Jill Heinerth Car Wreck Update

[JillHeinerth]

Hello all:
As most of you know, Jill and I had a terrible rollover accident on the Florida turnpike last Monday. We were on the way to meet a boat, the RV Tiburon, and a National Geographic film project was underway. Wes Skiles, Nathan Skiles and Tom Morris were in another van a few miles ahead of us. We had all just had lunch at a service plaza. The rear driver's side tire came apart, we began rolling end-over-end and after a very scary ride, came to rest on the passenger side. We did a quick inventory of each other's physical and mental states, and with the help of passersby who stopped, we kicked out the windshield and escaped. The first guys to stop, ironically were "Marvin and Marvin." My faith in humanity is restored.
Now, here, in the picture is Jill, just minutes after almost being crushed, on the phone trying to save the shoot! I, in the black shirt, am still in shock, trying to find all my body parts in a pelican case? Next time, I am riding INSIDE the case.

It is very hard to shake up an experienced cave diver. the next time someone asks if cave diving is dangerous, and Jill responds that it is more dangerous to drive to the dive site, remember this picture! And wear your seatbelts. They saved our lives!

Thanks to all for your love and support. Thank you Wes, Nate and Tom for all you do!

for Jill /Robert McClellan

PS, Jill is doing fine and the expedition continues. You can follow along at www.facebook.com/jillheinerth, or at Jill's tech diving blog;
www.RebreatherPro.com

[w ripley]

Scary!

Glad you two are OK.

Best regards,

[phreaticus]

Holy S--T!!!!!
Glad to hear everyone's OK!
Pretty scarey that a blowout can ruin your day...or the rest of forever!

[Kelly Jessop]

Wow,glad everyone is okay

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Close call, glad to hear that nobody was seriously injured!

[cavediver256]

Glad to hear everyone walked away from that one !!!

[Spd 135]

Wow! I am glad everyone is ok. "Minor Hijack" I am one of the instructors that teaches NAPD (Nat'l Assn. of Professional Driving) Police Pursuit Driving and TVI (Tactical Vehicle Intervention / PIT manuever) for our academy and department. We have noticed, and now teach that daddy was wrong. We have alway made sure our best tires are on the front. We should actually make sure they are on the rear. We have spiked cars and watched them drive miles and in excess of 70 mph with the front tires blown and even down to grinding the hub to nothing. We can control a vehicle with front tire loss because of steering. When a rear tire goes we have no control and it can be deadly. Here is a link that shows how "old" tires are being sold and are not safe. Notice that the vehicles that had catastrophic crashes had rear tires that blew.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Hijack over. Mark

[HeloDriver]

Wow, glad you guys are ok.

Charles

[Sam2000001]

Glad you guys are ok and were wearing seat belts. Just today, not even 3 hours ago, driving back from Ginnie, there was an 18-Wheeler in the ditch on it's side. No question the drive is the most dangerous part of the day.

-Safe diving (and driving)

[350xfire]

I think you may have more than seat belts to thank for walking away... Glad you guys are OK.

[Danseur]

Wow! I am glad everyone is ok. "Minor Hijack" I am one of the instructors that teaches NAPD (Nat'l Assn. of Professional Driving) Police Pursuit Driving and TVI (Tactical Vehicle Intervention / PIT manuever) for our academy and department. We have noticed, and now teach that daddy was wrong. We have alway made sure our best tires are on the front. We should actually make sure they are on the rear. We have spiked cars and watched them drive miles and in excess of 70 mph with the front tires blown and even down to grinding the hub to nothing. We can control a vehicle with front tire loss because of steering. When a rear tire goes we have no control and it can be deadly. Here is a link that shows how "old" tires are being sold and are not safe. Notice that the vehicles that had catastrophic crashes had rear tires that blew.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Hijack over. Mark


I used to work in the trucking industry (well over a decade ago, so it may have changed...) and we shipped HazMat and Munitions; things that go Big Boom and leave a crater and take all evidence of the truck an the 4 escort vehicles... Things like the solid rocket bosters for the Space Shuttle.

One of the DOT requirements was no retreads, but only on the steering axle. I had to have all mfr. dates written down, but I don't recall any limits or even reccomendations.

Watching that video was an eye opener, although I am not surprised. I've had tread seperate on more than one occasion (cars and trucks), but I can only imagine if it happened during a lane change or on a high speed off ramp etc.

I'm quite glad everyone got out of this unscathed; this could have been such a different thread. :eek:

[OutlawCaver]

I had a multiple roll over of a Ford Bronco II on I10. Survived it. Changed the way I drive forever, and I was l already a safe driver. Dive buddies make fun of my driving speed all the time.

[FW]

Robert,

I am glad you and Jill are OK. I am driving to TX this weekend, I think I may take it easy!

[OFG-1]

I know this guy in Miami that could fix that car up as good as new. He will paint any car for $49.99.

Cheers


(Glad everyone is OK)

[JE]

I don't know you Jill. but I know who you are & I am glad you are ok, really. We have a friend {Matt} in MPLS, that you should let know that you are okey as well. If he reads about your accident he will worry about you. Thanks.
w\Love
^_^
je

ps: Please tell TM & clan I said hey-!

[MichaelAngelo]

Jill
I am glad you guys are ok. Thats quite he scary pic.
God bless
MA