In honor of the yearly Darwin Awards, which celebrates those who improve the species by accidentally removing themselves from it; and which is being discussed on today’s Feast of Fools show (in case you’re interested), I have a little Darwinesque story of my own to share:
About 15 years ago or so when I was still living at home in Kenosha, I was coming home from the bars in Chicago late at night and I-94 was pretty clear of traffic. I was just cruising along as I crossed the state line into Kenosha, minding my own business, when all of a sudden I could see tail lights approaching me at BREAKNECK speed.
They weren’t attached to car or a truck. I would have noticed those much earlier and could have easily avoided them had this been the case. But the reason why I didn’t notice them until the very last second was because they were attached to a relatively small motorcycle; and the cycle and its driver were stopped DEAD in the MIDDLE OF THE FRICKIN’ INTERSTATE, in my lane.
Now understand here that while I had been out all night, and I more than likely had a few drinks throughout the night; I had probably gone out for a late night breakfast at some diner afterward so I was pretty well sober by that time. It was definitely late and I was tired, but I had all my wits about me.
I had to be going at least 65-70MPH and maybe 500-1000 feet away when I realized what it was coming toward me. I hit the brakes hard and swerved, spun around at least 4 times, and somehow, by the grace of whatever, I neither hit the idiot nor did I flip my car over. When the car finally stopped spinning, I ended up facing the opposite direction, and I could still see the asshole parked in the middle of the fucking street. After I composed myself, cussed the guy out for being such an idiot (with a certain death wish), I took a few deep breaths, I turned myself around and kept on driving.
Thankfully, as I said, there was next to NO traffic on the highway at the time. If there had been, there would have been a major pileup and I surely could have been crushed by something or other.
I wonder what the hell his problem was, anyway?
Even though you said you had your wits about you, please be careful. Alcohol can still effect you hours later even if you’re below the legal limit.
Even though you said you had your wits about you, please be careful. Alcohol can still effect you hours later even if you’re below the legal limit.
About a year and a half ago, another cabdriver I know was driving down a two lane road around 11;30 at night. He remembers seeing what looked like a motorcycle coming the other direction. Next thing he knows there are firemen and paramedics asking if he can hear them.
According to the cops, two motorcyclists were racing one another, doing close to 90 on this two lane, somewhat winding road. They came to a slight curve and the guy in front slowed. He then got bumped by the second guy, at which point they both lost it. One of them plowed into the cab, the other one missed the cab but went into the guardrail. One of the two guys was killed on impact; the other landed in the hospital for I don’t know how long.
You might not think a motorcycle can do that much damage to a car, but it totaled a relatively new Ford Crown Victoria.
About a year and a half ago, another cabdriver I know was driving down a two lane road around 11;30 at night. He remembers seeing what looked like a motorcycle coming the other direction. Next thing he knows there are firemen and paramedics asking if he can hear them.
According to the cops, two motorcyclists were racing one another, doing close to 90 on this two lane, somewhat winding road. They came to a slight curve and the guy in front slowed. He then got bumped by the second guy, at which point they both lost it. One of them plowed into the cab, the other one missed the cab but went into the guardrail. One of the two guys was killed on impact; the other landed in the hospital for I don’t know how long.
You might not think a motorcycle can do that much damage to a car, but it totaled a relatively new Ford Crown Victoria.