E55AMG

Last Saturday one of my wife's good friends took off on a camping trip from Long Island to North Carolina along with her husband and two kids. The kids are 7 and 9 (same as mine) and go to school with my kids. Somewhere along the way he got tired and asked her to drive. Something went wrong and she lost control of their SUV and the camper they were towing. It flipped and he was ejected, pronounced dead at the scene. He was 39. We went to the wake yesterday and boy, to see his kids standing in front of the coffin was horrific. I can't get the thought out of my head how one second those kids were sleeping in the back of their SUV, then rolling over, and then seeing their father lying dead in the middle of the highway. The casket was closed, so it must have a horrifying site. It's also amazing that 4 people involved in the same crash wherer one person dies and the other three are basically unscathed. The mother broke her collarbone. When we got in the car to come home, I felt something rubbing up against my left shoulder. It was my daughter who had pulled down my seatbelt from the backseat trying to hand it to me. I've always used the sorry excuses for not wearing my seatbelt: Uncomfortable, not going very far, etc. Hell, when I went to the AMG challenge a few weeks ago, EVERY instructor had to remind me to buckle up. I mean i'm on a racetrack ready to go between 130-140 mph and I had to be reminded to put on my seatbelt! I'll certainly make a more concerted effort now. This hit way to close to home.

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Chris '07 Porsche 997 TT Slate/Black

Sold '06 997S GT Silver/Black

Gone but not forgotten '04 E55 AMG w/ Kleemann K2 and IC upgrade
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Ruffinit

That is horrible, sorry to hear about the lose. I couldn't even start to think about how that would effect my family, that just shouldn't happen. I think everyone always needs a wake up call that its dangerous out there and we should take all possible precautions. I'm glad to hear you've taken something away from this, I too am going to start wearing my seatbelt all the time! My condolences...

FAST 5

RUFFINIT,
Man oh man.....................
having read your story, put a lump in my throat & I couldn't swallow for a moment. Picture this reader, just shaking his head in disbelief........
Im sorry.......

DiscoFish

You should always wear your seat belts!

Suretyagent

Dear Chris:

Seat belts have saved my life many times. Please, please, please wear your seatbelt ALWAYS while driving or riding in automobiles. Besides being involved in an accident, think only of an emergency stop with those powerful brakes in your car. Whenever I go to full binders in a performance or race car from over 100mph I become suspended in mid air, held by the seat belt.

Most Sincerely,
Derek

PS - I personally know this sense of loss too well - don't let it become something your children have to learn also.

Chuckc

Putting on seatbelts has been automatic for me since I started driving in high school. As a matter of fact, my car does not move until everyone has their belts on. No exceptions!

That is a tragic thing that happened.

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phinnbillM5

Ever since an accident a long time ago where the seatbellt saved me from serious injury, I do not drive/ride without one. Life is just too short to take unnecessary chances (in spite of those who claim not wearing a seat belt saved their life). Lately I have been thinking of replacing my 02 SUV with one with the side curtains and stability control. My wife thinks I am crazy but you never know what will happen on the road.

2003 M5!!!

Sorry about the loss.

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Jim Dolan

Sorry about your friend.

As for wearing seat belts, it's nuts not to. This should be automatic. God it's hard to believe people would not wear seat belts today. Here in Florida it seems like every fatality in an SUV is from people being ejected from the vehicle. Give yourself a chance. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEATBELT. ALWAYS..

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Jim

2006 Silver Gray Metallic over Black
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MartinW

It's a truly awful story - deepest sympathy to your friends.

Wearing front seat belts has been legally compulsory in the UK for several decades and they are now compulsory in the rear as well - ie. for ALL passengers. I don't think this is a civil liberties issue and I have no time for those people who claim their rights are being infringed by sensible laws such as this. I only hope reading this story will help save at least one life if M5 owners and their passengers all buckle up in future.
Clunk Click every trip!

Good fortune on the road ahead
Martin

MEnthusiast

Chris,
Thats truly a tragedy. I'm glad you see the error of your ways re: seatbelts. Even if you can't bring yourself to wear it for you, remember the Mrs. and the little ones. We're all car nuts here, but we have to remember that accidents happen so fast- we need all the help we can get. It would be a double tragedy for the lesson of the accident to go unheeded.

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All the best,
Jerry
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