Re: Audi 100 Gives up the Ghost for Owner

[Kneale Brownson <knotnook@traverse.com>]

What a tough way to gain an endorsement for your favorite brand of auto,
Mark.  Glad to hear you're healing well.

Regards, Kneale Brownson


At 09:36 AM 7/19/99 -0400, mark byrum wrote:
>Five weeks ago yesterday I was "T-Boned" on the driver's door in my 1990
>Audi 100 (non-quattro).  I attempted to clear an intersection while
>driving "Pearl" in order to allow a firebrick  with sirens and lights
>going pass from behind me.  Unfortunately at the same time, a fellow
>coming on the cross street to my left either decided to clear the
>intersection by accelerating through it or tried to beat the light as it
>was changing.  In either event, I was "T-Boned" on the driver's door at
>approx. 40 to 50 mph ( the police officer investigating the accident
>observed NO skid marks prior to impact - i.e. no brakes were applied).
>I haven't seen "Pearl" since the accident, but those that have tell me
>the driver's side door was displaced more than 1 foot and the driver's
>seat was crushed in so that where my butt sat was less than 1 foot
>wide.  Now there was a time when my butt was only that wide, but that
>time has passed.  I survived (obviously - or no e-mail) with a fractured
>pelvis (in 3 places), 4 broken ribs (left side), ruptured diaphragm and
>spleen, collapsed lung (left side) and many bruises (left side -
>including a Motorola Star-Tac cellophane holder bruise right on my left
>hip).  The interior of the driver's door panel was straight and intact.
>My wife's comment to me at the ICU after seeing the car was, "in the
>future, we are buying nothing but Audi vehicles - that car saved your
>life."  I agree.  USAA insurance gave my $5,500 for Pearl as a total
>loss (109K miles).  I was satisfied with that figure.  Hurrah for side
>door beams and for German engineering.  Now left with only 2 Audis, I am
>recovering well and I remain
>Very Truly Yours,
>Mark W. Byrum, Jr.
>markbyrum@erols.com
>