Totaled!

Last Saturday, Caroline was a passenger in a car accident.  She and the driver are fine, just a little sore.  The car, however, was totaled.  That car was my old Sebring.

So we reach the end of an era.  July 1997, from the Carmax dealership in Norcross, Georgia.  Back when Carmax had just started selling new Chryslers.  Only had about 65,000 miles on it, too, after almost 11 years.

I know from the insurance business that there is an extremely high probability that a parent of a teenager will get "that call" at some point.  IIRC, something like 80% of American teenagers will be in a wreck between the ages of 16 and 18.  So we are very grateful that our call brought news so benign.  No real injuries, news delivered by Caroline herself and not some police officer.

She had been at prom that night with a friend from church.  They took the Sebring, because the other kid was grounded from driving his Accord.  They had come home, changed clothes, and were heading out to a parent-sponsored after-party.  The boy knew the destination, so Caroline let him drive.  Just past the school, someone pulled out in front of them, the boy swerved and lost control.  The Sebring did a 360, they crossed the road and struck a brick wall on the other side of the road.  Like i said, quite fortunate.

My claims adjuster tried to keep it from being totaled, but there was extensive undercarriage damage, and it wasn't close.  So now i'm back in that dilemma of trying to figure out what vehicle, if any, to get for Caroline.  Safety is paramount, and i want something with side airbags.  But try to find something with side airbags for a reasonable low price.  For the cost of a good used car, i can get a new vehicle through my GM employee price.  But i struggle (mightily) with the thought of a teenager driving a brand new vehicle.

I think a period of carlessness could be healthy, despite the attendant burden on the rest of us, especially Julie.

Here's a photo of some of the damage...

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