OT - Open letter to all drivers, plus a prayer request

Rexster · Post by **Rexster** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 1:33 pm

First of all, a heartfelt thanks to the drivers who do slow down and move over when a patrol car or two are positioned diagonally across a freeway, leaving only the right lane open, just before an exit. Now, for the important part of my appeal: Please, please, do not whip back into the main lanes of traffic immediately after passing the patrol cars! That skinny guy in the blue suit, a little farther along, right at the exit, waving a flashlight, just might be me, trying to wave you off the freeway, and you are not doing me a favor by hitting me, or impressing me by how close you can do a fly-by without hitting me. I am not someone who is trying to commit suicide by dancing in the freeway. Seriously. We don't always have enough cars, cones, flares, or barricades to make a solid wall, from the top of the hill, all the way to the exit ramp. We do not set up diagonal diversion patterns across superhighways just for the fun of it; we do it because, up ahead, there is a reason we want NO TRAFFIC on the freeway. Now, for the request: I don't know her name, but a young woman was severely injured in a head-on collision in the wee hours of Friday morning; a wrong-way drunk driver struck her car. Tough, professional, seasoned officers who saw it up close were moved by the experience; the terror of the younger officer who arrived first was apparent over the radio. The young woman's legs were crushed, her pelvis broken, and one arm was mangled badly, with an open compound fracture of the elbow. She may lose her legs. Her head and upper body remained relatively intact, and she was able to speak through the whole ordeal, as rescue crews carefully dismantled her vehicle. Assuming she keeps her limbs, she faces months of physical therapy, I am sure. I am not new to this; I saw my first barbequed driver almost 24 years ago. Thanks for listening.

Ram Hammer · Post by **Ram Hammer** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:07 pm

Thanks for the reminder

Prayer sent

Hagler · Post by **Hagler** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:10 pm

Done!

Shawn

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:11 pm

Prayers said for the young lady and her family (and for the officers involved)...

As to the other, I have always presumed that the fellows making the traffic divurge in another direction knew something important that had yet to be and might not be disclosed to me but that could very well affect my well being. I never presumed that it was just to have a good time or for the purposes of exercising their "power" over me. You can be sure that it won't be me that tries to see how close I can come to see which sidearm your agency issues.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:20 pm

Rexster,

Be assured I'm very careful. When in CA, during one similar horrific accident scene I had a driver try to bust thru my flare pattern. The HP officer told me, (& I still wonder if he was joking), "that's why I carry TWO flashlights; one to signal with, the second, filled with concrete... to really get their attention!"

Be safe there in the wild lands.

Caco · Post by **Caco** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:46 pm

Good reminder-serious stuff
Dave

canonsix · Post by **canonsix** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 5:36 pm

Prayers up, thanks for the heads up. Doug

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:29 pm

Well said. Unfortunately, there are people behind the wheel that couldn't find their backside with both hands. There needs to be some sort of driving exam that separates the trousered apes from the humans. We've had several cruisers piled into in the last few months, even though they were completely off the pavement.

crawdaddyjim · Post by **crawdaddyjim** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:31 pm

Was on Hwy 50 just yesterday. Traffic diversion with cones and LEO's directing. This Little (well she weren't little) old (she was really old) woman just drove on through the cones. Thats when I saw what looked like a baton with a handle at 90* on the shaft go flying into the front of her car. She slammed on the brakes and came real close to getting arrested. I don't think she was in any shape to be behind the wheel.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:00 pm

Jim,
Fortunately here in Florida a LEO who encounters a person who they believe shouldn't be driving can report them to the DL folks and they will be re-evaluated. It's a pain, but it has to be done from time to time.

Just last week in the chain reaction caused by the intense fog on I-4 a Polk county deputy ( and a SWAT team member) was forced to sit in his car and listen as a driver of another car burned to death. The fog mixed with smoke was so bad there was only 5-10 feet of visibility. When the officer arrived on the scene his car was hit by another vehicle before he could even get out of it. Assessing the situation he determined that it was safer to remain in the vehicle, the car was hit another three times before things began to stop.

To let you know how people are, two days later after the road had been reopened FHP closed the road again due to to heavy fog as drivers were clocked on radar driving 80 MPH in zero visibility. I don't know about current LEO's but in my day that would have been considered Willful Wanton wreckless Driving and would have won you a trip to the local graybar hotel.

Prayers offered for the lady as well,

Rusty <><

LeverBob · Post by **LeverBob** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:03 pm

Thanks for the reminder Pard...

I'm an old Viet combat vet...seen some really icky stuff. Also, been watching Most Shocking on the tube. Didn't think I could be shocked anymore until I have been viewing THE most stupid PEOPLE ON PLANET EARTH. It is not only shocking, it is unbelievably insane the way people act.

To all the LEO's out there...they don't pay you enough...no way. I don't know how you stand it.

G-D bless you all...y'all are a special breed of cat.

LeverBob

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:11 pm

Heal well young lady. Prayers sent, more care taken. Thanks for the post.

SmokeEater2 · Post by **SmokeEater2** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:19 pm

I wish the best for that young lady and good luck to you on the roadways Rexster, Drivers rubbernecking at the flashy lights and the MVA itself are one of my pet peeves.

Gun Runner · Post by **Gun Runner** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:49 pm

Some years ago a buddy and I were comming back from fishing, when we came upon a head-on in a curve. Got off the road and my buddy went to check and I started laying flares. The guy that caused the accident was DRUNK, and injured. About then 2 hiway patrol units pulled up. One took charge of the scene and the other started grabbing flares out of his trunk. He asked if I had put out the other flares amd told him yes but I had only 7. He asked me to give him a hand putting out more flares. Around the next curve on a hill here comes jr. with his stero full blast and his toyota going full blast right thru the flare pattern. The CHP stepped out in the road with a lit flare and was getting ready to throw it at him when he stopped. The CHP jerked him out of the P/U and drug him to the accident scene to show him the mess and explained he could have caused even more with his driving. Chp gave me doz. flares to replace my 7 and thanked my buddie and myself for helping and,putting out flares. Ambulance arrived and picked up the drunk and took hime into Truckee to the hospital were he was arrested for drunk driving and causing a accident. The folks in the other vechile werent hurt.

Gun Runner

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:05 am

Done!

FALPhil · Post by **FALPhil** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:12 am

Griff wrote: "that's why I carry TWO flashlights; one to signal with, the second, filled with concrete... to really get their attention!"

Heh, heh. My attorney and I should hope to me a cop like that some day! I'd love to retire early.

Rexster · Post by **Rexster** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:35 am

Thanks for the support, guys. This particular MVA was out of sight, around a bend, from where we were diverting traffic. For quite a bit, we had two patrol cars to divert four lanes of traffic, and common sense dictated they be on top of the overpass, before the exit we needed traffic to take. So, somebody had to be on the downside of the hill, by the exit; that would be me. Ideally, we needed another two patrol cars by the exit, and another one or two atop the hill. After a harrowing few minutes, an angel arrived in the form of a TABC agent, who parked her unmarked Crown Vic, with its few meager dash lights, diagonally across the freeway by the exit. After a bit longer, two sergeants arrived, and used their marked cars to finally complete a skirmish line, er, I mean traffic diversion pattern, at my position. As for the injured woman, she is still hanging in there, from what I see on the local news websites.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:53 am

Phil,
If anyone should ever tell you that you're a jerk, you really should believe them.

Rusty <><

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:53 am

FALPhil wrote:
Griff wrote: "that's why I carry TWO flashlights; one to signal with, the second, filled with concrete... to really get their attention!"
Heh, heh. My attorney and I should hope to me a cop like that some day! I'd love to retire early.

As I said, I still DON'T know that he wasn't joking. But, if the choice is being run over without a fight; or flinging a flashlight, have at it! For after the flashlight is sure come bullets. Or, we could skip the flashlight stage.

Prayers up for the victim, Rexster.

John in MS · Post by **John in MS** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:40 am

Prayers sent for the victim, Rexster, and thanks for the informative post.
I appreciate our LEO's and the stupid %&^$#& they have to deal with on a daily basis. Thanks for all you do!!

Speaking as one who was almost orphaned at age 6 by a couple of drunk drivers, may I ask how the drunk fared? They usually seem to do better than their victims. Rest assured, no positive vibes are headed toward him from this location...
John

PPpastordon · Post by **PPpastordon** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:45 am

Rexster,

Prayers sent for the lady and, as always, for LEO's.

I remember in the mid 60's, an LEO in Anaheim, CA, threw his flares through the windshield of a car which was way too close to running him down as he was setting out flares at a MVA. He was sued for his actions. Thanks and praise to the Lord, the suit failed. Even CA courts can (or used to) show that rare - and not so common - asset, "common sense."
Grace and Peace,

Rexster · Post by **Rexster** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:07 am

For the one who asked, the drunk was hurt, but not nearly as badly.

Poohgyrr · Post by **Poohgyrr** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:31 pm

Prayers sent.

Sounds like her life, and the lives of family & friends, are changed forever.

Someone dies from an alcohol related crash about every fifteen minutes here in the USA. All day long, every day. If we add in all the other non-alcohol related crashes, it's about every twelve minutes. That's also Nation wide.

This is "only" the folks who die, and does not include those who are injured, like this lady. Sometimes the best thing we can do for a friend is give them a ride or place to sleep, or take their keys.

Marlin .35 · Post by **Marlin .35** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:51 pm

Prayers up for the young lady!!!! Art

OT - Open letter to all drivers, plus a prayer request

OT - Open letter to all drivers, plus a prayer request

G-D bless the LEO"s!