About the Camper Wreck
by Jenners • 05/20/2009 • Travels • 36 Comments
Many of you asked what happened to my parent’s camper, which I wrote about in my previous post, so I thought I would let you know rather than repeating the story in e-mails over and over again. The story itself isn’t nearly as dramatic as the photos though.
Basically, my parents were towing the camper. They were probably driving about 75 miles per hour, which was the speed limit on that section of highway (oh … to live in the West again). A big piece of wood fell off the car that was in front of them, and my dad instinctively swerved to avoid it — fearing that it might come in through the windshield. Well, you can’t really swerve at those speeds while towing a camper. The camper started to fishtail and basically spun out of control. Fortunately, it detached itself from the truck and started rolling and flipping down the highway — ending up in pieces in the grassy area between the highway.
My dad was able to keep his truck in control but basically shredded one of his tires in the process. My family was very lucky they did not flip their car and that no one else was involved. Debris was spread out all over the highway — and it is fortunate that it didn’t hit anyone else. Lots of people stopped to help, and the highway patrol was there to supervise clean-up very quickly.
All in all, it was an unfortunate accident but one that could have easily turned out to be much worse. As my brother said “It’s just things. The key is that no one got hurt.” My parents were able to salvage much of the stuff from the camper, but the camper itself was so completely shredded apart that a front loader had to pick up the pieces and dispose of it. Some more photos are below if you are interested.
And if nothing else, it reminded me that life can change in an instant. You just never know what might happen so be good to your loved ones, be happy and appreciate all the good things in life because you never know what might be around the corner.
Your brother is so right, these are all just things. You can’t even tell this is a camper. What a scary sight.
Thank God the bottle of wine came through it o.k. too.
Glad they are all o.k.
Wow. Amazing. Glad everyone is safe. And you’re right… life can change in an instant, so we should be grateful for the things we take for granted. ALSO – very funny comment about the wine.
WOW! That is so scary but thank goodness everyone was ok.
It is scary to think how quickly things can go from great to awful!
How scary for your parents! Thank God everyone is okay!
those pictures scare the bejeebers out of me. Hope you drank that whole bottle of wine….very quickly.
Glad everyone is alright!!!
Holy cow…….it is amazing that no one got hurt.
Jenners…thanks for the comment on my blog! I love working with bright colors that scare my mom…said I would never quilt but once I found color, it has become fun. I swear I am turning into my mom.
Woot for the wine!
LOL @ the number of emails you received… btdt…
Thank you for the story! It is a reminder of how quickly things can go awry…
We need to get your parents and my mom together. That would be a hoot. Glad they weren’t hurt; hope they drank all that wine!
HOLY. CRAPETH.
I am so sincerely glad that nobody was hurt, I just can NOT imagine!
wow, that is intense. Glad everyone was OK. That was some seriously excellent driving by your father obviously.
Several years ago they passed a covered loads law in WA State. Losing things from the back of your truck is criminal here, should be everywhere else too.
Hope you all got a chance to enjoy that bottle of wine.
Wow Jenners, I am so glad your family is OK!!
Things can be replaced!!!
Did you drink the wine?
Wow! Thanks for telling us more about it. Crazy story. Yes-never let anyone ride in the camper trailer is right!
this is terrible – thank goodness no one was hurt!
That is crazy! I am so glad no one was hurt. I would have been sitting there in awe drinking that bottle of wine!!
I like that you pointed out the wine’s safe landing. It is good to see the humor in everything. That must have been scary. I am glad you are back. I missed your posts.
Hope you have caught up on some rest.
Holy cow – I’m so glad none of you were hurt. You were definitely very blessed.
And at least you were able to salvage some wine, right? That must have been a happy moment.
Those pictures are quite scary! I’m so glad your folks escaped unscathed. You’re so right in saying that life can change in a second.
Wow! I’m sorry they lost their camper but of course, I’m glad everyone is ok.
WOW Jenners, what a relief that your parents are ok!
Good heavens – that’s some wreck! But at least they still had that bottle of wine left to drown their sorrows in…
Wow. I am so glad that NO ONE was hurt because that looks awful.
I would be pouring myself a big ol’ glass of that surviving wine.
Erin
I am SO glad everyone (and the wine) was alright. You’re right, those are dramatic photos. Looks like a tornado hit.
Thank goodness no one was hurt! You are right, things can change in an instant, it’s scary. Glad everyone is okay.
They were so lucky! That happened to my neighbor. He was sleeping in an SUV with three other guys {they were awake}. The trailer didn’t detach and rolled the SUV with it. He was the only one that survived.
Thanks for sharing the story of the poor camper. Thank goodness no one was hurt. Hope they have insurance.
My heavens! That was a close one- I am glad that the camper was the only thing that was hurt. Did they have insurance?
That’s a great big ‘WHEW!’
I am so glad your parents weren’t hurt!!! It could have been so much worse!! Oh my goodness! Does the car that the piece of wood fell from even know what they caused? I’m so sorry your parents lost their camper!
Oh how scary! I’m so glad that no one was hurt. How fast things can happen.
Wow all that from a little piece of wood!?! Crazy.
I am so happy that your mom and dad were not hurt, or anyone else on the road that day. Very scary!
That is so scary! I can’t believe my grandparents used to load me and all my cousins/ neighborhood friends/ other various relatives in the camper for camping trips as a kid. SCARY!
I am SO glad everything is okay, and that the wreck looks worse than it actually was. Sheesh!
Wow, that is just nuts. I am so glad no one was in the camper.
Now. That. Is. Insane.
JENNERS!!!!! what the hell?!?!?! yes, the story is not very crazy, but the photos are just mind boggling! you are so right, things can change in a heartbeat.
thank GOD the wine was okay. did they open it and drink it on the spot???
thank goodness everyone was okay.