Near death experience

Sunil and I were in an autorickshaw on the Western Express highway around 8:30 PM last night, on the way from Goregaon to Bandra. The auto’s brakes failed at a red light and we went through three columns of highway traffic before crashing into two bicycles on the other side.

Total damage: two bicycles with rear wheels bent out of shape. Two bicycle riders thrown off their bikes. One autorickshaw with unusable brakes. Not a scratch on us!

It happened all too quickly for any sense of shock: one second we were speeding toward a red light, next second we were across three columns of traffic with a bicycle under the front wheel and two riders on the road. A minute later, we were looking for another autorickshaw to take us the rest of the way.
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    thaths — Jan 20, 2004 1:34:16 AM — #

    Watch out, man
    Glad you are OK.

    What was your attitude about death or dismemberment (I am serious) before, immediately after and significantly after the incident?

    Thaths
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      Kiran Jonnalagadda — Jan 20, 2004 7:42:51 AM — #

      Re: Watch out, man
      It's never bothered me much. I've never had a serious accident in my life; no injury more serious than surface wound; no fractures, no stitches, nothing at all. And since I have no idea what the pain is like, there is no fear.

      Death doesn't bother me much either. Death without the experience of a long life just seems a little disappointing.

      If the accident has changed anything, I'm a little wary now of rickshaw drivers who show off their brakes by speeding till they are within five feet of a barrier.
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        mannu — Jan 29, 2004 6:45:59 AM — #

        Re: Watch out, man
        I never had a fracture in life. I never climed the walls and did any of those crazy things. I'm sort of curious to know how it feels though, but I'm in no hurry yet :-)
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    vighy — Jan 20, 2004 5:05:25 AM — #

    Praise the lord :D
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    bluesmoon — Jan 20, 2004 7:49:15 AM — #

    for some reason this post isn't showing up on my friends page.
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      ashwinne — Jan 21, 2004 3:47:07 AM — #

      Weird!
      Even weirder. It was there yesterday, but today has disappeared from my Friends page (yes, I have looked into the previous pages too).
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        ravi — Jan 27, 2004 1:58:11 AM — #

        Re: Weird!
        It never showed up on my friends' page, either. Hrm. Anyhoo, glad you're OK, jace.
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      skjaidev — Jan 29, 2004 6:18:38 AM — #

      Mine too! [info]jace, did you back-date the post or something?

      Glad to know you're ok.
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        mannu — Jan 29, 2004 6:44:49 AM — #

        Re:
        Well, obviously, it's a Jan 20 post.
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    satyap — Jan 20, 2004 10:22:43 AM — #

    I once saw a rick get rear-ended by a (slow) bus. The rick flew several feet, tumbling end-over-end, and landed in the middle of the intersection (SV road and Linking road, Bandra -- I forget what it's called). The passengers got out and seemed to be completely unhurt.
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      mannu — Jan 29, 2004 6:43:48 AM — #

      Re:
      It happens, and it's amazing, isn't it?!!
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    ashwinne — Jan 21, 2004 3:48:39 AM — #

    Unbreakable
    You are the one! You are unbreakable!!! We have found our superhero!
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    quizling — Jan 21, 2004 5:47:18 AM — #

    I told you to take the bus. :p
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    shradha — Jan 21, 2004 6:21:08 PM — #

    *phew*
    glad to know u weren't hurt.

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