Early yesterday morning I was driving to work on westbound US-24 highway, a divided road, in my MCS when I reached across to the passenger seat to grab a kleenex. When I looked up I was on the shoulder of the road and, without thinking, jerked it to the left which put me into a skid at 70 mph. I tried to turn into the skid but I couldn't get control. I slid across both lanes and into the grassy median where I hit a guardrail flat against the passenger side. I flipped up over the rail and rolled at least twice, the car ending up laying on the driver's side in the inside lane of the eastbound traffic. My first thought was to get out quickly before someone hit me. I looked up and opened that big, beautiful sunroof, undid my seatbelt and climbed out. I was unhurt except for a couple of minor scratches on my left hand and a stiff back. I went to the emergency room to get checked out and the doc said that my back was OK but that I would be sore for a few days. Later that day I went by the tow company yard to get my belongings out of the car. An attendant took me to my car and pulled off a tarp that was covering it. He looked at the car then looked at me and asked "Were you driving this car?" I say yes and then he asked "Are you alright?" I was fine because I was wearing my seat belt and when I hit the guardrail, the side curtain airbags deployed. I'm certain that the engineering of the MCS helped me from being injured. I plan on getting another MCS but I'll be a more attentive driver from now on. Thanks for letting me share my story.

Jay S.
2003 MCS (RIP)

Here is a link to local news coverage of the accident: http://www.ksnt.com/news/local/10739711.html

 

Oh my, I'm sorry to hear of your MCS loss, but glad to hear that you're alright. Recently a MCSC saved a few people from serious injury after rolling off the Dragon... Great cars!

 

I'm so thankful that you're able to share your story. Your experience sounds horrific, and your MINI's performance sounds valiant.

RIP MINI

 

after hearing about all of these wrecks im definantly gonna buy a mini

 

I'm so thankful that you're okay and even able to post about this. I hope you're not too sore and are back out and motoring soon. That must have been scary--though I imagine it was over before you knew it.

I continue to be amazed at the testimonials from drivers involved in crashes whose end result seems like could have so much worse. MINI engineering certainly has its warts, but there seems to be no denying that the crash worthiness continues to exceed expectations again and again.

 

It is good to hear that you are ok after that wreck! The mini did its job and protected you from harm.

I was in a wreck a couple of weeks ago in my 04 MCS and it was totaled! I walked alway without injuries too. I'm ordered a new 07 mini.


RIP MINI!

 

So glad to know you are not hurt. I asked the body shop to comment about Mini safety concern. They said Mini is a well built car. Made a deposit at the dealer a few weeks later.

 

Glad you're OK. The MINI is one of the safest cars on the road, in my opinion. I hope I never have the opportunity to test my theory.

 

Glad your OK, I'm sure the soreness has set in today, advil, plenty of water, maybe a hot bath and take it easy. Post some some pics if you get a chance. Rolling over the guard rail had to be an unpleasent feeling!

 

I'll swing by the tow company today and take some pics. In the video that I linked on my initial message, you can see the top of my Mini laying on it's side with the sunroof open. Another cool thing that it did was to turn on the four-way flashers after the wreck. Maybe when the air bag deployed it turned them on.

Jay S

 

Yep, it unlocks the doors, shuts off the fuel pump and puts on the flashers. MINI doesn't offer a "onstar" type thing but the system will usally call that service as well. I had a Volvo S60 that I got hit in and it was totaled(prior to my MCS) and I had not renewed the service but it called it anyway-it kind of scared me when a disembodied voice asked us if we where OK and that the emergency sevice had been called.

 

be proud of your MINI for what she did for you, im proud just for the brand

 

Great Cars, Sorry about your lost ride>

 

WOW jay, SO sorry to hear about that. I can vouch for the safety of the Mini! I was ran off the road in Feb this year doing 55 and hit 3 trees, a ditch embankment, and a barbed wire fence and me and my front seat passenger walked away unharmed. My back seat passenger was taken to the ER b/c he was knocked unconscious by not buckling up and hitting his head on the sunroof divider bar but he was fine 5 hrs and 6 stitches later. This is one safe little car. Keep us posted on your replacement.

 

Glad to hear that you were unharmed.

 

Thanks for sharing with us. Glad you are okay.

BTW: you weren't on the cell phone?

 

The MINI saved you from many more rolls; I just pictured a behemoth SUV pulling the same stunt you did. It would have rolled many, many more times with a much worse outcome for the driver - seatbelt or no seatbelt.
Low center of gravity vs high center of gravity.
Glad you're safe.
Go MINI go!

 

No, but luckily, I had it in my pocket. I was able to call my wife and 911 immediately after the accident. I rarely talk on the phone while driving. It is a pet peeve of mine.

Jay S

 

So sorry to hear this and am very glad you are okay.

I had a somewhat similar thing happen to me. I was changing discs in the CD player and when I looked back up I had drifted half way into the lane on my left. Now, I had been careful to make sure that no one was around me before I took my eyes off the road ...but just the same, my reaction was to jerk the wheel.

Well, as we all know, jerking the wheel at 70mph in a MINI is not the same as doing it in most other cars, where you get a sluggish response.

I got lucky and nothing happened, but it scared the CRAP out of me as I shot across the two lanes to my right.

 

Like the others, first and foremost, I'm glad you didn't have any serious injuries from such a bad accident !

That's going to be an expensive Kleenex. But not as bad as a claim I worked on recently... our insured bent over for an M&M candy and in taking his eyes off the road, crossed the center line and took out a $104,000 Mercedes and a Lexus. The payouts on that claim will be $150,000 in Bodily Injury and Property Damage liability. It would be more, but that's his policy limits.

Keep your eyes on the road at all times, folks. Only takes a split second to change (or end) your life and the lives of innocent people.

 

good to hear you're okay!


that link you posted...
please tell your local news to put a city name and state on their site.


hope your aches go away soon.

 

Roger that. It is Topeka, Kansas.

 

I was extremely lucky that I didn't hurt anyone else. Even at that, it's changed my attitude when driving. Not everyone gets a second chance after a wreck like that.

 

Oh gosh - I just hate reading stories like this - Poor MINI!! But - I'm SO glad you are okay!! Wowza...

Next time - you might want to just leave the boogers alone until you can get to a safe place...

But seriously - I'm glad to hear you walked away....

Donna

 

im glad you are ok... thanks mini god for protecting us!!