An Ode to Rolla | My 2003 Corolla is Totalled

Kinja'd!!! by "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
Published 06/13/2017 at 15:21

Tags: toyota ; crash ; love
STARS: 6


Kinja'd!!!

Her name was Rolla, she was a showgirl

With black paint in her body and a bodykit down to there

She would merengue and do the cha-cha

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

It was Sunday, 5PM Eastern Time. I was turning left in a parking lot, I completed my turn and it happened. Rolla was t-boned.


Both my hands were on the wheel, my foot firmly planted on the brake. All I could see was the first generation Lexus RX430 accelerating at full throttle veering towards me. No braking, no blinker and looking in a completely different direction.

And then......BOOM

Impact. I felt the come through my shoulder, the B pillar collapsed and sent me across the car. The belt locked, however, the horizontal impact sent my upper body across the car smashing my hands on the opposite door.

Kinja'd!!!

The B-Pillar is done, the rear door is jammed partially open/partially closed, the front seat is angled incorrectly and not sitting level anymore.

Myself, I was wheeled away on a spine board strapped down to avoid any movements in case of a spinal injury. I was very lucky and got out with a dislocated clavicle that popped itself back in and quite a bit of whiplash.

I’m going to miss Rolla a lot but will never forget the sacrifice she gave to save me.

RIP Rolla, keep on rolling <3


Replies (38)

Kinja'd!!! "Wacko" (wacko--)
06/13/2017 at 15:25, STARS: 1

Showgirl cause the Corolla S is all show and no go??

Kinja'd!!! "themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
06/13/2017 at 15:27, STARS: 2

Applause to the toyota engineers who designed that car....It seems like everything did its job if you could take a decent hit from an RX and avoid serious injury.

Kinja'd!!! "nerd_racing" (nerd189)
06/13/2017 at 15:32, STARS: 1

The worst part about this is that a lot of places call parking lot accidents of any kind “no fault.” Even though the person was clearly at fault and generally the works kind of driver in all of automotivedom, “no fault.”

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 15:33, STARS: 0

She had enough go ;). She allegedly traveled with a group of supercars at 120 mph and kept up. Enough so to get a line of thumbs up at the end. She taught me how fun slow car fast really is.

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 15:34, STARS: 1

Yup, we’ll see I have witnesses. The man driving the RX was handicapped with no shins. Definitely doesn’t bode in his favour that he didnt brake, hit the car twice and was looking a different direction.

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 15:35, STARS: 1

I agree, though I now understand side curtain airbags. My shoulder rests on that b pillar as I drive (I’m built and 6ft 3).

Kinja'd!!! "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
06/13/2017 at 15:35, STARS: 0

The replacement should have side-impact airbags. What are you looking for ...?

And glad you’re OK!

Kinja'd!!! "Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
06/13/2017 at 15:58, STARS: 0

Lexus RX

This says it all

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 16:01, STARS: 0

My dream would be a new XC60 but that’s well out of my budget. Side curtain airbags and tons of safety is high on the list but generally highway cruisers. Or a lifted pick up hahaha

Thanks :) feeling lucky

Kinja'd!!! "themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
06/13/2017 at 16:03, STARS: 3

No shins and handicapped? Was the driver Cotton Hill?

Kinja'd!!!

Kinja'd!!! "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/13/2017 at 16:11, STARS: 2

So would you say the car has been Toyotaled?

Kinja'd!!! "haveacarortwoorthree2" (haveacarortwoorthree2)
06/13/2017 at 16:14, STARS: 1

Are you sure you’re built and not bought? :)

Kinja'd!!! "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
06/13/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 1

XC70s on the cheap out there, but more costly to keep on the road than a Toyota.

Kinja'd!!! "nerd_racing" (nerd189)
06/13/2017 at 16:26, STARS: 0

Hopefully you don’t live in a “no fault” state. Even with all of that, it’s magically no one’s fault.

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 16:28, STARS: 1

The guy was handicapped with no shins

Kinja'd!!! "Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
06/13/2017 at 16:33, STARS: 1

Lexus RX says he’d have done it anyway

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 17:04, STARS: 0

Yea, that’s my concern. I rack up more miles than I do foot steps in a year. I wish I was kidding but I usually hit 40 to 60k miles a year so maintenance takes it toll haha

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 17:04, STARS: 1

Yea, that’s my concern. I rack up more miles than I do foot steps in a year. I wish I was kidding but I usually hit 40 to 60k miles a year so maintenance takes it toll haha

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 17:06, STARS: 0

The accident happened in a no fault province, however, I’m registered and insured in another province which will go after the driver.

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 17:07, STARS: 0

Basically lol, he was from Africa though.

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 17:07, STARS: 0

B pillar is collapsed in at least half a foot and the floor is warped.

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 0

:P

Kinja'd!!! "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
06/13/2017 at 17:58, STARS: 1

That sort of mileage might call for an otherwise unwanted TDI. I wonder how they do long term ...

Kinja'd!!! "Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise)
06/13/2017 at 18:15, STARS: 0

As an owner of a black 05 Corolla I’m glad your ok and I’ll pour one out tonight

Kinja'd!!! "wafflesnfalafel" (wafflesnfalafel1)
06/13/2017 at 20:14, STARS: 0

gebus.... how’s your head? Did you crack it against the glass?

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 21:19, STARS: 0

My head was okay, I’m now starting to feel a lot of bruising down the left side of the body. I’m still 24 hours away from being cleared of a concussion though.

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 21:20, STARS: 0

It’s something I thought about but the examples that are used up here in Canada are way too high milage to purchase for the most part. :(

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 21:20, STARS: 1

Yes, we once talked about my pillow seat extension haha. Long live corollas!

Kinja'd!!! "Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise)
06/13/2017 at 21:56, STARS: 0

Forever may they reign! Also what are you going to do with the wheels? I could potentially be interested in replacing my steelies

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/13/2017 at 22:00, STARS: 1

Depends, you may be able to grab em. I think insurance wouldnt care when the car is towed but they’re up here in Montreal, Canada

Kinja'd!!! " The Compromiser" (charger)
06/13/2017 at 22:11, STARS: 1

You should replace it with a Camry. They on get dents on the bumpers. Much safer. Yeesh

Kinja'd!!! "nerd_racing" (nerd189)
06/14/2017 at 07:21, STARS: 1

Hope it all works out for you man!

Kinja'd!!! "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/14/2017 at 07:38, STARS: 1

that will buff out

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/14/2017 at 09:25, STARS: 1

Hahaha, insurance asked me to tow it to a garage of my choice... then called back 30 seconds later in a panic declaring the car unsafe to drive and not to move it.

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/14/2017 at 09:25, STARS: 0

hahaha

Kinja'd!!! "Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise)
06/14/2017 at 15:05, STARS: 0

That probably won’t work since I’m in Michigan about a half hour south of Detroit. I checked and it’s about ten hours so I’d also have to get a hotel and drive back the next day. Which means craigslist searching could be more feasible. Thanks though

Kinja'd!!! "Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna)
06/14/2017 at 15:08, STARS: 0

Depending on when it is I may be able to get them to Toronto. I drive there on the regular.

Kinja'd!!! "Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise)
06/14/2017 at 15:32, STARS: 0

Cool, what would you want for them?