Pictures now, Story later

Here is what I have for pictures now.  It is late.  I'll add the words later and maybe some more pics.  

PS: Everyone is fine. 

Suicidal deer? 

Glad to hear everyone is fine.  Accidents ain't never fun.  

On a more humorous slant that fender was rusty and needed replacement and come-a-longs are better for chassis straightening. 

Appleseed said:

Suicidal deer? 

That was my thought also

Glad you’re all ok.

I'm guessing pickup/suv combined with slippery roads

Glad everyone's OK. 

Glad everyone's OK!

That's your baby sister's car isn't It?  Was she riding solo or was you daughter in the car?

I bought this car over a year ago from GRMer PatG. It has been solid, basic transportation and was driven for the past year by my babysitter. The babysitter has now been driving the repaired  Challenge Nissan Van since around Oct this year. 

My wife's niece has recently graduated for OSU and moved on to Georgetown University for Grad work. Her boyfriend recently graduated from OSU but stayed in Columbus to complete a 1 year fellowship with The Ohio State House before then heading to law school. 

My niece had asked me if I had a cheap car for him.  I had paid $1k for this '00 Impala over a year ago. I sold him (essentially gave him) this car. It will be perfect for getting him to his first real job. 

The rest of the story is though he has gone to school in Ohio for 4 years, he has never had a car here and he is originally from Puerto Rico.   

So, niece arrived at the Cleveland airport on Friday and the boyfriend drove the two hours north, yesterday on Sat.  I had not necessarily put 2 & 2 together but on his first day EVER of driving in snow, he slid it off the road and knocked it against a pole. 

He has to be back to work on Weds. Monday is Christmas so that leaves me with just Tues to source a headlight. 

Drivability seems good but there was some rubbing for the shredded fender on the front tire that needed to be pulled away. Also, the passenger door would not open with the fender pushed back.   I did manage to pull the fender forward enough to make the door open smooth again.  

Sure a come a long would be better but all I really had handy was a super strong sailboat jib sheet. I added some slight additional damage like the bend in the pointy rear part of the fender but I knew I couldn't make it worse. My goal for yesterday was to get the fender pulled off the tire and confirm Drivability. 

Today I'll trim off some of the dangling lower plastic. If I can fab a way to make a light stay, he'll be "legal". 

I have no intention to make the car perfect again because if this is his first year ever driving in snow, this won't be his only accident. 

I'm glad everyone is ok.

Thankfully, everyone is ok.   Parts should be plentiful for this.  Now, sit back and toast some egg nog, and try to have a Merry Christmas.

when it snows, it pours?

I looked at the last picture and said "dang, that is bent" then realized the door was open 

Driving in snow is easy compared to driving in PR!

I'd I miss the part about what you actually hit?

Pole. Those berkeleyers are unforgiving.

EastCoastMojo said:

Pole. Those berkeleyers are unforgiving.

them and trees are almost perfectly designed to berkeley up a moving vehicle

That's no accident.  That's driver error, plain and simple. Get him some good winter tires and find a parking lot to have some fun,  er, I mean,  educational experiences in. Glad to hear all are okay. 

Well, Mom thought it was funny since everyone is ok.  (That’s my moms old car)

Glad to hear everyone is ok! That'll buff out. 

At 9am today, when they opened, I called the closest JY.  This is a "full service" place and not usually that cheap.  When I asked for an Impala lamp he was quick to say that all he had was crappy, foggy, etc.  I responded that if it looked good it wouldn't match and look out of place.  What I needed was "legal" more than good.  He told me to call back in 30 minutes.  $20, cash, no receipt.  Great I said!  

These lamps are held on with just plastic clips.  Here is a quick video of how it should be done...  video  

I was lucky that the inboard set of clips was completely in tact so I knew this instal would be at least 50% good.  The other side was planned to be held in with...you guesses it...zip ties.  I'll let the pictures tell the story but in Ohio, this is "legal".   I test drove the car as high as 80 mph.  All good and all smooth.  

That’ll buff out. 

can't be worse than the pickup truck I saw last year a OneLap highway transit, with one of the rear leafspring mounts hanging free

wait until the driver's fender is crunched, and then get a deal on two?

Zip ties FTW!!! I keep 3 or 4 different sizes in the garage at all times.

speaking of, how much effort required to make this thing school people at next years' ZipTie drags?