I crashed my RTS and snapped off a fire hydrant and traffic signal - video

Kevin Warnock · February 03, 2011, 02:33:04 PM

This is a sad story, and one I am embarrassed about. But I'm posting the details and link the the video here because it might help others avoid the same disaster. My mind played a trick on me for a couple of seconds, and that's all it took to run over a fire hydrant. I was not hurt, and neither was anyone else, thankfully.

http://kevinwarnock.com/2011/01/17/tragedy-with-my-rts-bus-conversion/

There's a link to the video I shot with my iPhone of the hydrant water fountain I created. It's spectacular in an awful kind of way.

I've been driving a conversion for almost 10 years without an at fault accident, and this stupid accident happened at 2 miles per hour roughly. These vehicles are powerful.

Has anyone here done anything like this before?

Again, I'm mortified, but I think sharing here is the right thing to do.

Kevin

Ace · February 03, 2011, 02:46:39 PM

GREAT write up and nothing was hurt but your pride!

I wouldn't worry about your record too much. Sooner or later it will be a thing of the past and something to laugh about!

desi arnaz · February 03, 2011, 02:47:25 PM

i trust you know that the small hydrant is fresh water and the large is salt water from the bay?

Highway Yacht · February 03, 2011, 02:53:04 PM

Kevin.. Don't beat yourself up too much.. Accidents happen. Glad nobody was hurt..

Jimmy

John316 · February 03, 2011, 03:13:36 PM

Thanks for the update, Kevin.

Now I know what your other account is. Great

.

God bless,

John

Kevin Warnock · February 03, 2011, 03:53:09 PM

No, I didn't know the big hydrant is salt water! Well, if I had knocked that one over at least there's a limitless supply of salt water in the San Francisco bay!

happycamperbrat · February 03, 2011, 04:11:46 PM

when I was a teen, I was riding with another teen friend. She hit a fire hydrant but it was quite the geiser! Im sorry about your RTS but it looks repairable and one day you will laugh about this

kyle4501 · February 03, 2011, 05:22:11 PM

Awesome write up! Good lesson to share.
I've paid lots more to learn lots less.

Now that it is part of your past, you will have a cool story to tell.
(Most of us have stories to tell that don't shed the best light on our abilities . . . welcome to the club!

)

The next time you find yourself in a difficult spot, just remind yourself that it ain't as bad as standing at the corner of 19th Avenue & Moraga in wet shoes!

Lin · February 03, 2011, 05:35:07 PM

Wait a second, how could such a thing happen? I thought we had these buses to just work on them. We're not supposed to drive them also, are we?

belfert · February 03, 2011, 05:50:43 PM

I thought fire hydrants are designed with the actual valve well under ground so the fountain of water so familiar from TV and movies wouldn't happen? Maybe that is only in cold weather states where the valve would freeze if it wasn't 4 feet or more down?

Brassman · February 03, 2011, 07:46:39 PM

On the bright side of things, at least you know what your next bus project will be.

These things happen to all of us--a distraction, a momentary lapse in judgement, and an ahh sh*t.

Large machines=big bo-boo's.

thomasinnv · February 03, 2011, 08:37:11 PM

Quote from: belfert on February 03, 2011, 05:50:43 PM
I thought fire hydrants are designed with the actual valve well under ground so the fountain of water so familiar from TV and movies wouldn't happen? Maybe that is only in cold weather states where the valve would freeze if it wasn't 4 feet or more down?

the most commonly used type of hydrants have the valve at the bottom of the barrel, with a break away flange between the barrel and the valve, and another break away flange between the top of the barrel and the hydrant body. Ideally the breakaway flange will snap and the underground piping and valve will remain intact, avoiding what happened in this case. There were some hydrants used in the 70's and older that were not of a break away style, and would result in the "gusher" if struck hard enough. In my 26 years in the fire industry I have seen very few of these though, and many fire districts have required them to be replaced.

uncle ned · February 04, 2011, 07:07:03 AM

You are not the first busnut to have this happen to them. I bought a chain link fence on my first trip to Jack's rally.

Most likley will not be my last thing either as long as I can drive.

Old people rule and have the most fun.

uncle ned

boxcarOkie · February 04, 2011, 07:14:09 AM

Last summer I backed into a gate at a shop and tore off one of my aux. back up lights, bent the gate a little too. He still hasn't forgiven me for it and will on occasion bring it up to remind me, lest I forget. I saw a guy back into a big blue dumpster and move it about four feet ... now that was cool ... and somewhat noisy to boot.

Hey Cliff ... go over to my webpage and look at the new tool for men.

BCO

desi arnaz · February 04, 2011, 01:11:45 PM

the reason San Francisco has salt water hydrants is that during the big earthquake of 1906 there was not enough fresh water to put all the fires out so the city burnt. i think they also have hookups so it can be attached to a fire boat if there is no power for the pumps.