September 5, 2011 by onstarconnects
Drunk Driver Runs Red Light and Crashes into Car at 50 MPH
Meagan Quinn was driving friends home from the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Detroit when a drunk driver ran a red light at 50 miles per hour, slamming into the side of her car and then hitting it again from the front.
Meagan was unconscious with a severe injury to her right knee. The passenger in the front seat was in shock and disoriented. The passenger in the back seat, who had been talking on the phone with her mother when the crash happened, had a serious injury to her neck.
Meanwhile, a “saint of a man,” as Meagan calls him, witnessed the crash and ran over to her shattered car window. With Meagan unconscious and the two passengers in no condition to talk, the witness was able to give the OnStar Advisor information to help OnStar prepare first responders for what they would find. Within minutes, police and paramedics were on the scene of the crash.
Trapped in car
Meagan remained unconscious until help arrived. She was trapped in the car and first responders had to remove the driver’s side door to get her out.
Meagan credits the fast action of OnStar and the quick response from police and paramedics with minimizing the damage from what could easily have been a deadly crash. “OnStar saved my life,” Meagan says. “I was unconscious with my car totaled in the middle of a busy intersection, and OnStar was able to get help to the scene.”
And Meagan was grateful for another thing, too. The crash occurred when the backseat passenger was on the phone with her mother, who heard screeching tires, breaking glass and screaming — and was terrified. But, still on the line after the air bags deployed, she heard the live OnStar Advisor talking and immediately felt some relief, knowing that help would soon be sent. “Hearing the voice of the OnStar Advisor was enough to put my friend’s mom at ease,” she says. “It gave her peace of mind during a very traumatic time and that was a blessing.”
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Tags: Automatic Crash Response, Emergency Advisor, Emergency Services
Hi Luis – Yup, the OnStar FMV mirror is compatible with your Grand Prix, although it might be possible that OnStar is already equipped with your vehicle. Let me know if you have any other questions! – Lisa
I’ve never seen compatibility on the OnStar website with a 2004 KIA Optima. Is it available?
Hi Susan – I checked your vehicle, and unfortunately it is not compatible with the FMV mirror. Please let me know if you have any questions! – Lisa
I was on a 2-lane road late at night. Only 2 other cars were on the road, one behind me going in my direction, and one oncoming, traveling in my lane for some reason! I slowed, then pulled over as far onto the shoulder as I could, almost into the ditch, and could go forward no further, as the guardrail was right in front of my car. In a nanosecond, I knew the car was going to smash into the front of my car, I laid on the horn, and about 5 feet from my car, the other veered away onto the opposite shoulder, back across the lanes, and almost into the other vehicle, which was also pulled onto the shoulder.
I got off onto a side road and immediately called OnStar. By now, the car behind me had pulled onto the side road too, and together, we gave the dispatcher all the information we could.
The driver who was so reckless was pulled over moments later, thanks to the quick work of the OnStar dispatch and the local county deputies.
Thank you, OnStar, for the feeling of power and stability and relief, knowing you’re always there. I will never be without OnStar.
We’re so glad to hear you are alright, Sharon. Thanks for being a Good Samaritan – we always appreciate those calls! – Lisa
I just might be thinking about it incorrectly, but the kia optima is simply one elegant little vehicle.