Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: CoryTDF on December 23, 2018, 07:32:11 PM
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Well today was an eye opener. I nearly lost my daughter, myself, my dogs, and I completely lost my truck.
Long and short of it is that my truck popped out of park while I was at the waters edge. I heard a pop and when I turned around my truck was rolling into the water. I was able to get my door open and at that time the truck was full to the floor board. I tried to get in and put it in drive to pull out but the rear end was floating. I knew it was lost and so I grabbed my Ellie and pulled her over me and pushed her out the door into the river. By now the water was halfway up the steering wheel. I got out and grabbed Ellie and started to swim to shore. Luckily some kids were there at the launch and they were able to come out and get her from me. I was trying to swim in my waders. My truck is lost but my daughter and my dogs are safe so while I am very upset I am grateful. I never thought I would be “that guy” but it happened to me today. I would guess it took about 15 seconds total for my truck to sink. I learned a valuable lesson today. Set your EBrake always and don’t get complacent like I was. Also, make sure you take your dogs out of their crate before you launch.
Can’t recall the name of the kids that helped us but I want to publicly thank you guys. You likely help save my daughters life and I am forever in your debt. Also want to thank the guy that went down the river and retrieved my boat. Really heartwarming to see fellow Fowler’s come together to help out a person in need. I hope your good deeds are revisited upon you 10 fold. Thank you for making sure I am able to spend another Christmas with my family.
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Glad everyone is ok. Trucks can be replaced.
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Miracles never cease, glad your family is safe. Those kids were great when you needed them.
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Glad you made it!
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Glad everyone is ok. Trucks can be replaced.
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:yeah: Glad you are all OK
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Glad you and family are ok
Thanks for sharing the lessons learned
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Glad you're safe.
Is that your trucks headlights shining through the water?
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I’m glad you and your daughter are safe :tup:
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Holy smokes! Thank goodness you and your entire family are safe!! Cannot imagine how scary that would be and I certainly understand your anger! A lot of us make those decisions and so often get away with it. Lesson learned and I am certainit changes the way you do things from here on.
What a blessing those other folks at the launch were and first class move by the guy to help you get your boat back!!
Extra hugs at your house tonight! Merry Christmas!!
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Wow! Glad everyone is okay!
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Glad you are all ok
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Glad you're safe.
Is that your trucks headlights shining through the water?
It sure is
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So glad you and your daughter are ok
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Items can be replaced. Glad you, your kid, and the dogs are alive.
You're not the only one this has happened to and thanks for the post. I haven't sunk one but a couple of co workers have and both times the e brakes weren't set. One was a manual (Common theme when talking to the tow truck driver this past summer).
I'm honestly scared *censored*less every time I'm by a biggish river with a rig on a boat launch. Especially when I am behind an engine drafting.
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Glad to hear this turned out positive for you the kiddo and your pups...like said above the truck can be replaced! Glad to hear there were good people around to lend a hand!!! Give the daughter an extra hug and your companions a big ol bone to chew on :)
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So glad you and your daughter are ok
:yeah:
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Good to read that only the Tundra was lost and not you or your daughter. It can be replaced but you two can’t.
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Sickening scary, Corey. Way to grab the baby, all I can say, I know you’d have been in the water til you got her, glad that never became an issue. Truck is a truck. Merry Christmas, Brother! You win!
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Wow- it's a Merry Christmas at your house. Glad everyone came out OK
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Glad that it worked out!
Merry Christmas, hug everyone a little tighter this year...
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We've had some rough luck at that boat launch man. Glad to hear that you guys were safe. Praying for a good replacement truck for you! :tup:
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Thank the Lord you are all well.
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Glad everyone is ok. Trucks can be replaced.
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:yeah: Glad you are all OK
AMEN!
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Very Scary. Thank God you guys are ok!
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Very scary! Thank God those fellas were there to help out and you had your wits about you to get your kiddo out! Merry Christmas sir and good luck on the new truck hunt.
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Glad everyone was OK! Cold water has dangers above and beyond getting trapped in the vehicle.
I was diving near the Hood Canal several years ago and we were headed to the launch (The one on the NW side of the Hood Canal Bridge). As we approached the ramp we went right over a truck in the water.
We trailered the boat and put on our gear to check it out. It was a Jeep Cherokee Laredo and was sitting in about 20 feet of water with a jack-knifed trailer behind it. it was sitting about 10 feet from a super steep drop off that would have put it into about 150 feet of water.
The rear was open the keys in the ignition, and it was in neutral. The trailer had military plates on it (perhaps it was checked out by a service member?).
We put it in park and set the brake to keep it from rolling off the edge.
I'll never forget seeing kids toys in the seat of the truck. Made me sad that someone had lost their truck.
Some vampire was waiting on the shore saying that if it was in the water for XX more hours he was going to claim it for salvage. What a jerk... some poor guy looses his truck and this waste of space is trying to swipe what was left... Left a bad taste in my mouth.
Made for an interesting ending dive for the day though! We were glad we did not get a prop-strike when we ran over it on the way in.
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Wow, close call, glad you thought fast and help was there when you needed it!
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Glad everyone is safe, and we aren't reading a much worse outcome. Christmas should feel extra special this year.
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Thanks everybody. It's been a rough couple of days. I just cant stop thinking about how bad it could have been. It is kinda haunting me. I was in a very serious car accident in 2004 in which I was injured and I do not remember it bothering me like this one has. I do not know what I would have done if I lost my daughter. I decided to share this story with hopes that it helps remind others to use caution. I will never again forget my E-Brake and I will NEVER have my dogs in the back or my children buckled up during a launch.
Trucks sink so much faster than you think they will. I was faced with a very tough situation and while I have run it back through my mind a million times. I thought of all the things I might have done differently to save my truck but when 3 seconds was the difference between breathing and drowning I know I made the right choice. I just couldn't push my daughter out into the river in the pitch black and not follow her out the door. In my mind during that moment I had a choice to keep trying to safe my truck or to save my child and it was an easy choice to make.
I think back on this and sure there is plenty I could have done to never have been in this situation in the first place. Though I am not positive the E-Brake would have held I can never know for sure but it could not have hurt. I could have had my daughter get out of the truck while I was launching the boat (which I will do from now on) but everything that I think might have made a difference is irrelevant at this point. My baby is safe and it cost me a truck, not a life, and for that I am eternally grateful. We live and we learn some lessons are just much more intense than others.
Merry Christmas HW and thank you for the kind words. I know I will treasure this Christmas above all others as I truly have been blessed.
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Gives me chills just thinking about having one of my own in that position. Like others have said, trucks can be replaced but lives cannot. Glad everyone is safe and sound.
Question.....what waders were you wearing and did they fill with water etc? Curious about any changes to wardrobe after having to take a dip?
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Very scary, and glad everyone is safe. I launch with just my 5 year old son fairly often, and I can’t imagine the panick you were in.
Not sure if you had one on or not, but a wading belt can be a life saver if you end up in the water with waders on. I always have a sharp knife attached to it too, just in case.
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Gives me chills just thinking about having one of my own in that position. Like others have said, trucks can be replaced but lives cannot. Glad everyone is safe and sound.
Question.....what waders were you wearing and did they fill with water etc? Curious about any changes to wardrobe after having to take a dip?
I had on the Cabelas SuperMag 1600 waders. Surprisingly they floated pretty well. It was really hard to swim in them but they floated pretty well. They did fill with water but that eventually warmed up and the next 2 hours of dealing with the truck I was pretty warm. I had on a couple synthetic hoodies to so I was not to bad. I guess the adrenaline likely had something to do with that too. My hands pretty much quit working though.
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You are your own hero.
You saved your daughters life!
Screw the truck.
Never should have popped outta gear in the first place.
Enjoy your loved ones and Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Glad everyone is ok. Trucks can be replaced.
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:yeah: Glad you're all safe. You certainly have something to be thankful for this Christmas.
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Wow, glad everyone is ok. Thank you for sharing, this is a great reminder. I’m “that guy” at the launch and say something whenever I see people launching with kids in car seats.
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holy!!! this story gave me the pucker factor, I am always nervous about this possibiltiy in the summer launching the boat or taking the boat out, even worse in the dark in cold water wearing waders, I always assumed it was better to have the kids in their seats instead of getting ran over by some idiot not paying attention at the launch. but this story just changed my mind, I think ill just take an extra minute and have them stand out of the way. Thanks for posting this, on top of saving your daughter, you changed my way of doing things now and potentially my own families lives if this were to happen to me. merry christmas, I bet she got an extra hug the last few days
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You and your daughter are safe that’s all that matters.👍
Do they charge more for the diver?🤔
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You and your daughter are safe that’s all that matters.👍
Do they charge more for the diver?🤔
Diver was $1000 alone.
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Will set my E Brake from here on out when backed in at the launch.
So very glad to hear that you and yours are safe. Sorry about the damage to your rig.
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2005 Tundra Crappie Jig. There are cheaper ways to catch fish though.
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i pretty much only fish the salt. Launching at low tide can be interesting with the layer of seaweed on the launch. I usually have to put in 4wd, and always use the ebrake.
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Has there been a " parking pal " recall ? It's called " Paul ". Parking Paul.
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SOO Happy you are both safe. I had a friend have a seizure at a boat launch a few years ago while backing his truck and trailer down to the water. I had to attend his funeral. This time of year it could have ended so much worse. Glad you are both safe.
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2005 Tundra Crappie Jig. There are cheaper ways to catch fish though.
I am glad to see the lighter side. I thought this was funny, but the initial post in all seriousness would be scary AF.
Glad your family is together during this holiday season.
Merry Christmas
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Damn. So glad nobody was hurt or worse.
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Heard about this later that day. We drove right by - we were on our way to hunt lower down the river and looked like there was a commotion down at the launch. Did you guys get a fire going or just a lot of lights around?
You said popped out of park - was it an automatic? I have to admit, I've been guilty of not putting the ebrake sometimes while driving the automatic. Driving sticks I always do.
Really glad to hear everyone is safe. I love being on the water this time of year, but certainly a reminder how careful we need to be and mindful that we need to be prepared.
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Thank you, God you are safe!
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Dude, so sorry you had to experience that. Glad you and (especially) your daughter is safe. Makes me sick that you lost your truck but really glad that's all it was.
Hope you guys still had a Merry Christmas, and I hope you're able to pull off a new rig in the New Year. Put this behind you!!
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Heard about this later that day. We drove right by - we were on our way to hunt lower down the river and looked like there was a commotion down at the launch. Did you guys get a fire going or just a lot of lights around?
You said popped out of park - was it an automatic? I have to admit, I've been guilty of not putting the ebrake sometimes while driving the automatic. Driving sticks I always do.
Really glad to hear everyone is safe. I love being on the water this time of year, but certainly a reminder how careful we need to be and mindful that we need to be prepared.
No fire just a lot of lights. Tow truck, cops, fire fighters, and a diver. No idea why the deputy called the fire department though. Anyway, yes it is an automatic.
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Little update:
Insurance just got back to me and told me the truck is totaled for sure. No idea what they are going to give me for it but at least the chapter is about to be closed.
Happy to report that my daughter is doing well and has even been out hunting with me again a few times since the accident. She had a hard time the first time back at the launch but she is a tough girl and she has moved past it and is ready to keep hunting!
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Little update:
Insurance just got back to me and told me the truck is totaled for sure. No idea what they are going to give me for it but at least the chapter is about to be closed.
Happy to report that my daughter is doing well and has even been out hunting with me again a few times since the accident. She had a hard time the first time back at the launch but she is a tough girl and she has moved past it and is ready to keep hunting!
Don't settle without looking at equivalent values on your own. They're gonna low ball you to the moon and back.
Happy to hear about your daughter. She sounds like a trooper.
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Little update:
Insurance just got back to me and told me the truck is totaled for sure. No idea what they are going to give me for it but at least the chapter is about to be closed.
Happy to report that my daughter is doing well and has even been out hunting with me again a few times since the accident. She had a hard time the first time back at the launch but she is a tough girl and she has moved past it and is ready to keep hunting!
Don't settle without looking at equivalent values on your own. They're gonna low ball you to the moon and back.
Happy to hear about your daughter. She sounds like a trooper.
I have alreasy been talking to them about this. I sent over a list of comparable trucks that I found. I told them that I am really nervous that they will be trying to give me a insultingly low number for my truck and that I would be looking into my own COMPS to make sure we are on the same page.
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Little update:
Happy to report that my daughter is doing well and has even been out hunting with me again a few times since the accident. She had a hard time the first time back at the launch but she is a tough girl and she has moved past it and is ready to keep hunting!
This is great to read. Kids are resilient.
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Very scary experience, so glad that you, your daughter and dogs are all safe. That had to be a pretty helpless feeling, watching your truck get swallowed up by the river.
Question.....what waders were you wearing and did they fill with water etc?
I had always heard this rumor as well, but after watching this video, the risk is almost nonexistent, which actually makes sense when you get to thinking about it.
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Great video.
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Insurance just got back to me and told me the truck is totaled for sure. No idea what they are going to give me for it but at least the chapter is about to be closed.
So glad you are OK!!!!!
Insurance companies will look for comparables but they typically don't look on craigslist.
State law says they can search a 150 mile radius and if they need to expand the search, they are to get permission from you. Sometimes there is no choice to expand the search but your truck is fairly common.
Insurance companies utilize other companies for valuations and finding comparable vehicles. There are 3 major companies they use and the public doesn't have access to them but they do a good job in searching and valuing. If the insurance company was to 'low-ball' the value on purpose, they could get in very hot water for doing so.
Do show us your next rig. :tup:
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I'm late to post on this one but good on you for sharing it. Something similar happened to me at the lake. Luckily my daughter wasnt in the truck. My truck was running, in neutral, with the e brake on. I always shut the truck off and put it in gear. But that day I got in a hurry and didn't. I was standing on the trailer pulling the boat up when I heard the e brake start to slip. I jumped into the bed but even with the doors shut the truck only floated for a minute. 3/4 dodge diesel. I debated jumping in and trying to open the door and try to drive it out. But then had visions of getting pinned under the truck somehow. A guy in a boat plucked me off the back. Watched it sink. Nearby homeowner free dove and hooked up the tow winch and was out within an hour. Insurance paid off the loan, gave me the truck and about $13 grand back. I spent $1000 to get it running and maybe $3k replacing the other odds and ends stuff electrical inside the cab. Still drive it all the time. I couldn't believe the amount of *censored*ty comments I got from people when I told a few. Never really made it public except on a diesel FB page. We all have moments where we screw up or *censored* happens. I'm just happy I wasn't hurt and not very many people saw it happen. I went thru my head a million times what I would've done if my daughter was with me. Can't even imagine. Glad you're all okay.
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I'm late to post on this one but good on you for sharing it. Something similar happened to me at the lake. Luckily my daughter wasnt in the truck. My truck was running, in neutral, with the e brake on. I always shut the truck off and put it in gear. But that day I got in a hurry and didn't. I was standing on the trailer pulling the boat up when I heard the e brake start to slip. I jumped into the bed but even with the doors shut the truck only floated for a minute. 3/4 dodge diesel. I debated jumping in and trying to open the door and try to drive it out. But then had visions of getting pinned under the truck somehow. A guy in a boat plucked me off the back. Watched it sink. Nearby homeowner free dove and hooked up the tow winch and was out within an hour. Insurance paid off the loan, gave me the truck and about $13 grand back. I spent $1000 to get it running and maybe $3k replacing the other odds and ends stuff electrical inside the cab. Still drive it all the time. I couldn't believe the amount of *censored*ty comments I got from people when I told a few. Never really made it public except on a diesel FB page. We all have moments where we screw up or *censored* happens. I'm just happy I wasn't hurt and not very many people saw it happen. I went thru my head a million times what I would've done if my daughter was with me. Can't even imagine. Glad you're all okay.
I hear you there man. The past few weeks I have heard it all and to be honest it has not really bothered me as I it was really just a freak thing. I know i'm an idiot and sure I should have put the E-Brake on, but honestly I had done this a million times before some with and some without and never had this issue. What is important is that my daughter, dogs, and myself are safe and that I learned a very valuable lesson. People will always run their mouths as that is just the nature of things. I shared because if my story helps even one single person my humiliation was well worth it.
I was very surprised at the level of support and concern I found here on HW. There always seems to be that "one guy" who has to say something and thus far it has not happened. Like I said before if my story helps even one single person my humiliation was well worth it.
Also, i just let the insurance company take my truck as they gave me just shy of $16k for it and i did not want to hassle with the electrical issues that were sure to plague that truck. My mechanical knowledge ends at oil change so I did not want to mess with it. When it comes to working on cars I am no DIY guy.
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And now we want to see the new crappie jig that replaced the old one. :hello:
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Launched my boat this weekend and made an extra point to put on the e-brake after reading this thread! Thanks!
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Launched my boat this weekend and made an extra point to put on the e-brake after reading this thread! Thanks!
I chock the tires and in gear with the e brake on now
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Glad to see my misfortune has helped others to be more aware and hopefully never have the same experience.
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Too soon? ;) ;)
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Glad all are safe. Things can happen quick. I know that I use my e-brake more often now because of your story.
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Too soon? ;) ;)
:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: