[Vwdiesel] Poor guy in front of me-ran over a 500 lbs tractor weight

[Travis Gottschalk]

So coming into town I see the car just in front of me after pulling 
forward from a stop light about 25-50 feet after the intersection kind 
of jerk to a stop. I was the next car in line and since it was after 
work I figured I could help a guy in need. Well I asked what happened 
and he said he just drove over a tractor weight. The Dodge in front was 
also stopped when a gal got out. The Dodge was a pile of crap. The car 
was also a mid sized Dodge car. I looked under and didn't see a back 
bolt at first so I told the guy to back up a little while looking. After
 seeing the rear bolt rubbing the oil pan and wasn't going to clear the 
frame I told him to get his spare tire car jack out. I told them to 
watch the traffic while I jacked up the car as it was the inside lane of
 a 4 lane hyw with a grass divide between and concrete curbs. So I had 
to go to the side with the traffic as there wasn't room. When the car 
was high enough the girl stated that there was no way we could pull the 
weight out as it was as I found out 500 lbs. I asked if she had a 
ratchet or tow strap or something. She found something in the cab and I 
hooked it up to the weight and her truck. Pulled it out with the truck 
and then the guy helped me get it to the grass in the center of the 
road. Engine was dripping oil slowly but would live to another day. I 
stated that the pan needed replacement and she got all worried on the 
cost. I stated parts were around $60 plus labor. She said she knew 
someone that could do it to save on cost. Mind you I had to tell them to
 exchange contact info as they both didn't seem the brightest. I checked
 his oil which was fine, told him to get some oil before going to work 
(where he was headed) as by the end of work the engine would likely be 
low on oil. She also had to go as her boyfriend was having surgury 
within the hour. He was the moron that put the weight in the truck with 
two ratchet straps that I wouldn't ever used on anything much less a 500
 lb weight in a plastic lined truck. Mind you I don't think they were 
threaded through the weight either but likely just on top of the weight.
 Don't know forsure. I also had to ratchet her tailgate on as it blew 
out one striker latch and the other was so bent it would release even 
with be prying and kicking. I couldn't get the bottom hinge area to go 
back on either so I just used the one good strap in the back of the 
truck that wasn't bent up from the weight. 



That gal is luck to not be sued or have hurt or totaled a car. The bolts
 sticking out were 8.5 inches high and about 2.5 feet wide. That was 
just in front of me is the scary part.





I don't think my car would have made ith with the bolts sticking out. 
But I thought I would post this as crappy things can happen so pay 
attention to the things in front of you.