Was in a rollover this weekend- my big takeaway from the experience

This weekend me and three other guys were passengers in a vehicle that rolled.This was a very capable vehicle, with an extremely experienced driver.

Myself and two others were sitting unsecured in the rear on troop carrier style benches, the vehicle was open except for a canvas top.

What I thought was just going to be a trip around a field turned into hitting an actual trail up a mountain. Toward the top we ended up in a pretty off camber position, and lost forward momentum. By this point I was no longer enjoying this experience, and was getting very uneasy. Every fiber of my being wanted to tell the driver to stop, so I could get out of the vehicle. But I didn't.

Shortly after he started backing up to reset his line, the rear tire on the low side fell into a hole and the vehicle started to slowly go over. None of us tried to get out, we all tried to brace. It slowly flopped onto its side, then kept going. At the point when I realized I was kneeling on the ceiling of the vehicle and it was still going, I thought to myself "this is how I die". I don't think I've ever been more scared in my life as when that thing started to tip.

We went over one more time and came to rest laying on the passenger side with the wheels pointing downhill. As soon as I realized all my limbs were working,I scrambled out of that thing as fast as I could. I then helped everyone else out.

Over 24 hours later, I'm still shocked that we all walked away from this. Some of the other guys got a little bit more banged up than me, but we were all able to walk down the mountain under our own power.

Anyway, my big takeaway from this, and advice I STRONGLY recommend everyone follow:

When in doubt, GET THE FUCK OUT.

I ignored my gut, and didn't get out of the vehicle. That could have literally cost me my life. The other three guys that were passengers and I had this conversation walking down the mountain, and It turns out the other three guys instincts had told them to get out as well, and we all had the same thought, "I'm mad at myself for not listening to my gut".

Seriously, listen to your gut. Don't worry about looking like you're scared, or offending the driver. Your life could depend on it.

Secondly, I willingly got into an open-topped unsecured vehicle. That's on me. That was poor judgment, and I will not make that mistake again. You might think, oh it's only one time, nothing will happen. Well, it only takes one time for something to happen.

It hit me a little while afterwards, how bad that could have been, and I am so thankful that we're all alive and un-injured today.

 

Guardian angel?

 

I don't know man, maybe so.

 

Glad you’re ok. Got any pics?

 

I hear ya, I've "got out" plenty of times in Moab on some narly stuff. Gladd you are ok

 

I was so shaken up I didn't even think of it.

 

Damn! I'm glad you're OK!!

Thank you for sharing. Good advice, too!

 

Thank God this ended with scrapes and bumps, instead of the alternative. You are sooooo right about 'the gut feeling' thing, and the part you have to get past is; that trust factor of that gut feeling. You may only have 1 chance to act, thankfully you guys got to walk away!

 

I'm glad you survived.

What was this truly capable vehicle?

 

Pinzgauer. I'd never seen one in person, really fascinating vehicle. Fully independent suspension with long swingarms and portal hubs. Absurd amount of ground clearance even on relatively small tires.

 

Wow! Nothing like an afternoon ride to bring it all together. Glad to hear everyone is ok.

 

Cool looking vehicle. Reminds me of a Volvo C303.

 

Yes!

 

Scary! You are all very fortunate. Some of my bros were on a tour of the volcano on St Vincent in 93. They were sitting on wood benches along the sides of the truck, no seatbelts, and the truck hit a soft spot and the road crumbled, rolling the truck down the hill. One didn’t make it, the other’s arm was crushed from reaching for him. Bad bad day. How quickly life can be forever changed. I’m glad y’all are ok.

 

Thank you for sharing this experience. It's important to remember that we are all mere mortals and sh*t inevitably can happen at any time, prepared or not.

So glad to learn everyone was OK. You are right that it could've been something much more tragic. Don't beat yourself up on hindsight though. It just means you are wiser for getting through it and have more knowledge for future adventures.

 

Good on you for helping others out and for passing this on to us.

 

Did it look like this one?

 

Or this one?

 

This one. Except the canvas sides were rolled up. No idea how we all managed to stay inside.

It's a badass rig, and I got word that the owner his buddies recovered it yesterday and drove it down the mountain under its own power. The things a beast!

 

Damn! That's just so tragic. Especially when they weren't even out off-roading or doing anything stupid, just doing a sightseeing tour. You're right, bad stuff can happen in an instant, you never know.