags inflated ! I'm thinking is this a stolen car and is he trying to get away? People around us think he is moving the car out of the way but he drives a fair distance down the road until the Nissan gives in and stops dead with me chasing it and taking pictures on my phone. To cut a long story short the police did attend when my wife rang as she explained we were causing a hazard at a busy junction and there was a fair bit of debris on the road, she also asked for an ambulance for the other driver as now that he had exited the car we could see he was an older chap who looked very dazed and shaken.
One motorist did give his name and phone number as he said he witnessed the whole thing and also thankfully I had the dash cam on so all the evidence was clear, the Nissan had driven through the red light at the junction at what we think may have been 40 + mph and didn't appear to have braked even at the last minute.
After phone calls to our insurance and debate around how quickly we could actually get our vehicle moved out of the way our Cali was transported to a compound used by the local police while we were transported by a very helpful police officer in the back of his patrol car to the nearest Travelodge.
The Cali I hope is now out of the Police compound and on its way to Sutton in Ashfield to a Motorhome specialist repairers ( a conversation with repairer confirmed that he has dealt with a few Cali's and knows the vehicle well ! ) I will provide an update on how we get on with the repairs.
However one of the biggest shocks we had on getting into the back of the Cali to gather a few overnight things was that the glass EXPLODED off the Cooker/sink unit as far as the sliding door and into the front seats, and even ending up in the cutlery drawer! if our Cali is not written off we will cover the glass tops with maybe Fablon or some other plastic see through cover, would not like to think what would have happened if we had passengers in the rear seat !
The good news in all this - the bottle of champagne that we were given for our anniversary had survived in the fridge, sadly we just don't feel much like drinking it at the moment.
Last Sunday ( 20th Sept 20) was our Ruby wedding anniversary ( 40th) and our first trip since lock-down to a C&CC campsite outside Kidderminster.
We had been a bit too early to check in so went 'around the block ' near there for a look at the area then just before 1pm we joined a line of 7 cars in the dedicated right turn lane to climb the hill to the campsite. When it was our turn to cross the white line (with the green arrow still illuminated I must point out) I drove into the cross roads and as I straightened the van to climb the hill our beloved Cali was shaken with a massive impact. In the immediate shock I thought I may have collided with a bollard or something in the road but my wife shouted out that we had been hit by a white car.
Fortunately we were uninjured and immediately got out of the Cali to see the damage - shockingly bad - and to see what had actually hit us. At this point other motorists are checking if we are okay - whilst others are squeezing their cars around us on the damaged passenger side.
The driver of the Nissan that collided with us is trying to start his car with air bags inflated ! I'm thinking is this a stolen car and is he trying to get away? People around us think he is moving the car out of the way but he drives a fair distance down the road until the Nissan gives in and stops dead with me chasing it and taking pictures on my phone. To cut a long story short the police did attend when my wife rang as she explained we were causing a hazard at a busy junction and there was a fair bit of debris on the road, she also asked for an ambulance for the other driver as now that he had exited the car we could see he was an older chap who looked very dazed and shaken.
One motorist did give his name and phone number as he said he witnessed the whole thing and also thankfully I had the dash cam on so all the evidence was clear, the Nissan had driven through the red light at the junction at what we think may have been 40 + mph and didn't appear to have braked even at the last minute.
After phone calls to our insurance and debate around how quickly we could actually get our vehicle moved out of the way our Cali was transported to a compound used by the local police while we were transported by a very helpful police officer in the back of his patrol car to the nearest Travelodge.
The Cali I hope is now out of the Police compound and on its way to Sutton in Ashfield to a Motorhome specialist repairers ( a conversation with repairer confirmed that he has dealt with a few Cali's and knows the vehicle well ! ) I will provide an update on how we get on with the repairs.
However one of the biggest shocks we had on getting into the back of the Cali to gather a few overnight things was that the glass EXPLODED off the Cooker/sink unit as far as the sliding door and into the front seats, and even ending up in the cutlery drawer! if our Cali is not written off we will cover the glass tops with maybe Fablon or some other plastic see through cover, would not like to think what would have happened if we had passengers in the rear seat !
The good news in all this - the bottle of champagne that we were given for our anniversary had survived in the fridge, sadly we just don't feel much like drinking it at the moment.
