j-c-c-62
Well-Known Member
So I have decent running Dodge Ram work truck left over from when I recently retired. It's a beater, but it gets the job done, and a replacement is soon in the cards.
On Dec 18th I was transferring equipment from my 26' straight truck to a buyer's PU truck. My truck was parked 20' away, as I was inventorying equip on the Ram's center console of the items being transferred, the Rams Door was left wide open, as I was parked on the side of a dirt path in a private storage yard. Sitting very close to me was a tandem axle trailer parked, not connected to any vehicle in the middle of the path. Nobody was in the area. After about 1 hr 45mins, as the three of us were wrapping things up, the trailer without warning moved away and its rear fender as it swung slightly it appears caught the Ram's driver door and extremely loudly nearly ripped it off.
All three of us were yelling, but the towing vehicle just drove away. And since, the PU truck being loaded had an unsecured load, the only vehicle to give proper chase was my newly wrecked Ram. I bent the door partially back and me and one of the witnesses then jumped in the back bed and we caught and blocked the driver to a stop down the road. His first "line" was I "parked too close". He did not want to call the police, I get that. I said as long as you will fix the damage I don't care. I thought it might be a $500 door replacement cost. I took picture of him, his DL, his tag, his fender damage on his trailer, and my door damage, all with a witness. Next day one body shop would not quote, as they only do insurance on new vehicle repairs. Another local body shop found a used door 1200? miles away and quoted the repair at $1700. Next body shop is 30 miles away.
I called the driver, gave him my quotes he said it should cost $500. He lives in Illinois; he rents a space at the storage yard but has been according to landlord locked out for non-payment. He never returned my call after that. I contacted My local Sheriff's office, they would not make a report because I also left the scene of the accident, therefore they said they could not investigate, even though that is how I identified and caught the hit and run driver. They said I could file an unofficial report with the state DMV, and I did with pictures and witness names.
I reluctantly contacted my insurance company as he might try to make a claim against me. They contacted him, but he would not share his insurance info and hung up on my agent. Truck only has liability coverage.
Tonight, I was leaving the local Walmart, traffic near the store entrance was rather congested. As I waited for parking lot traffic to clear, I noticed a similar truck drive by behind me, but I paid it no notice, He parked away from the store near the end of the row. I decided to take the same direction exiting as there was less traffic that direction. A person was walking the other direction and passed me as I was exiting, again I paid him attention, but when I passed his truck, the light bulb finally went off. I checked my mirror and the driver now 150' behind me, had stopped walking and turned around to I suppose see if I was going to stop by his truck, as I guess he recognized me and my damaged truck first.
So I kept going and left Walmart without stopping, got on the highway. I made u turn down the road and drove back and kept my distance. I called 911, explained my situation, a supervisor showed up in 7 minutes. showed him my pics of the Hit and run driver, his tag, his DL, the damage, etc. Pointed out the truck. He said do not approach. 10 Minutes another patrol car arrived. The Supervisor returned and said it's a civil matter, here is his Insurance Info (Unconfirmed of course) and the driver had an outstanding warrant for another matter and was arrested and on the way to jail.
On Dec 18th I was transferring equipment from my 26' straight truck to a buyer's PU truck. My truck was parked 20' away, as I was inventorying equip on the Ram's center console of the items being transferred, the Rams Door was left wide open, as I was parked on the side of a dirt path in a private storage yard. Sitting very close to me was a tandem axle trailer parked, not connected to any vehicle in the middle of the path. Nobody was in the area. After about 1 hr 45mins, as the three of us were wrapping things up, the trailer without warning moved away and its rear fender as it swung slightly it appears caught the Ram's driver door and extremely loudly nearly ripped it off.
All three of us were yelling, but the towing vehicle just drove away. And since, the PU truck being loaded had an unsecured load, the only vehicle to give proper chase was my newly wrecked Ram. I bent the door partially back and me and one of the witnesses then jumped in the back bed and we caught and blocked the driver to a stop down the road. His first "line" was I "parked too close". He did not want to call the police, I get that. I said as long as you will fix the damage I don't care. I thought it might be a $500 door replacement cost. I took picture of him, his DL, his tag, his fender damage on his trailer, and my door damage, all with a witness. Next day one body shop would not quote, as they only do insurance on new vehicle repairs. Another local body shop found a used door 1200? miles away and quoted the repair at $1700. Next body shop is 30 miles away.
I called the driver, gave him my quotes he said it should cost $500. He lives in Illinois; he rents a space at the storage yard but has been according to landlord locked out for non-payment. He never returned my call after that. I contacted My local Sheriff's office, they would not make a report because I also left the scene of the accident, therefore they said they could not investigate, even though that is how I identified and caught the hit and run driver. They said I could file an unofficial report with the state DMV, and I did with pictures and witness names.
I reluctantly contacted my insurance company as he might try to make a claim against me. They contacted him, but he would not share his insurance info and hung up on my agent. Truck only has liability coverage.
Tonight, I was leaving the local Walmart, traffic near the store entrance was rather congested. As I waited for parking lot traffic to clear, I noticed a similar truck drive by behind me, but I paid it no notice, He parked away from the store near the end of the row. I decided to take the same direction exiting as there was less traffic that direction. A person was walking the other direction and passed me as I was exiting, again I paid him attention, but when I passed his truck, the light bulb finally went off. I checked my mirror and the driver now 150' behind me, had stopped walking and turned around to I suppose see if I was going to stop by his truck, as I guess he recognized me and my damaged truck first.
So I kept going and left Walmart without stopping, got on the highway. I made u turn down the road and drove back and kept my distance. I called 911, explained my situation, a supervisor showed up in 7 minutes. showed him my pics of the Hit and run driver, his tag, his DL, the damage, etc. Pointed out the truck. He said do not approach. 10 Minutes another patrol car arrived. The Supervisor returned and said it's a civil matter, here is his Insurance Info (Unconfirmed of course) and the driver had an outstanding warrant for another matter and was arrested and on the way to jail.
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