Well, ive had a few close call's in mumbai, small because the speed was always below 80. But the closest ive actually come to death is when I was driving from Muscat to Dubai on the highway about 2 years ago.
I used to drive a 2005 Nissan Altima SE-R. Since I was alone, I had left early in the morning at around 6. The roads were pretty clear as it was a friday (a holiday in the gulf, like sunday here). It was a peaceful drive as there were hardly any cars and just desert on both sides of the road at most of the places, the view was beautiful. There were times when you could see a straight empty road for miles and not a car in sight.
Now when you have a road all to yourself, and a 260Hp V6 breathing under the hood, temptation often gets the better of you. There are protective fences put up along the road to prevent camels and other animals from crossing the road. I was soon doing speeds over 210-220 feeling the power of the mighty V6 when I saw a bunch of camels far along the road towards my right side. (Car is LHD). I realised that the fence at that area must be broken as the camles were almost on the road and it looked like they were about to cross. I should have slowed down, but i didnt thinking they wouldnt cross and that i'd be able to pass them before they did.
Staring at the speedo, I pushed the car to about 240 hoping to cut across before those camels, and just when i look up at the road, those camels were already half-way across. Now at those speeds, what seems like a long way off becomes a short distance in no time. I realised there was no way im gonna make it. It was like staring death in the face. All this while I blowing the horn in some hope that they would cross the road giving me a chance to steer away.
In just a few seconds, i see a small gap between 2 camel's on the far right lane. I see my speedo for one last time, showing close to 180 and decreasing. (I didnt even relise if i was pressing the brake or not). I brace for impact and steer hard right across 3 lanes and then left at the last moment, managing to squeeze through, with the left side of the car (driver's side) hitting one of the camels from back. The side window shatters, and the impact sends my car into a spin. During the impact, the airbags had popped hitting me hard on the head. Thankfully i didnt get knocked out cold. The car ended up hitting the divider while spinning and came to a halt in the middle of the road. Tough all this happened in a few seconds, it felt like ages to me at that point of time.
What was unbelievable about the whole incident, was that i walked away with just a bump on the head and a few cuts on my left arm due to the shattered side window. The car had lost its front left side including the drivers side wheel which was lying a few feet away due to the divider impact(Altough i still wonder how did it rip off the whole wheel). A few people who stopped on the road seeing the accident helped pull me out of the car window as the door was jammed. I was in a state of shock and couldnt move. It took a few splashes of water on my face to bring me to my senses. I thank god for looking over me or else i wouldnt be here today.
Last edited by funkydevil : 8th July 2008 at 22:42.
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