I was traveling down the highway a short distance from my home towards a stop sign at the intersection of two highways when my phone signaled that I was receiving a test message. Since I was slowing down, almost at the stop sign, I decided to read it. I know that isn't the smartest thing to do but there was no one in front or back of me. 
It is illegal to use a cell phone in town but it isn't against the law where I was at. I was most likely guilty of careless driving, however. Anyway, as I was cruising towards the stop sign, slowing down, reading the message on my phone, I suddenly noticed movement right in front of me. I looked up and almost freaked! A big pickup truck was right in front of me, coming across the road diagonally! He took out the stop sign just in front of me and zoomed past into the parking lot next to me, stopping at the end of the lot in some trees! If I hadn't been going so slow he would have hit me! As it was, he ran the sign completely down and there were tracks all the way across the lot. This all happened about 3 feet in front of my car. I don't know how he just missed the telephone pole next to the stop sign either! I can only guess that he was traveling eastbound on the main highway, fell asleep, and turned the vehicle slightly south into a direct path diagonally towards me as I was coming north on the side road. He was traveling quite fast and there were no brakes applied or evidence of swerves in his path. I am very thankful there were no other cars around at the time and I am EXTREMELY thankful that I had slowed down to read the text. This is the very rare occasion when cell phone use was not detrimental or the cause of an accident. Quite the opposite, in fact.
I noticed that they put the stop sign back up right away but you can still see his path. I took this photo this afternoon. It had been raining but I don't believe he skidded out, do you?It is illegal to use a cell phone in town but it isn't against the law where I was at. I was most likely guilty of careless driving, however. Anyway, as I was cruising towards the stop sign, slowing down, reading the message on my phone, I suddenly noticed movement right in front of me. I looked up and almost freaked! A big pickup truck was right in front of me, coming across the road diagonally! He took out the stop sign just in front of me and zoomed past into the parking lot next to me, stopping at the end of the lot in some trees! If I hadn't been going so slow he would have hit me! As it was, he ran the sign completely down and there were tracks all the way across the lot. This all happened about 3 feet in front of my car. I don't know how he just missed the telephone pole next to the stop sign either! I can only guess that he was traveling eastbound on the main highway, fell asleep, and turned the vehicle slightly south into a direct path diagonally towards me as I was coming north on the side road. He was traveling quite fast and there were no brakes applied or evidence of swerves in his path. I am very thankful there were no other cars around at the time and I am EXTREMELY thankful that I had slowed down to read the text. This is the very rare occasion when cell phone use was not detrimental or the cause of an accident. Quite the opposite, in fact. 
I don't know if he hit anything here but I'll bet that was part of his front grill work!
Pour me out another phone - song: Drive in Saturday, artist: David Bowie, album: Aladdin Sane
5 comments:
That is scary!! Thank goodness you were reading a text and going so slow!! It doesn't look like there are any skid marks to me. I am so happy you are okay!!
Wow. Funny I had the same thoughts as you, reading your text wasn't the smartest thing to do but in this case it may have saved your life!
Yikes! Looks like your guardian angel was looking after you!
Wow! Somebody's looking out for you. You have an angel, and I think you probably know him pretty well.
Driving while sleeping is a terrible problem with truckers. Glad you were okay and I hope he/she was too...
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