Creep crashes into my boat!!!! - Semi long one

[Bill Hutcheson]

Alright, so here it is….

Bill Mays, our WON Staff photographer and I had just finished dinner at RC’s Steakhouse (Great place by the way – can you say pork ribs) just across the freeway from Phil’s Props and were out in front of my Ford Excursion talking just prior to heading back to the hotel at around 6pm. All of a sudden, it sounds like we are taking fire and BAM!!! – a U-Haul truck sideswipes my parked Z20 and continues on to sideswipe my truck. Bill and I bail out of there like a bunch of scared 7 year olds who just broke a window with a baseball. The U-Haul then careens into and broadsides a white 70’s Chevy van and spins it 180 degrees into Bill May’s 6 day old Dodge truck! The U-Haul is totaled and frankly, we think someone is killed! The restaurant empties and everyone is on the phone to 911.

The driver of the U-Haul is miraculously unharmed and at first blames it on me claiming that my trailer was sticking out in the street. Next, he claims that he has had a blowout despite no treadmarks on the pavement. Several Sheriff’s deputies arrive immediately (outstanding response time 3 minutes tops!) and start taking down the details..

The fool who caused the accident has personal insurance (Allstate) but did not get insurance for the U-Haul truck. Big mistake as I seriously doubt his policy is going to cover 5 vehicles. I’m covered under Vandeburg insurance for the boat and Allstate for my vehicle.

Bill and I were probably lucky to be standing behind my truck as it likely saved our lives from this guy. The damage has been done however. My trailer is totaled. The port side rear tandem tire is tweaked out at 90 degrees and nearly snapped off, the fiberglass fender looks like it was hit with an RPG, the front of the tongue is bent. I just spent $300 at Anglers Marine having a scratch repaired (picked the boat up prior to the tournament) and he hit the boat exactly in that spot, smashing the fiberglass, tearing up the trim from the back of the boat to the passenger seat. He moved the boat up the trailer and it will be literally impossible to tell what other damage has been done. I had to spend $180 bucks just to get it towed across the road to Oasis Marine. The boat is 6 months old. And here’s where the sucky part comes in. The boat is a memo boat with the bill due in April. I was selling it after this tournament. The boat will now likely have to go back to Ranger for repair and a new trailer will have to be sent. I will be lucky to even have this all done by April. At this point, I think the insurance companies should buy the boat!!! Any sound advice on this would be appreciated.

He also managed to clean my drivers side mirror and bend my trailer harness on my Ford Excursion. The truck is also new for me as of July 06.

I feel for Bill Mays though who has a 6 day old Dodge Truck which was sideswiped so hard that it bend the Nerf bar 90 degrees under the truck and smashed in the side from the rear wheel to the passenger door. Probably 5K or more in damage.

Sorry about the diatribe, but had to get it off my chest. Any sound advice this side of hunting down and shooting this guy would be appreciated (I didn’t get my deer this year so what do you think?).

Bill Hutcheson
WON BASS

[Brian Linehan]

What a nightmare and story. Sounds like it could have been way worse Bill.

Did they ever get to the bottom of what happened?

Glad to hear everyone's ok.

Brian

[Kevin]

Thank God you guys were standing behind your truck. That guy had to have been high on something.

[DAKINE198]

Glad to hear you guys are ok. CAn you say driver error? ZZZzzzzZZZzzzz

[Kelly Ripa]

Pork Ribs.....



It's nasty out there in society and I am extremely sorry for your woes. I hope it becomes a nice thing rather than what it appears. The payback in karma for you being the one wronged will surely spill back into your cup.

Rip

[Ralph_198]

Bill, sorry to hear it. I hope you took pictures of the damage. Pictures always come in handy!

[hang'emhigh]

Good to hear no one was seriously injured, but maybe someone should have been (i.e. the guy that crashed into your stationary rig and then tries to blame it on you). I'm not one to advocate violence, so you ain't heard that from me.

That trailer/boat sounds like it is haunted. Damage in the same area that was just recently repaired. Maybe this is a sign?

Wish ya luck with figuring out what to do..

Victor

[Schneider Fishing]

I wonder if he was talking on his cell phoneat the time of the damage??

[Ray L.]

You need to be on the phone monday with 3 or 4 people. Your vehicle insurance first, then Stan for the boat. Next would be Ranger and last would be Oasis. Get as much damage control as you can get done.You also need to contact U-Haul and inform them about the driver and also that it was there truck. You then need to speak to the drivers ins. company and get that started as soon as possible.If you can get in touch with your auto ins. do it now then the drivers ins. Get the ball rolling a.s.a.p. Prioritize everything. Truck, boat, trailer, electronics, trolling motor, etc.etc. I have been through this and you need to stay on top of it so work gets done a.s.a.p. Get Oasis to figure out a total for the damage a.s.a.p. don't wait for insurance get it done. Insurance can be slow so you need to be on the ball and always making sure it gets done.
Sorry to hear about this Bill. If you need some help call me and I will see what I can do. You know I am close to the office so just call me if I can help.

[stan vanderburg]

Don't worry Hutch...Ive got your back. This is just another day in the life of your BASSBOAT Insurance Agent. You will be OK as long as no body was hurt. Your boat and equiptment is covered. Once I get the info from all the parties it should go pretty quick. The good news, if you want call it that, is that you were across the street from Oasis Marine. Ron and the gang over there have been through this before, and they know how to get it done right. It sounds like your trailer took most of the impact. I will be in touch with Oasis before you get home to get there input,and be back in touch with you on Tues.
Drive safe !
Stan Vanderburg
800 BASSBOAT

[Bill Brown Jr.]

Hey Bill,

Sorry to hear about your loss. Really glad to hear you two guys are alright.

We will keep you in our prayers.

[calworks]

Sounds like the dude needs concrete waders.

Sorry about your woes, not good with the new year

[gt5bass]

Hey Bill,

Braggs Marine is also just down the road in Redding (referred there by the GREAT service crew at Oasis Watersports). He is an authorized Ranger fiberglass/gelcoat repair facility.

He got my boat all back together after losing a fight with a Levee on the Delta last April.

[John Barron]

Hey Bill:
You said you didn't use your deer tags this year so..............I have an idea where you can use at least one tag.
jb

[Ray L.]

What John are you going to stand in the road with your hands on your head and look like a Deer.....

[John Barron]

I'd always heard you were a little slow but I thought they were talking about your boat!
jb

[Ray L.]

ok now you are in for it.... race at Havasu next month. from Windsor to the bill williams. Looser buys the first 4 rounds....

[John Barron]

But you have to put on at least 50# before the race
jb