Sawmill Wreck

AdamT · March 01, 2017, 10:20:42 PM

Sawmill Wreck
Well this past Saturday, Feb 25th didn't end as planned. I got done sawing a small job, and by small I mean 1 log, but the customer paid my minimum charge, and I had more money in my pocket when I finished then when I woke up. Packed up, shot the bull with my customer for a while, then started to ease on home with plenty of day left to piddle around the farm. Or so I thought. Well, My worst fear when pulling my mill happened. A rear end accident. It happened so fast there was nothing I could do but watch it all unfold in what seemed like slow motion. I probably wasn't going 25-30 mph, with no option to get out of the way. She had to be going at least 60 mph. I braced for the worst, but I didn't expect the following to happen:

The two bolts holding the hitch to the mill sheared when the mill flipped. The driver of the vehicle was believed to be having a seizure at the time of the accident. She had admitted to having one the night before. Metal can be replaced, fortunately she ended up being ok. After several hours of the road being shut down, and witnesses saying she was traveling too fast, I was able to limp the mill home. I had to borrow a sledge hammer from the firemen, beat some metal straight, and drive to lowes and pick up some new hardware. I backed her in the barn Saturday evening, said good night, and enjoyed a few beers. I've spent some time looking at her since, and the more I look, the more metal I see bent and the more parts I see missing.

The claim process has been started, Bob (as some of you you know from woodmizer) will be down first thing Monday morning on his route to Alabama. I think it's totaled. Insurance on her behalf is iffy right now, but I have uninsured insurance, and under insured insurance.

But on a good note, I've already built my new mill on WM's site about 27 times since Saturday. Just need to convince the wife the newer bigger faster mill is what I NEED. It was a lot easier buying the first one when I was a single bachelor...

I have 924.6 hours on the mill, and close to 300k feet. It'll be a while before she makes sawdust again, if possible. I buy logs and timber for a hardwood mill that saws around 50k feet a day, so I'll still get my sawdust and lumber addiction satisfied.

I'll hope for the best, and update when I hear more. I don't post very often, but I read and absorb daily.

AdamT · March 01, 2017, 10:23:15 PM

Gundog · March 01, 2017, 10:25:17 PM

That really sucks sorry this happened to you I am glad you are OK.

Treehack · March 01, 2017, 11:17:55 PM

Yeah, sad to see this, but glad everyone is ok. I know there was a thread started regarding insurance, so be sure to post about how your insurance claim turns out. Good luck as this progresses.

YellowHammer · March 02, 2017, 12:08:10 AM

That just hurts to look at. I'm glad everyone is OK, but in a wreck, everyone loses. Hopefully Bob will get you started back, he's on his way to see me on Tuesday.
I hope the insurance makes it right. Did it do anything to your truck receiver hitch or frame?

If you can get a better, better mill, maybe there is a silver lining.

Ianab · March 02, 2017, 02:22:16 AM

I'd say the driver should take a lottery ticket (and turn in their drivers licence). Could have ended up with the rail though the windscreen and their face.

I did have to smile at the picture of the cop surveying the scene and talking on the radio. "What's the 10 code for a sawmill crash?... Yes I'm looking at a crashed sawmill... " ;)

Hope your insurance gets things sorted out without too much hassle.

Peter Drouin · March 02, 2017, 04:41:37 AM

Wow, First time I see a mill wrecked. Maybe you can get to keep it for parts for the new one when you need parts. ;D :D

fishfighter · March 02, 2017, 05:45:43 AM

Quote from: Peter Drouin on March 02, 2017, 04:41:37 AM
Wow, First time I see a mill wrecked. Maybe you can get to keep it for parts for the new one when you need parts. ;D :D

If totaled, there is a good chance you can buy it from the insurance company pennies on the dollar for parts.

Sucks when some one rear ends you. Had a guy do that to me when I was sitting at a red light towing my boat which ended up in the back of my truck.

I had to fight the insurance company due to the fact that the guy that rear ended me had the same insurance as I did. >:(

Nomad · March 02, 2017, 05:53:27 AM

That makes me shudder just to look at it. Glad nobody got hurt though!

4x4American · March 02, 2017, 06:33:12 AM

Ouch. Hard to look at. Being rear ended is the worst. I was almost rear ended a few week ago by a tri axle dump truck luckily I had my eyes my mirror and was able to get the heck out of the way in time. There are so many crazies on the road. At least nobody was hurt, and now you can get the new wide model!

Chuck White · March 02, 2017, 07:09:03 AM

The accident could have been a lot worse!

Good to hear no one was hurt!

Hope things turn out well with your insurance!

drobertson · March 02, 2017, 07:21:51 AM

That's crazy for sure!, watching and bracing? Has to be the worse thing, nothing to do but hold on and wait for it to end, glad you both are alright,

GDinMaine · March 02, 2017, 07:23:48 AM

Thank you for sharing AdamT! That just hurts to see. One of my worst fears when the mill is out on the road. Please follow up on this after Bob accesses the damage. Probably all of us are curious how the dealing with the insurance company, possible mill repair and that eventual outcome will be.

paul case · March 02, 2017, 08:03:50 AM

Quote from: Ianab on March 02, 2017, 02:22:16 AM
I'd say the driver should take a lottery ticket (and turn in their drivers licence). Could have ended up with the rail though the windscreen and their face.

I did have to smile at the picture of the cop surveying the scene and talking on the radio. "What's the 10 code for a sawmill crash?... Yes I'm looking at a crashed sawmill... " ;)

Hope your insurance gets things sorted out without too much hassle.

I think he had a tear in his eye and was saying on the radio''I always wanted a woodmizer, but not like this''.

PC

Hilltop366 · March 02, 2017, 08:16:17 AM

Thats no fun.

If you use your mill for a source of income I would be sure to bring that up with the insurance, if it was a car or truck i bet they would be renting you a vehicle until yours could be repaired or replaced.

MartyParsons · March 02, 2017, 08:22:47 AM

WOW!,

Glad to hear no one was hurt.
M

petefrom bearswamp · March 02, 2017, 08:29:32 AM

Ouch.
mill not even broke in yet, but now is definitely broke

Bruno of NH · March 02, 2017, 08:59:22 AM

Wow hope it works out for you :(

thecfarm · March 02, 2017, 09:30:51 AM

Not a good sight to see. :'( :'(

Jim_Rogers · March 02, 2017, 09:32:25 AM

When you get a chance show some pictures of the stuff that got bent.

Jim Rogers

Darrel · March 02, 2017, 12:02:10 PM

Wow! Hard to believe no one was hurt. On the bright side, if that frame isn't bent and you do buy it back from the insurance company, there's your 24' bed extension.

taylorsmissbeehaven · March 02, 2017, 01:10:55 PM

That was a close call! Hope your insurance treats you well. Keep us posted on the new mill.Brian

D6c · March 02, 2017, 01:36:38 PM

What a shame to loose a mill like that....I bet she's totaled with a bent main frame as hard as that hit. If the other driver has had seizures they shouldn't have been driving. Around here you loose your license for a year after a seizure.

I'd look into buying it back from the ins. company....lots of good parts on there. I know there are lots of hyd. parts I could use. If you end up getting it back, and aren't going to rebuild it, let the forum know. You might end up in a pretty good position to upgrade to a newer mill.
Good luck

JRWoodchuck · March 02, 2017, 02:59:52 PM

Glad no one was hurt. You probably should have had some orange flagging on it though... I would almost bet the insurance company wont even ask about taking that one.