Damn. That was too close.

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
11/22/2016 at 23:59 • Filed to: None

Today, my family and I literally came within a few feet of being involved a crash on the interstate. We were driving from Austin to Fort Worth, northbound along I-35W. The interstate was three lanes, traffic was dense, and going about 70-75 mph. I was in the middle lane. I noticed four or five semis, hauling long concrete bridge supports, parked along the right shoulder a few hundred feet ahead. A white pickup in the right lane, for no apparent reason, suddenly slowed, as if he was trying to merge into a stopped lane of traffic. I said out loud, “That’s going to be a wreck.” Sure enough, somebody locked up in a cloud of smoke and nailed the pickup. There was a Ford Taurus third in line, and he blindly swerved into the middle lane, sideswiping a pickup two cars in front of me. That pickup hit the brakes and headed for the left shoulder, and the pickup in front of me also headed left. I started to go left, but then saw daylight to the right, gassed it, and got through cleanly. Barely. Had I hit the brakes, I surely would have been hit from behind. Had I gone left, I surely would have hit the pickups heading for the left shoulder. Amazingly, the driver of the Taurus, with damage all down the left side of his car and a broken side view mirror dangling, just kept driving as if nothing had happened. He continued to the next exit and got off. In retrospect, I probably should have stopped as a witness. But I was just happy to be away from the carnage.

There were numerous other wrecks along the roads today. Be safe traveling this week, Oppos. Keep a safe distance, don’t drive tired, and stay alert. It’s crazy out there.

DISCUSSION (22)

CB > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 00:04

Driving rule #8: assume everyone else on the road is trying to kill you.

DrScientist > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 00:18

its interesting that many people don’t follow the tenet:

don’t steer toward where the out of control cars are going.

it makes sense when you read it. but for whatever reason, people think they can out-run/brake/swerve/turn/whatever the car that is clearly out of control.

point at where that car is coming from, not where its going!

glad you and your family is ok. and right-on for actually thinking while driving.

RallyWrench > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 00:19

Amazing what a little situational awareness will do, good eye and nice save.

wafflesnfalafel > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 00:19

skill, knowledge, attention and a bit of clean living there... Your own little Sullenberger moment.

wagon guy now drives a boostang > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 02:43

Screw going anywhere for the holiday. I’m going to work on Wed/Thur and make people come to me this weekend.

LastFirstMI is my name > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 05:25

Rule #9 for driving on I-35 between Austin and DFW:

There will be traffic, construction, and you will most likely die. Plan accordingly.

shop-teacher > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 07:40

Good job staying calm thinking your way through it. Glad you’re all ok.

JEM > CB
11/23/2016 at 07:59

Rule #1 on a bike.

Clown Shoe Pilot > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 09:31

Glad y’all are ok, that sounds like some A-1 heads up driving.

I’d have taken the next exit just to walk off the adrenaline dump that no doubt arrived the nanosecond after you were clear of the mayhem.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 09:35

Congrats on good avoidance technique! And I would have gladly paid for you to stop in West for me. :)

ttyymmnn > RallyWrench
11/23/2016 at 10:02

Thanks. It helps when you can see the wreck coming. That extra couple of seconds can make a huge difference.

ttyymmnn > DrScientist
11/23/2016 at 10:03

Thanks. My mom taught me that one YEARS ago. This was the first time I’ve ever had to use it.

ttyymmnn > Clown Shoe Pilot
11/23/2016 at 10:05

Funny thing was, I wasn’t even that jazzed. My wife looked up from her map just as all hell was breaking loose, but I don’t think my pulse even went up. It was over so fast and we were through. Then we spent the next 15 minutes talking about it.

ttyymmnn > haveacarortwoorthree2
11/23/2016 at 10:06

We stopped at the Buc-Ee’s in Temple instead. We’ll get the kolaches on the way home.

ttyymmnn > shop-teacher
11/23/2016 at 10:08

I didn’t really have time to think, just react. But seeing the accident before it happened helped a lot. I knew there was going to be a wreck, but I didn’t think it would spread to my lane. Good SA can get you out of many jams. I try really hard to keep track of who or what is beside me at all times.

ttyymmnn > wafflesnfalafel
11/23/2016 at 10:09

Not sure I’d go that far, but I did keep my family safe, and that’s the most important thing. Kept my feet dry, too.

shop-teacher > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 10:12

Well you did some thinking before you had to react, so it still counts :)

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 10:18

All’s well that ends well.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 10:20

They put a Buc-Ee’s out by TMS, so it’s not a novelty for us any more. But I love the cinnamon rolls at Gerik’s — enough that I have even contemplated just driving there and back, although to date I’ve managed to keep from doing so. Enjoy Fort Worth, and save travels back!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
11/23/2016 at 10:24

So many asshats out there.

ttyymmnn > haveacarortwoorthree2
11/23/2016 at 10:31

I’d rather stop in West, but my kids like Buc-ees.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn
11/28/2016 at 17:44

Yikes. Glad you’re okay. Well done using the pedal on the right as a safety device. I’m very surprised that there were no accidents in front of me coming back on 44 yesterday. The passing lane pretty much one continuous line of cars going 75+ with little to no space given to the car in front by most... Was very glad to make it safely home last night.