The Untimely Demise of 1995 Firehawk #523

On 19 September 1996, 1995 Firehawk #523 was hit from behind by a criminally negligent driver. We healed but the Firehawk was a total loss. The frame rails were trashed, the axle was ripped off the suspension, the front seats collapsed, the rear setback met us halfway, and almost every body and structural panel was bent, twisted, or torn.

Basically, here's what happened (click the pic to see more photos and details): I came to a complete stop behind a Geo that was having trouble getting into the left turn lane. Traffic in the right lane was moving well enough such that getting around it was unsafe so I was contented to wait in the left lane. After maybe ten seconds (seemed like forever in that crummy traffic) we were struck from behind with tremendous energy. This started us spinning counter-clockwise. At about 40 degrees of rotation we bounced off the Geo and completed the next 130 degrees in the turn lane. The hatch popped open -- I remember looking up into the clear blue sky -- and everything in the back flew out from the centrifugal force. The 4WD SUV that hit us continued past us after finally getting on the brakes.

After seeing the car at the body shop the next day, it appears that she was making a lane change. The impact sheered everything to the right of the license plate as can be seen in the pictures. She probably wasn't paying attention and going too fast for traffic conditions until it was too late and tried to swerve. Close inspection reveals a contact point at a level where my tail was not in the air (I was not braking heavily...or at all for that matter -- I was stopped!) and her nose wasn't diving (meaning she wasn't braking either). Parts were bent upward!

After a few days of mental recovery I wrote an article to the international F-Body mailing list reporting the news. Take a look if you want to read all the gory details. Yep, you guessed it: she had no insurance. A few days later I wrote another article after hearing back from the body shop and insurance adjuster.

State Farm deflected a claim by the Geo (remember, the SUV driver had no insurance) off to the real criminal. I don't know what happened, but I'd guess they ate that cost as pursuing it in court would be less than economical. Last I heard, State Farm was suing the SUV driver. I'm pretty sure I saw her driving that white '95 Ford Explorer in January 1997.

It took four weeks for State Farm to come up with three Firehawks to base my claim on. I found five. Neither of us could contact the only '95 coupe we (ahem, I) found so they estimated based on a '95 T-top and convertible that were having trouble selling. :-( It wasn't quite what I wanted, but after extrapolating based on Firebird Formula depreciation, it was reasonably fair. After that, the idiots at the Motorola credit union lost at least two checks from State Farm. I say at least because I ceased to care once my loan was paid off and a few payments were reimbursed. I got a call about a "missing" check in December and told them it was their problem and gave 'em State Farm's number. I don't have time to do their job too.

Since then I have settled on a used Porsche 928 as a replacement. It was the absolute most I could afford after the settlement and significantly less valuable than my Firehawk, say, ten years from now. Crime of the century.

My conclusion remains that the driver at fault dodged two bullets: 1) The Geo protected us from oncoming traffic in which the severe yaw would have put my passenger into mortal danger and 2) no one was in my backseat who would have surely been hospitalized for a long period had they survived. She's as lucky as she is stupid.

I like the Porsche, but I really miss my Firehawk.