Pleasure Trip turned Horror

Dolphin · 22nd May 2008, 15:07

This was a very disgusting incident that happened and the hardships faced later were mega. I can also say that I was very lucky.

Here is my saga:
My Uncle, Aunty and 3 of my friends (one was a girl) planned a trip to Malai Mahadeshwara Hills, which is about 200 KMS from Bangalore. We planned to stay overnight at the hills, complete the darshan next day and return by evening. The route to be taken was Bangalore-Kanakpura-Malavalli-Kollegal-Mahadeshwara Hills.

So, on a bright sunny afternoon we set out, hoping to reach the hills by dinner time. One of my friends was driving the car. 3 in the front and 3 at the back, was how we were distributed. The drive was slow and bumpy since the roads were in a pathetic condition. But we were enjoying every minute of it. We reached Kollegal at around 5 P.M. The car was good, no problem no hiccups. We stopped there for a few minutes to buy some snacks and water.
From there I took the wheel not knowing what lay ahead for us.

2 of my friends were sitting in the front with me, and the other friend, Uncle, Aunty were at the back. On that particular day I was very overconfident about my driving skills. I am always careful when I take new routes, but not that day. I was driving very fast from the moment I took the wheel. No one said anything, maybe since it was my car and, I had good driving experience, maybe they were confident about my driving.

Soon it was dark and I switched ON the headlights and also the fog lights. Lighting was average. We passed the big arch at the bottom of the hills, which meant that we were entering the hilly forest area.

I saw the first hairpin bend signboard and then took the turn rally style and it was perfect. My friends started appreciating me and I was smiling. Then I shifted from 2nd gear to 3rd. I saw a straight stretch ahead and accelerated close to 80km/h in 3rd and was about to shift to the 4th gear, suddenly I saw another road to my right, it was a curve. I got confused for a second, and without applying brakes, in 3rd gear, taking my foot off the accelerator, I went for the curve.

I turned the steering wheel full flow to the right. Now, I was shocked, as it was a hairpin bend!! It was too late, I couldn’t make it and the car moved towards the middle of both the roads, towards the side wall! At this point I braked hard, but no use. I heard a loud thud as the car hit the side wall (nose first) and went over it. All this happened in a few seconds and there was very less time to think, believe me.

The car was in a shocking downward inclination (below), about 2-3 meters from the road. (It was like we had fallen into a ditch or something.) The car was not moving though. Since the headlights were still working, I could see treetops in front of me. The engine was idling with a “clank”, “clank” sound, and I suddenly realized that we need to get out of the car immediately.

My friends in the front knew what had just happened, but the poor chaps in the rear still had no idea as to what had happened. (Maybe they were snoozing.) I told everyone to get out quickly and told them not to make any hasty movements, as it might set the car rolling.

To be continued...(It's pretty lengthy.)

akroy · 22nd May 2008, 15:19

Sad to know about your tale. Eager to know further.

It was indeed stupid of you to do 80kmph in the hilly road with 3 people in front. Pray your stars that you live to tell the tale.

Hopefully you are careful in future.(Lets keep Rallys for dedicated tracks only)
Abhi

dadu · 22nd May 2008, 15:22

You took the words out of my mouth and not to forget he was driving in the darkness of night.

You are damn lucky to get out of this safely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by akroy

Sad to know about your tale. Eager to know further.

It was indeed stupid of you to do 80kmph in the hilly road with 3 people in front. Pray your stars that you live to tell the tale.

Hopefully you are careful in future.(Lets keep Rallys for dedicated tracks only)
Abhi

jango · 22nd May 2008, 15:23

Really stupid of you to experiment with ur driving skills especially on hilly roads and that too at night....Hope you and the other members in your car are doing fine !!

nitrous · 22nd May 2008, 15:27

This is why we have track days.
So that, people don't have to drive "Rally shtyle" on public roads.

jkdas · 22nd May 2008, 15:28

Its a bad dream right?

3 in front? Which car?

Not the right time to say but, nice writeup.

vnabhi · 22nd May 2008, 15:31

Thank God you are safe! Let this be an eye opener to all those who read this thread.

mjothi · 22nd May 2008, 15:34

Yes. Lucky person. 80kmph on a hill that too in dark...

i am also wondering, 3 in the front?? what car...

ashthedivx · 22nd May 2008, 15:36

You should be thankful to stars for letting you in-position to write this write up !!

OT: I strictly hate rash drivers on highway and hilly regions.

Anxiously waiting for the "To be continued" part....

phamilyman · 22nd May 2008, 15:43

Was everyone wearing seatbelts?

OT: Would airbags deploy in such a situation?

Dippy · 22nd May 2008, 15:51

Thats very irresponsible behaviour especially when you have the responsibility of 5 other lives on you. What car were you driving with three in front? I dont think anything except maybe a Fiat or Amby can do that. Hope everyone is safe and sound. Please do not drive rash and avoid night driving on such roads.

If at all you want to push the car, go to the track days which are organised frequently. Dont try your own adventures putting other's lives at risk

mezereo · 22nd May 2008, 16:01

sounds like a night mare.
you are lucky enough to get out of that without any damage (assuming no major damage ). whcih car is it by the way.

drive safe .

mansidea · 22nd May 2008, 16:02

phew...thats really scary & close. What car is this, with 3 in the front? Hope all are safe.

But how many of us can actually blame him for the stunts in an isolated forest road, even though its highly risky & dangerous?

HappyWheels · 22nd May 2008, 16:09

3 people in the front (and all adults!) - so seat belt out of the question!!!

Night time - ghat section - 80kmph and over confidence : Dolphin, glad all of you made it out there alive and here to write about it!

Please be more careful in future.

Looking forward to the whole story

harjeev · 22nd May 2008, 16:18

that pretty scary.
80 KMPH on the hills at night. Thats a receipe for disaster. Anyways nothing can be done about it now.
What about the others Is everyone safe?

22nd May 2008, 15:07	#1
Dolphin BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 132 Thanked: 45 Times	Pleasure Trip turned Horror This was a very disgusting incident that happened and the hardships faced later were mega. I can also say that I was very lucky. Here is my saga: My Uncle, Aunty and 3 of my friends (one was a girl) planned a trip to Malai Mahadeshwara Hills, which is about 200 KMS from Bangalore. We planned to stay overnight at the hills, complete the darshan next day and return by evening. The route to be taken was Bangalore-Kanakpura-Malavalli-Kollegal-Mahadeshwara Hills. So, on a bright sunny afternoon we set out, hoping to reach the hills by dinner time. One of my friends was driving the car. 3 in the front and 3 at the back, was how we were distributed. The drive was slow and bumpy since the roads were in a pathetic condition. But we were enjoying every minute of it. We reached Kollegal at around 5 P.M. The car was good, no problem no hiccups. We stopped there for a few minutes to buy some snacks and water. From there I took the wheel not knowing what lay ahead for us. 2 of my friends were sitting in the front with me, and the other friend, Uncle, Aunty were at the back. On that particular day I was very overconfident about my driving skills. I am always careful when I take new routes, but not that day. I was driving very fast from the moment I took the wheel. No one said anything, maybe since it was my car and, I had good driving experience, maybe they were confident about my driving. Soon it was dark and I switched ON the headlights and also the fog lights. Lighting was average. We passed the big arch at the bottom of the hills, which meant that we were entering the hilly forest area. I saw the first hairpin bend signboard and then took the turn rally style and it was perfect. My friends started appreciating me and I was smiling. Then I shifted from 2nd gear to 3rd. I saw a straight stretch ahead and accelerated close to 80km/h in 3rd and was about to shift to the 4th gear, suddenly I saw another road to my right, it was a curve. I got confused for a second, and without applying brakes, in 3rd gear, taking my foot off the accelerator, I went for the curve. I turned the steering wheel full flow to the right. Now, I was shocked, as it was a hairpin bend!! It was too late, I couldn’t make it and the car moved towards the middle of both the roads, towards the side wall! At this point I braked hard, but no use. I heard a loud thud as the car hit the side wall (nose first) and went over it. All this happened in a few seconds and there was very less time to think, believe me. The car was in a shocking downward inclination (below), about 2-3 meters from the road. (It was like we had fallen into a ditch or something.) The car was not moving though. Since the headlights were still working, I could see treetops in front of me. The engine was idling with a “clank”, “clank” sound, and I suddenly realized that we need to get out of the car immediately. My friends in the front knew what had just happened, but the poor chaps in the rear still had no idea as to what had happened. (Maybe they were snoozing.) I told everyone to get out quickly and told them not to make any hasty movements, as it might set the car rolling. To be continued...(It's pretty lengthy.)
	(1) Thanks

22nd May 2008, 15:19	#2
akroy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA, USA Posts: 2,423 Thanked: 85 Times View My Garage	Sad to know about your tale. Eager to know further. It was indeed stupid of you to do 80kmph in the hilly road with 3 people in front. Pray your stars that you live to tell the tale. Hopefully you are careful in future.(Lets keep Rallys for dedicated tracks only) Abhi
	() Thanks

22nd May 2008, 15:23	#4
jango BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New York & kotayam Posts: 800 Thanked: 23 Times View My Garage	Really stupid of you to experiment with ur driving skills especially on hilly roads and that too at night....Hope you and the other members in your car are doing fine !!
	() Thanks

22nd May 2008, 15:27	#5
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	This is why we have track days. So that, people don't have to drive "Rally shtyle" on public roads.
	() Thanks

22nd May 2008, 15:28	#6
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	Its a bad dream right? 3 in front? Which car? Not the right time to say but, nice writeup.
	() Thanks

22nd May 2008, 15:31	#7
vnabhi Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: DC -> DC Posts: 5,958 Thanked: 2,393 Times View My Garage	Thank God you are safe! Let this be an eye opener to all those who read this thread.
	() Thanks

22nd May 2008, 15:34	#8
mjothi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,287 Thanked: 231 Times View My Garage	Yes. Lucky person. 80kmph on a hill that too in dark... i am also wondering, 3 in the front?? what car...
	() Thanks

22nd May 2008, 15:36	#9
ashthedivx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,356 Thanked: 24 Times	You should be thankful to stars for letting you in-position to write this write up !! OT: I strictly hate rash drivers on highway and hilly regions. Anxiously waiting for the "To be continued" part....
	() Thanks

22nd May 2008, 15:43	#10
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,642 Times	Was everyone wearing seatbelts? OT: Would airbags deploy in such a situation?
	() Thanks

22nd May 2008, 15:51	#11
Dippy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,558 Thanked: 2,462 Times	Thats very irresponsible behaviour especially when you have the responsibility of 5 other lives on you. What car were you driving with three in front? I dont think anything except maybe a Fiat or Amby can do that. Hope everyone is safe and sound. Please do not drive rash and avoid night driving on such roads. If at all you want to push the car, go to the track days which are organised frequently. Dont try your own adventures putting other's lives at risk
	() Thanks

22nd May 2008, 16:01	#12
mezereo BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 126 Thanked: 3 Times View My Garage	sounds like a night mare. you are lucky enough to get out of that without any damage (assuming no major damage ). whcih car is it by the way. drive safe .
	() Thanks

22nd May 2008, 16:02	#13
mansidea BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 238 Thanked: 4 Times View My Garage	phew...thats really scary & close. What car is this, with 3 in the front? Hope all are safe. But how many of us can actually blame him for the stunts in an isolated forest road, even though its highly risky & dangerous?
	() Thanks

22nd May 2008, 16:09	#14
HappyWheels Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,106 Thanked: 537 Times	3 people in the front (and all adults!) - so seat belt out of the question!!! Night time - ghat section - 80kmph and over confidence : Dolphin, glad all of you made it out there alive and here to write about it! Please be more careful in future. Looking forward to the whole story
	() Thanks

22nd May 2008, 16:18	#15
harjeev Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,899 Thanked: 292 Times View My Garage	that pretty scary. 80 KMPH on the hills at night. Thats a receipe for disaster. Anyways nothing can be done about it now. What about the others Is everyone safe?
	() Thanks