OT - Ouch, that left a mark!

[Rexster]

Someday, I am going to die on US-59. This is getting old.

[kimwcook]

Give us some details, man.

[Rexster]

Hey, this new camera phone's pics will translate right onto this site, without wizardry!

[Rexster]

I was setting out flares, so I was not inside the car. I had parked in the left of several lanes, well behind two accident scenes, on the crest of the preceding overpass, so my strobes would be visible for miles. Two flares were on the pavement, and I had two more, lit, in my hands. It was a clear night. Here comes an SUV, in the left lane. I run for the left shoulder, ready to bail over the wall into the HOV lane if necessary. Finally, the SUV driver decides to act, and lays 125 feet of skid marks, on a straight path, right into the taxpayer's patrol car.

It was sickening, watching this this fine citizen whoosh right past me, on a beeline for my patrol car/office. Yes, it is an office, with a computer, and a Verizon aircard that sends encrypted reports, charges, and such, and receives, too, of course.

I had been guarding a prisoner at a hospital shortly before this, so I was traveling light, with no long guns in the car, nor my personal and city-issued laptops. My Swarovski binocs and two pistols were in a bag on the LEFT side, fortunately; Ms. Bozo steered her RAV4 into the right rear of my trunk.

Give me a shoot-out any day. Or, a riot. One riot, one Rexster. Dancing with cars is SCARY!

[Rexster]

The other vehicle, a Toyota RAV4:

[Ysabel Kid]

That was close!

[Blaine]

Had a Christmas Angel on yer shoulder, ya did

[Rexster]

That was close!

Yes, indeed. If I had been hit while still seated, I would still be quite sore. (Been there, done that, a few hundred feet away, a few years ago.) Had I been hit while halfway in or out of the car, or had she swerved into me, to avoid the car, y'all would be seeing my name on that memorial in DC.

[Ysabel Kid]

We've lost too many this year, as always...

[Borregos]

I think you should buy a lottery ticket this week, lady luck is with you

[JerryB]

Praise God that you were where you were, instead of by your unit.

[LeverBob]

Glad you kept your wits about you pard...always stay on yellow. Bet you were on orange in that sit. Be careful out there!

LB

[rjohns94]

glad you are ok. be safe out there. Prayers for you and all the other LEO's out there.

[Nath]

That was too close, you know folk go on and on about nasty guns and yet most just don't see how nasty their very own car can/could be

Nath.

[KirkD]

We've lost a few officers on Hwy 401 west of Toronto in the past few years. Anyone who plows into a cruiser parked on the side of the road with flashers on, must be brain dead or blind. Kinda makes a person wonder what people are doing in their cars while driving at high speed. Glad you were not hurt.

[NonPCnraRN]

Rexter: This incident especially at Christmas time makes me realize how much you guys have become kind of an extended family. Knowing that someone you converse with via a forum barely escaped great bodily injury or death is disconcerting to say the least. Stay safe.

[J Miller]

Rexter,
Glad you are OK. Cars are far easier to replace than people.

Was the other driver jack jawing on her cell phone by any chance?

Joe

[kimwcook]

Glad to hear you were just a witness and not a vic. I've got about 10 more years to go before I'm going to pull the pin and I don't know if I can make it. I'm getting so tired of dealing with the public I could just spit. Hopefully the driver wasn't hurt and you educated her with a couple of cites. Driving HUA (head up a**) would be first. Keep your antennas up brother and watch your six.

[Pete44ru]

[Kinda makes a person wonder what people are doing in their cars while driving at high speed.]

That's a "no brainer" - she was prolly on a cell phone while doing her nails, paying absolutely zero attention to traffic.

I had one of those on an Interstate Hwy, two Labor Days ago - who changed lanes almost into me, then jerked the wheel to correct her mistake ( @ 65mph).
After two or three side-to-side swings, her rear wheels touched the curbing and rolled her FourRunner three times.
She (the driver) still had her earphones on, when she emerged from that puppy.

I'm glad you didn't get nailed, Rexter - but hope you hung her out to dry.

.

[pokey]

One riot, one Rexster.

that's funny right there.

keep dancin' don't slow down.


"for all the world like an urban toreador"

[Alan Wood]

Glad to here it came out without injury to you Rexter. Man what a sucky time this is to get hospitalized. Is the driver suspected of DUI or is that question out of bounds?

[Old Time Hunter]

Well Rexster at least your's is still driveable....at least out of harm's way, anyway. Surprised that she isn't scream'n entrapment.

[Rifleman336]

A friend of mine who voluteers for a local "Box" rescue company, in Ohio, said there was a national study concerning stationary public safety vehicals and the driving public.

In a nut shell it didn't matter the overall color (remember when fire departments went from red to yellow?), light configurations or passive or active mesures to prevent a collision it's all in vein. For it's up to the igit behind the wheel of the car to pay attention!! And they don't and thus equipment gets damage or destroyed and public safety personnel pay in injury or with their lives.

I'm one that belives that there should be larger penalties, when it can be proven that circumstances show, neglagance on the drivers part, that results in the damage or destruction of properly lit public saftey vehicals / and or the injury or deaths of any individals at a accident scene. Not the down right stupid, $50 ticket that results in lots of cases including deaths of public safety workers/ and or accident survivors a scene.

I'm off my soap box now.

I'm glad you weren't hurt in that one Rexter.

Rifleman 336

[Old Savage]

Wish you the best for the holidays from here out.

[RIHMFIRE]

What a dufus...
We now have the move over law in Florida....
on the main highways....if you dont move into the
left lane and slow down, you will get a ticket....

[shdwlkr]

Rexester
Glad to hear you were not in the car and that you can still pretty fast if you have too.
As to the car it is only metal and rubber and plastic they make them everyday, no as to a friend even on the internet they just don't make that many and a LEO who is also a great guy even less of them.
Happy Holidays and watch your six and be careful we want to know you reached retirement and can enjoy fun things.
Have to ask, did the Rav4 driver not see your lights? or was the cell phone being used so the driver was occupied with other things besides driving? To have skidded that far the Rav4 must have been motoring along.

[WCF3030]

Bet you didn’t need any coffee after that.

[Barcelona Rick]

Rexster.....being a country boy the times we travel to or through Houston we just try our best to stay outta the way...you my brother are very lucky and God was sure looking out for ya.....were ya north of I-10 ???? Be safe and thank you for serving.....

jumbeaux

[Thunder50]

Glad you are OK. We have lost too many this year. Losing any is too many.

In our motorcycle training courses, it is taught that you do NOT look at danger, you look where you want to go, otherwise you will steer right into the danger. Happened to me one day, in my early days of cycle riding, I came around a curve and focused on a rock in the middle of my lane. Ran right over it and bent my front rim.

If she was focused on your car, instead of where she should be going, she drove right where her eyeballs told her to go. If you know about this phenomenom (sp?) then you can avoid this trap.