I was awoken yesterday morning at 6:41 by a loud sound that I thought—in my grogginess—might be someone dragging a garbage can without wheels to the street, the sound of plastic grinding against pavement. Hmm…it’s not garbage day, and what’s up with their can? I didn’t bother to go look out the front windows. About an hour later my next door neighbor texted me that her car parked at the curb had been hit head-on, rammed down the block, and was totaled. And that her Nest camera caught the crash on video, embedded above. As you can see, the driver didn’t even try to stop, they just kept going. Real life bumper cars.
Whoa! And my beloved xB, which is normally parked at the curb right behind her Prius C, would have been hit too except for the fact that Stephanie had just driven to the Bay Area in her car, so I parked in her spot in the driveway.
Update: We’ve identified the car as a 2010-2012 Ford Fusion. Finding it is another matter
I couldn’t embed that Nest video directly so I had to shoot it with my camera from a monitor, but it is very low resolution. And no, that’s not snow; just light and shadows. As to identifying the car, I stopped trying pretty soon as it was futile. But go ahead and leave your guesses.
This is where her 2013 Prius C ended up, down the street and almost past our house, a good 100′ from where it was parked before getting hit. Some city workers in the area saw it and put up the cones. Our crocuses coming up next to the sidewalk were collateral damage. It seems that the perp’s car was to the left of the Prius, and possibly drove off to the left of it after it stopped. or they finally did stop and backed up and drove around it.
This is after she had driven it back to the front of her house. It had ended up right about where that person is walking their dog. Yes, it started up and drove. And it appears not have lost any coolant. I have to assume it will be totaled, although it looks like it wouldn’t be all that hard for someone to fix it again.
There were a few remaining plastic parts from the offender’s car, including a chunk of its lower front valance, but identifying it is well beyond my pay grade. Maybe one of you can? Even if so, it may not do much good, as the police told her without a license plate there’s really nothing they can do.
When the city workers stopped back to pick up their cones, they mentioned that they had seen a car with front end damage parked on a street about a half mile away. I went to check it out and found this Subaru Outback. The silver color was close but not quite right, but there’s no way that the car in the video was an Outback or any kind of wagon. Also, this looked like it had been here for a bit longer. Who knows where the perp drove off to? Did the air bags go off?
I see these kinds of crashes on busy arterial streets not infrequently, but our street is very quiet. Somebody was very impaired as well as lost.
Update: I just found this Ford part imprint on the back of the shiny piece. A quick Google search says it’s for a 2010-2012 Ford Fusion.
The blacked out A-pillars make me think Saab 9-5 but the close-up valance doesn’t match.
Also, the valance left is from the right side which would suggest the vehicle drove around the Prius on the sidewalk.
Yes, that’s increasingly obvious now to me too, as the damage on the Prius is more on the passenger side. I suspect they never slowed down or stopped; just kept going until the Prius was pushed out of their way. All of which strongly suggests that their car was partly on the sidewalk when they hit the Prius, as it was parked very close to the curb. Good thing nobody was out walking early due to the rain.
Nothing they can do? Don’t police investigate this kind of thing? Easily could have been a fatality if someone was walking their dog. So glad you are safe.
If someone had been injured or killed, there very much would be an investigation.
Drunk driver I reckon, most other people would stop. My recognition skills with contemporary American cars are not great by any means but the shape of the greenhouse says two door or coupe to me, seems a bit short and sloped for a four door. I feel for your neighbour though.
Why I never park on the street at night if possible. My best friend’s beautiful vintage 38,000 mile all original ’78 Electra Park Ave was totaled by a drunk a\in 1992 on his neighborhood side street, he heard a horrendous bang around 2 AM and went outside to find his beloved Buick in the middle of his front yard, it was hit that hard. Thought to have been by a full size p/u that was never found. Crazy.
Randerson: My question first goes to why would anyone park a beautiful vintage 38,000 mile all original car on a street?
If that were me and I had that nice classic car and a couple of newer daily drivers, I certainly wouldn’t leave the classic sit out.
Even with the low miles and good condition, would anyone have thought of a 14 year old Electra as a “classic” in 1992?
Is anyplace safe? The evening news seems to have fairly frequent clips showing vehicles hitting buildings.
It’s ridiculous. One of the local bars where I play trivia ended up with a Jeep buried in its brick wall overnight. The layout of the road is such that I don’t know how the driver got going as fast as they did.
Timing is amusing. I saw the email that started ‘curbside crash’ just after getting server error from CurbSideClassic.
Thought the sight was down! Concur with everyone, glad no one was injured or killed.
We all know these things happen too often, but when it comes right to your doorstep, it’s such a personal violation that it becomes chilling to the bone. As others mentioned, I’m glad no one was hurt or killed.
True story. Back in the late 90’s when I was a police officer, we got a call about a bad crash where a “dark colored” van smashed into a parked Honda Civic, pushing the Honda about 30′ through the fence and into the lady’s yard. Her Honda was legally parked in her driveway. But the violator was able to drive off, leaving the scene and being around midnight the lady heard the crash but wasn’t able to get a good ID or plate on the offender’s vehicle other than it was a dark van. As the tow truck driver was there to pick up her wrecked Honda, we were picking up debris from the accident. Sadly, the front plate didn’t come off the van, but we did have some bumper/body part and we could see the color was dark brown. Imprinted on the back of one part was the Audi logo, but Audi didn’t have a van. But who did and who is part of the Audi brands? VW!! From that I was able to determine that the “Van” was a VW brand in dark brown, but that was all I had. I thought it was a dead end, but I had a sheriff deputy out looking for a damaged brown van in the area it was last seen driving. No luck.
But interestingly, the tow truck driver just happened to also be a mechanic shop. When I told him I was looking for a dark brown VW van that would possibly live out in the country past the accident scene, he told me that he had worked on one. When he got to the shop, he looked up the customer info and sure as could be, the guy lived about 5 miles past the accident scene and he had a dark brown VW van. The next day I sent the deputy to his home where he found the van parked head inward of the garage/carport. The deputy was able to observe fresh damage to the front of the van, but nobody was to be found at home. The owner also lived in the Chicago area and this home was more of a weekend getaway for him. Later that day I was able to have a Chicago PD officer locate the driver and perform an interview where the guy admitted to the accident and driving off. Of course we knew he was drunk when the accident happened, but by now we couldn’t prove that. However, since he came clean and admitted to the accident, I promptly mailed off several tickets and his insurance was contacted and the lady’s Honda Civic was replaced.
Moral of the story? Check out the back side of the white debris from the offender’s car. You never know what secrets it could have.
Check out the back side of the white debris from the offender’s car.
I did that right away. Nothing.
Even if I had found some manufacturer number, it would still be very difficult to find. Eugene is not a small town and who knows how far they drove. And our street ends at a T intersection about 10 blocks further, so it’s not a common thoroughfare, meaning they were probably lost and it’s essentially impossible to guess which direction they then drove. It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, and for what?
Very true and good on you for checking that debris. Sadly, many police officers wouldn’t even do that.
However, what should have taken place (I’m sure the police did) would be to put out the info (kind of like a be on the lookout thing) where any officers in the surrounding areas would be looking for a white vehicle with heavy damages to the front. Finding some good identifiers on the debris giving a clue to the make/model would only help the officers when looking. But overall, with no personal injury, they wouldn’t be spending much time on it once the accident report is done.
The remnant and grainy image are interesting. Most likely a 2 door fastback or hatch, mid sized. Probably domestic. The yellow side marker light is a style like in the 80s or 90s, and the reflector remnant is a bit newer style that hints at a design in flux. In the grainy image the bright reflection on the rear fender hints at a replacement gas cap.
Is it possible the escapee is driving an 80s or 90s classic car?
Interesting thought… my first impression was Camaro/Firebird but the longer I looked at it the less confidence I have…
Sorry, no shiny gas cap but rather a nearer reflection possibly a mail box flag.
Sad to see this happen. The older I get I think more people are just a#^hs that don’t take responsibility for their actions. Of course the police don’t investigate, too busy. Busy with what I am not sure. Of course the owner of the parked car smashed will have to pay an insurance deductible, and insurance value on the totaled car will leave the owner in the hole. Doesn’t matter the owner of the car that was hit will be out-of-pocket thousands. Not worth investigating.
During my life I have been burglarized twice, lost thousands in jewelry and other stuff. Police come, take a report so I can file a claim with my insurance company. End result I am still out of pocket thousands. Have any of my burglaries been investigated, never happened.
+1
The reflector in the bumper will almost certainly have a part number on the back side of it (the housing, not the orange lens) which would very likely narrow down the make, model, and range of years.
I just took pictures of part of the headlight assembly; the reflector has a bar code sticker, but it’s not in the best of shape:
Is that made 08/22/2010 at 13:26 hours??? Nonetheless this is just an exercise in curiosity since Eugene isn’t a small town where everyone knows each other and there is one body shop. But the that is what OCD car guys do. Me, I am going to get OCD on my 410 and file this away.
Yes. And the numbers on the right are: 00000001259
I just checked the back side of that; it’s got a Ford imprint on it.
That makes it out to be a Ford Fusion
Yes, a 2010-2012 Ford Fusion.
Yes the AE53… is the Ford part number. White Ford Fusion, common as dirt…It’ll be parked or abandoned somewhere, it’s worth letting the responding officer know. When my son was hit by a driver that presented insurance paperwork in Golden recently, and then that paperwork turned out to not be valid after trying to file with that insurere, the policeman was VERY responsive to that and added it to the charges the other driver would be going to court over. They can add it to the file and see if an abandoned vehicle is located…
Paul, now your cooking!! You are becoming an accident reconstructionist and investigator all in one!
So you see, it can be done by simple parts. The first thing I’d do is make sure the responding officer/s have all this info. They can put out an APB (10-68) to watch out for a 2010 to 2012 vintage white Ford Fusion.
Good work!
Here’s the whole unit and the lamp and holder that were in it.
So even if we could identify it to a make and model, then what? The police appears to not be interested.
The bumper is at my neighbor’s house; I’d have to go over there to check that.
That is what caught my eye since there are not that many cars with the side marker in the bumper cover. Most have it combined with the turn signal. In the cover would bring to mind the 2016-20 Honda Civic, 2020-23 Hyundai Sonata, and 2003-12 Mazda 6. Note the seam, where the cover meets the actual fender is level on this car and low. Other cars have the junction higher up and at different diagonals before attaching to the fender.
My first off-the-cuff wild guess is Honda Civic, from the shape. They are much more common than the Sonata and M6.
Police generally don’t bother with stuff like this these days, especially in Oregon, where I used to live. That’s why perps just drive off – nothing to fear…
On the other hand – in snowy Woburn near Boston today I was lucky that the plow driver saved this with a bit more than a “dab of oppo”! Not sure the Ghia would have survived if he hadn’t…
I was involved in a minor hit and run in 2025. My insurance agent quipped: He was either drunk, or had a warrant, or was here illegally.
Or a perfectly sober tenth generation American with insurance and realizing what another claim would do to his family’s insurance costs.
Plausible indeed, given what we hear over here (UK) about assumptions by US law enforcement and their political leadership these days…..
Local police are strictly locally-managed and have nothing to do with the federal law enforcement agencies. FWIW, the Eugene PD has a pretty good rep and track record. But they always claim to be understaffed. Who doesn’t?
Or even a perfectly sober tenth generation American without insurance. There are a lot of those, unfortunately. Though in my experience, the lack of insurance correlates pretty highly with the categories mentioned by Jim’s insurance agent.
Here’s our 2004 Toyota Camry after a hit-and-run overnight in Los Angeles in December 2005. There was over $4,000 in damage and we had to pay the $1,000 deductible.
It could have been much worse — trunk lid, bumper reinforcement bar, gas filler, and wheel/tire/suspension were unscathed.
That’s truly poor law enforcement. The make, model, and color are known, the perpetrator’s car has to have extensive damage and the driver/passengers are more than likely injured. I’m sure there is more than one security camera in the neighborhood and some have law enforcement access. The driver may have been “either drunk, or had a warrant, or was here illegally” or the car was stolen. A crime was committed when the driver left the scene.
If that were my car, I would raise unholy hell with the PD and my local city representatives until someone was in cuffs.
Unbelievable! It may be an obvious statement, but I’m just glad the Prius owner wasn’t actually in the car when it happened. I wonder if the Fusion driver / occupant(s) sought any medical attention afterward.
I think they were already well medicated and felt no pain.
Many of us has had the experience. One time I ran out of parking on my property and parked my car on the street, the first and only time. The next day revealed a drunk had smashed into the rear totaling it. I once lusted after a Hudson parked on a main arterial, the elderly lady didn’t want to sell. Then later on, someone had rear ended it. Of all things the lady did have the car fixed, possibly a cheapo job. Then months later, the car was again rear ended. I never did see it again. Lesson learned, it’s never a good idea to park on the street, especially at night.
Sad, this .
Same here, no one else seems to care, tough luck buddy .
-Nate
I don’t know the laws in Oregon, but will it be necessary for your neighbor to carry comprehensive insurance in order to be made whole from this experience? I’m pretty sure that in my state if something like this happened to a parked car and the offending diver is never caught, then she’d be s.o.l. unless she carried comprehensive.
Which is exactly why I carry comprehensive. Along with damage from falling trees/anvils/safes/giant rocks intended to crush road runners, getting “free” windshields, etc.
I’m sure that the Fusion’s driver has a backstory which is likely not positive and deserves empathy in its own right…but yeah, this kind of sucks all-around.
From what I gather, she does have comprehensive insurance. I saw someone come look at it, and she now has a rental car. But I don’t on the xB; it’s too old and not worth it. Which is why I’m glad it wasn’t involved.
That is the chance you take with older cars. My son has a twenty year old SAAB. We have the insurance that’s required but we don’t have collision on his car. For the ten years of premium for that, we could replace the car a couple of times over.
Drunk and drug/marijuana impaired driving need to be treated like the dangerous crimes they are, not like tne consequences of “social drinking and drug use.”
How many judges, indeed how many jurors themselves engage in alcohol and drug use and still sit in lenient judgment of impaired drivers?
Prison time is needed, not probation or suspended sentences.
This is so sad. I’m grateful no one was hurt.
It reminds me of way back in 1984. I was visiting at my future wife’s home late at night when my father in law came running into the living room and looking out the front windows. It seems that a lifted square body Chevy truck had rear ended the neighbors city car which was on the street-a 1983 Aries K car. The truck took off but it seems that there was an investigation because the car belonged to the city.
That’s awful, both the act and the failure to own up. I’m glad my street is a backwater far from any bar.
Google shows many forensic service companies that enhance/clarify/sharpen/etc. doorbell video. I have no idea about cost or quality. The Eugene PD probably has a service they use. Maybe your neighbor could ask them to at least do this.
Maybe something helpful could be seen.
The very same thing just happened to my son and to a certain 05 Buick Lacrosse that is well known to our CC community. But in an amazing stroke of good luck, the driver was caught and actually had insurance.
This is why I live on a short cul-de-sac.
Last year I was hit on the back right fender from a vehicle merging in from an entrance ramp on the highway. It was early Saturday morning with sparse traffic; the only reason this guy clipped me is he was coming on the highway and just jerked his wheel all the way over to get to the left lane. Anyway, I was thankful I took pictures at the scene, because he later claimed he was hit from behind by a speeding car (didn’t happen), I hit him because I was avoiding an 18-wheeler (didn’t happen and damage evidence is clear he hit me), and his airbags went off, injuring him and his passenger (my pictures showed no passenger and no airbag deployment). Both his and my insurance companies were very grateful for my pictures….
My beloved 1981 Honda Civic “Buster” died the same way–middle of the night late november 1987 hit and run by something large at the end of a dead end street. I really miss that car.
So sorry for everyone involved. A lot of us have had similar experiences. We live on a curve in the street, and over the years, we have had several cars and an Airstream trailer hit by people driving too fast. At least two were hit and runs. One we caught on camera on Thanksgiving. My brother drove around the neighborhood and found the car. Police did very little.. the car was registered in a different city and they didn’t do anything.
Another time we were watching the Academy Awards (the year they made the La La Land best picture mistake) and we hear a big crash. Some neighbor teens, classmates of my son, were horsing around and they thought the car was in drive when it was in reverse. They backed into my Leaf at full throttle. My son used his cell phone to capture the video from our camera. It made the rounds around the high school. Car wasn’t totaled but I was happy to turn it in after the lease was up.
1998-ish. SWMBO and I were working in our basement office. We heard a low-volume “beeeeeeep” that went on and on for over a minute.
I go upstairs and look out the window. Some Pizza-Hut delivery guy had smashed into my parked-at-the-curb ’75 Nova; the “beeeep” was his horn, it lasted until the battery wore down. The upside here was that his car was too disabled to drive away.
My Nova was totaled. Of course I had to fight with his insurance company to get a reasonable payout for my old car, keeping the vehicle. First car I ever owned for my own use (not including SWMBO’s ’92 Lumina) with air conditioning. I ended-up selling the 350 4-barrel and the 700-R4 transmission to a hot-rodder. The 700 made the Nova a sweet highway vehicle.