Crabnife

May 15th
My car.
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...2_364078_n.jpg


May 16th 1:30 am
The phone rings at the place I call home. No one picks up. My mother wakes up and calls the number back. She was expecting to hear my voice. Instead it was substituted by a different man.

“I’m sorry. I’m trying to reach Mason Clinedinst.”

“Is this Mason’s mother? Kim Clinedinst?”

“Yes . . .”

“Your son has been in a serious auto accident. He is currently being air lifted to York Hospital.”

The phone came off of my mother’s ear and went directly into my sleeping father’s hands. I can’t imagine what I’ve put her though. The man on the other side of the call was a PA State trooper. He couldn’t even tell my parents if I was alive or not. I can’t imagine what I put them through.

To explain the situation a little more. I had just dropped my girlfriend off at her house and was driving home because I had school in the morning. Stone sober and driving a 1982 corvette like it was an investment, a rare occurrence for a 19 year old boy. Around two miles into my travels, I’m told, around a long sweeping 45 degree turn I fell asleep. Went straight off the road, got caught in ruts in the land created by utility trucks and hit a . . . you guessed it . . . utility pole.

I won’t blame you if you don’t click on the following links.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...7&l=95f9a43809

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...7&l=81d1dafc70

I’m sharing my story so some others might be able to get something out of it. This has been an awakening experience for me. I’m not invincible. I’m not going to live forever. It can all end as quickly as it started.

I was in love with my car. I loved taking it out and just driving. I loved taking my car to its limits. I loved parking my car and just looking at it. But at the end of the day that’s all it was. A car. A piece of machinery. Mass produced metal, plastic, leather, and rubber. I looked around online and I found more corvettes. If I looked hard enough I could find one that was just like mine. I did another search with different results. You can’t buy life.

Next time you go for a drive. Think of all the people that love you. Don’t put them through this.

P.S. – Broken Femur. Cut though 2 muscles in my tricep and 50% of the tendon. Detached heel pad ( I ripped every ligament and tendon holding the bottom of my foot in place. It looked like a sock that was a few sizes too big. For about 4 weeks after the accident there was a chance of amputation.) Concussion. Other cuts and breaks. All major injuries were done to my left side.

jimo

I was in love with my car. I loved taking it out and just driving. I loved taking my car to its limits. I loved parking my car and just looking at it. But at the end of the day that’s all it was. A car. A piece of machinery. Mass produced metal, plastic, leather, and rubber. I looked around online and I found more corvettes. If I looked hard enough I could find one that was just like mine. I did another search with different results. You can’t buy life.

Mate!! you are very lucky to be alive, i hope you have recovered well.

kdf1986

Glad you are alive to tell your story.

Those were some pretty bad looking shots of what used to be your car. I hope for your speedy recovery.

kdf

law dog

Partner.....it`s good to be alive isn`t it? I`m curious if the accident investigation team was able to determine your speed on impact? It looked violent.
My ex was in a car accident this morning in Fresno. Totaled her Lexus, but she`s okay. That`s the important thing.
The car can be replaced. Stay strong and focused. Rehab is tough and painful but you will come through.

I know all to well.....I had a near fatal accident 10/1/1997 when I was hit by a drunk driver on my motorcycle. 18 months and 6 surgeries.

Take care,
Brian

JungleCat

I'm glad you made it. You're one of the lucky ones that lived to tell. I hope you have a speedy recovery, everything else can be replaced.

73 454 vette

brother put our whole family through the same thing. he fell asleep driving on the autobahn and hit a guard rail and cartwheeled his car down an embankment.

be glad your alive and for all you put your loved ones through im sure they are more than happy your still here for them to yell at you

speedy recovery

Eddie 70

WOW!! Those are amazing pictures. If you had not been the one posting the pics I would not have believed someone could live through that. You are indeed lucky. You are right, cars can be replaced but lives cannot.

3JsVette

When I look at those pictures I can only say it just wasn't your time.

Speedy recovery. Thanks for the reminder.

400hp427vette

And I will take your advice very serious. I also wish you a speedy recovery.

NJVette77

You are without a doubt lucky to have gotta away from that wreck and in some ways....you won the lottery without even playing.

We all live and learn and it seems you did too and that's a good thing, hope you heal as soon as possible.

Railroadman

I usually can come up with some joke or wisecrack. There is just no joking to be done - you are extremely lucky to be alive. Best wishes for a complete recovery and keep us posted on how you are doing as rehab continues. They say long-term recovery is a series of ups and downs and I'm sure this forum will give support to get through the times things don't mend as fast as you wish they would.

79L48

Best wishes on the speedy recovery and thank you for sharing your story. It is important that people realize that being drunk or stoned isn't the only way they can get hurt or get in an accident.

P.S. your frame might be bent

Sorry, but I believe there's humor in all things.

God Bless!

Skip Burney

Hey my 20 year old nephew went through the same thing in his Firebird. Stone cold sober on his way home from a date raining like cats and dogs he hit a big puddle hydroplaned into a ditch hit a concrete culvert head on. He will never walk without a limp and has 2 rods in his back. When you are in your 20`s you are bullet proof and at 58 I can trip over the darn dog and break my neck. You young guys please be careful we need all of you we can get.

Les

I'm thankful that you're here to tell the story. Heal quickly and heal well.

When I was almost 17 I was driving through the central valley of California on the way home from a vacation in Hawaii. My 60 Vette, and first car, was cruising along nicely when a guy in a full sized Ford drove through a stop sign and hit the drivers door of the Vette at approx. 65 MPH.

This is your story so I won't go on with the details but I barely survived and gained a whole new appreciation for life which continues to this day, almost 39 years later. It sounds like you've come out of it with the same type of appreciation. Love your family, love your friends, and enjoy life as much as you can. Hopefully you've gotten all of your bad luck out of the way.

rajsid

Glad to hear that you made it out alive. God bless.

Quil

Jimminy freaking Christmas bro... those are some horrifying pictures. Keep your chin up.

Vette80regon

Thank you for your story. Glad you are still alive and hope for a speedy recovery!


Again, thanks for the share.

69 Convertible

All I can say is WoW!! I think God was watchin over you. The main thing is that your alive. Live life to the fullest. Get well. Tony

FlyViper

Looks similar to what I did when I was 16 in a '85 vette, except I was just being an idiot 16 yr old and driving like I shouldn't have been. I missed that car for years, but now 10 yrs later I have my dream car (a '71). So just know in the end you'll always be able to get another vette. Glad to hear you're recovering and keep up the good attitude! Don't ever take life for granted because you never know when it's your time and you never know when it's your friend's time.

toolman1981

Dude, I just gotta say I dont' see where you were able to fit in that car after the accident.

Its truly a miracle you made it through that.

Please keep us informed on the progress of your rehabilitation.

If or when you are ready to re-Vette yourself remember that we are here to help in any way we can.