That's a new one, I must say

[Debbie]

So roughly a week or so ago, someone sailed off the curve of the highway out front and went right through an electrical pole and took out an enormous chunk of my five strand barbed wire fencing for the field across the lane. Thankfully the horses were moved out of that field, but today I stopped by the police station to see if they might have a report of who'd done it so I could follow up with fence repairs. It's the first time I've met our local police.

They were in turns apologetic and embarrassed. It turns out they were the ones who totalled my fence! That's a first for me. They were quite lovely about the whole affair, however and asked me to get an estimate for the cost to repair/replace the damaged section. The fellow I talked with said they'd send it in with their insurance claim and if the insurance didn't cover it, they most certainly would. I was gobsmacked! It's so rare to see anyone in this day and age take responsibility for the damages they'd done, even in the line of duty.


And much more importantly to me, they tell me the officer who was involved walked away without so much as a scratch. I don't know how he survived going clean through a wooden post like that, or for that matter, not being impaled by the t posts for the front fence line.

It's the same problem as always, too much speed for the curve coupled with gravel in the road. I did ask if adding reflectors would help, but the officer shook his head and reaffirmed what I'd known, having the road marked won't help. We just have to be prepared for someone to ever so often sail off into the fields.

[harveydales]

Well that's good they admitted it and are going to pay to have your fence put back in order. But why didn't they come round themselves immediately and let you know what had happened? Or at the very least leave a note? Makes it look like they were hoping to get away with it. Or am I just an old cynic?

[heathera]

That's great that they're going to pay and I'm glad the officer walked away. Would they let you put up a telegraph pole sized equivalent of a tie rail as an outer fence on the corner? I'm thinking of motorway crash barriers but affordable form for us mere mortals.

[Debbie]

Actually the police tried to leave me contact info and left a note behind on the day claiming their actions. Plus the officer I talked with also said they checked the field to ensure the horse/other livestock wasn't in there at the time. I'm just glad it was the summer field they sailed into since I've already moved the horses to winter pasture. It's the one thing I worry about with Blossom and Dundee having their field next to the highway. I'm hopeful over time we'll be able to reinforce the fences with something like concrete barriers.

Today's chore will be counting the t posts and measuring how much barbed wire I'll need to repair the fence

...editing to add, I like the telegraph pole idea, but for now I'll just repair it with what the existing fence is. Eldon and I have been looking into alternate fencing ideas. Between the elk and traffic, I've never seen fences challenged so much in my life.

[valerie n scout]

Wow ! But am pleased they are going to pay for the repair, he's been one lucky chap by the sounds of it X