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The morning before Christmas, my family was out of town visiting family. Some moron comes flying down our road, misses the curve- goes thru our neighbor's fence, takes out about 30 feet of wild blackberry bushes, a small pine tree... and 2 natural gas meters-- then backs up, drives thru the yard and takes off.
The neighbors had to call 911 to get the major gas leak capped off, so we had police and firetrucks all over the place.
We came back home that afternoon (Christmas Eve) to find our house without gas service (no heat, no hot water, no cookstove...) The crash damaged our service pipe, so the utility company requires me to hire a plumber to come out and replace the service riser , obtain city permits and pass city inspection before we can schedule the gas company to come back out and put a new meter and restore our gas service.
So far, the plumbing bill alone is right at $500- of course the inspector hasn't showed up yet, and I'm sure the gas company will take their sweet time as well.
I called my insurance company and my deductable is $1000- so this will come out of my pocket unless they find the vehicle who did the hit and run.
Sorry- I just needed to vent a little... I need to go back out to the shop while I wait for the inspector- I guess I need to start scrounging up some work to help pay for this mess...
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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Ugh...have had things happen like this. I've learned (am learning) to Breathe and try to think and be rational. HARD to do in siturations that are out of your control.
Maybe try to get control....Maybe try going after the guy who caused it. Maybe their car insurance will cover?... You shouldn't have to cover this.
We had a truck accident like this. I was at a light and a car hit a huge SUV which in turn almost ran us over. Pushed us back 11 feet. Totaled my lil s10 shop truck. Insurance was going to give us 1400 bucks. WTF! Had to get lawyers, etc... The system is corrupt but we did end up replacing our shop truck.
Hang In There! Things have a way of working them self out. Patience being key here. As I'm geting older I kind of am realizing these seem to be tests of your patience. Coping skills, whatever. Just be thankful nobody was hurt or your house didn't (God Forbid) flame up or something horrible.
Good luck.
-------------------- Summit Signs 231 Victoria Rd Venice, Fla 34293 sales@summitsign.com http://www.summitsign.com Design Is The Difference. Posts: 271 | From: Venice, Fla | Registered: Mar 1999
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There are more and more nefarious hooligans running amok in today's society. This isn't a glass-half-full/glass-half-empty perception; it's a fact.
The cadre of decent human-beings is at an all-time-low.
Most likely it was a 'hit-and-run' because the driver was drunk, or drugged out of his mind and didn't want to face the music on those counts in addition to the damage he'd done.
Good luck Michael - I hope all goes quickly, and smoothly, and hope they catch the guy so that you can recoup some of your $$.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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our gas meters are a good 200 feet from our house, and about 60 feet off of the road, behind a tree line- up until now I thought they were pretty protected...
Don't have a clue what kind of vehicle hit it, just know that it was black- probably a truck or SUV because of the amount of damage- a small car wouldn't have made it quite that far and still be drivable. There is quite a bit of property damage adding up, so if the person is caught, it may be a hefty fine- finding them is going to be the hard part.
More than likely they woke up later without a clue why their vehicle is damaged or how much grief they have caused 2 struggling families who are barely making ends meet at it is...
Thankfully no one was seriously injured- they missed a power pole by a few inches.
I agree Todd- I'm afraid it is getting worse everyday
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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Might be worth a call to local body shops to see if any vehicles came in with related damage. The problem would be proving it was that vehicle.....
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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what are your POLICE dept doing? no state police involved here? with that amount of damage iam sure there some vehicle/parts/pieces/paint tire tracks to find.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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The police were pretty good- they stayed around and made some detailed reports, they were pretty aggravated that someone would do that and then leave- (and my property is less than a mile from their station, no less) There were several parts pieces left at the scene, but they are hard to identify.
The good news is- got it inspected and the gas co. came out and got me back up and running today...
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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If they were driving a black SUV the thought of struggling families never entered their mind, yet they will care once they are caught. More than likely the police will check out the body shops as that is how many get caught.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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Hiya Michael, Sure, it's an inconvenience but, look at the bright side, nobody you know was hurt - or worse.
Sadly, around here, it seems that cops are quickly becoming nothing more than overpaid note takers. So, I would not hold my breath waiting for them to find the suspect.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Not to shoot down your efforts, but I'll bet the driver has no licence due to his DUI history. Therefore, probably no $$ even if you do find him. Way too late for a breathalizer test.
An unexpected $500 expense would hit me hard right now too, but, maybe he'll be a wealthy guy who feels really bad, and wants to make it right.
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3485 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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Ten years from now, when your family is sitting around the Christmas dinner table, and memories of Christmas' past comes up, how do you think this will be remembered?
Did this bring your family closer? Apart from the shock, was there a unifying effect?
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6717 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Barb- So sorry to hear about that, those type of things really bring things into perspective. I really pray that justice will come to light in that situation.
My in-laws had to cut our holiday visit short because they had to go to a couple of unexpected funerals. I can't imagine how the families are dealing with those situations right now.
We have heat now, and I had a client stop by unexpected yesterday and pay me $500 for a project I have been working on- so that may take care of the bill now, and we will go on and probably forget about it.
The gas company said that they have a policy that once a pipe has been hit, they are required to come back and put up a barrier to help prevent it from happening again.
Thanks for letting me rant...
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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