[Dick B]

Here is my near-death experience in a '65 VW bug. I was coming from a job site, west into Corvallis from I 5, after dark. A sailor, home for leave, coming south, was driving his buddies old Caddie hearse. He ran the stop sign without slowing and took me on the right front fender. He spun me around and into the eastbound lane, where I was taken by a full-sized sedan. The engine took that impact. The car had a lap belt, and when I woke up I was in the back seat. My head had started out the rear window. Injuries included a large cut on the back of my head, a broken hand, concussion, bruises and numerous other cuts, I woke up and got out of the car. I remember someone saying "my god look at all that blood". That was very encouraging. Folks got me to lie down until the EMTS showed up and got me into the hospital in Albany. My wife worked there, so she kept vigil all night. the car was totaled. Neither perp or car had any insurance. He rearranged his leave and was gone the next day. Our insurance company picked up the tab for damages. I consider there was divine intervention at play, as any other sequence of strikes could have led to my demise. VWs of that era had no front-end protection other than sheet metal and a gas tank. The engine compartment is the best place to take on a straight on collision and that is what happened with #2. I wore a plaster cast for a week or so, but after a few days in the rain it was mush, so I had my uncle cut it off with a pair of tin snips. The incident didn't diminish my love for VW bugs tho. Don't know why I liked them. They were underpowered, had no room, heaters were crap, and they would suck valves if they weren't adjusted on a regular basis.