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I followed a DUI last night until his crash

Discussion in 'Other Discussions' started by annsni, May 16, 2012.

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  1. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Last night I was coming home from being out and I saw a car ahead of me driving weird. First thing was that he was swerving and braking and then he went and drove in the oncoming traffic lane! I was on a two lane road - one in each direction - that is VERY windey. So I backed off a bit and watched him come back into the proper lane for a bit then drift back to the opposite direction lane. Thank GOD that each time he went into the other lane, no one was coming. I followed him for about a 1/2 mile and then called 911 because this guy WAS going to get someone killed. I was able to give the license plate number and our location and the operator said that two cars were coming. I was ready to turn off and felt the need to follow him more because he was just so bad and I have first-aid training and figured someone would need it soon.

    I watched as he hit the curb on the other side of the road then pinball back into my lane and I seriously felt like blocking him at a light but it was 11 pm, and I'm a woman alone on a dark road - NOT a good idea so I kept following. Well, we got about 3 miles down the road with him all over before he just drove straight into a telephone pole on the other side of the road (all the way on my left). He hit the pole without even braking, split the pole in half, the transformer exploded and the bottom of the pole ended up crunching through the whole front of the engine almost to the windshield!! Oh my gosh!!! I pulled over, grabbed my phone and jumped out of the car just as he climbed out. Can you believe he hit the pole at about 40 MPH and split it in half but was OK? Of course he was on something - not sure what. Just as I got to his car, my phone rang and it was the 911 operator asking where we were and I told her where and that he had just hit the pole. She heard me talking to the guy and she asked if I wanted her to stay on the line with me and I said "Yes" so she did (what a doll). The police pulled up about 30 seconds later and took over. I waited by my car while they secured everything and then spoke to the policeman. He asked me if I was the one who called and I told him I was and he said that they were following where I was but were far enough behind that they couldn't get to me quickly enough. They were grateful that I did what I did in calling and keeping them posted on where he was. I filled out a report and was able to leave after about 30 minutes. I came home and shook for an hour before I went to bed.

    I'm SO grateful it ended like it did. The young man (he was in his early/mid 20s) would have killed someone if he hit them head on - my absolute fear as I was following him. He was fortunate that he was as blitzed as he was because he was not hurt but his car is totaled, I'm sure and he's going to have at least the consequences of a DUI, have his insurance skyrocket if he can even get insurance after this and our utility company makes the person who hit the pole pay for it if the accident is their fault. But man, that was the scariest 7 minutes of my life (the officer told me it was 7 minutes from when I initiated the call to when they got there). I actually woke up this morning all sore in the shoulders/back/neck - I think from being so tense through the whole ordeal!! I was so tense and shaking that I couldn't even recognize my handwriting. LOL

    Goodness, what a night!
     
    #1 annsni, May 16, 2012
  2. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    Wow! :eek:

    I had a similar experience 15 years ago. A mini van was going the wrong way on the freeway swerving in between cars. I was keeping up in the opposite lane (on the right side of the freeway) beeping and trying to get their attention. I thought the worst (being it was a mini van...kids). They hit another car head on, I stopped on the shoulder, hopped the median and checked on the driver not knowing what I was going to find. The car they hit was ok, and it was a drunk woman driving the mini van who was also OK.

    The irony was in God's timing. An undercover cop just so happened to be following me due to my erratic driving in trying to get her attention. He didn't even see the van. He cuffed the woman and asked me to stay with her while he called it in.
     
    #2 webdog, May 16, 2012
  3. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Oh my gosh - I'd have had a stroke!!!! Web - I was so scared. After all was said and done, I cried because of the stress of wanting to stop something and just not being able to do anything!!!!! WHY do people think it's OK to drive under the influence????? These people literally couldn't think I guess.
     
    #3 annsni, May 16, 2012
  4. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    They think they are fine and can handle it. I know what you mean about feeling powerless. Laying on the horn waving my arm out the window didn't even work to get her attention.

    When I wasn't walking with the Lord I had my fair share of doing the same. By the grace of God I didn't kill anyone or myself.
     
    #4 webdog, May 16, 2012
  5. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    Wow, what an experience! You're like a good Samaritan for following him and trying to help him.

    I too, once saw a driver hop the curb and drive directly into a telephone pole. It was around 4:00 pm on a clear sunny day and it happened as I was a passenger going in the opposite direction. Car was about 200 feet in front of us, suddenly swerved to the right, hopped the curb, and went smack-dab into the telephone pole. We saw the impact from a vantage point of about 30 feet away as we passed the scene. Crash happened just as we were about to have passed the telephone pole. Made a horrific sound.

    Front end of the car had a huge Vee shape going back about 2/3's of the way into the hood from the pole. We pulled into a nearby gas station and tried to call the police (this was before cell phones or even the 911 system.) Before we could make a call we saw a police car approaching the crash scene.
     
    #5 InTheLight, May 16, 2012
  6. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    If he contests the DUI charge you may not be done with it yet....

    Just sayin'.
     
    #6 kyredneck, May 16, 2012
  7. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    Wow! Ann, I'm so proud of you! Your quick thinking might have saved some lives. Hopefully, this young man will learn his lesson and not repeat this again.
     
    #7 abcgrad94, May 16, 2012
  8. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Oh, I know. I'm at least expecting a phone call from the insurance company if not a lawyer as well.
     
    #8 annsni, May 16, 2012
  9. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    This is where a lawyer friend who gives free advice could be handy, got one?
     
    #9 kyredneck, May 16, 2012
  10. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    I had a similar occurrence when I was a teen with my girlfriend. Car ahead of us was going all over the road, so I decided to follow. The fellow came to a major intersection and turned right, but went past the median and hit a car waiting in the left lane to turn left onto the road we were on. Fortunately, he was not going real fast when he hit the other car, more of a simple fender-bender.

    No cell phones to call back then.
     
    #10 Winman, May 16, 2012
  11. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    Crazy stuff. I'm glad you're safe and nobody else got hurt either! We see that on a very regular basis out here, but after the third time calling and they were very rude, I realized they don't care, don't get it, or maybe just don't have the resources to deal with it. I'm thinking it's the last option, since it seems at least one person is hurt/killed out here on a daily basis. (doesn't help that there are no sidewalks for pedestrians, I think two have been run over in the last week)

    I've heard about drunk drivers (or whatever they're on) not getting hurt in some pretty horrific accidents because they don't have the normal reaction a sober person has...tensing up all stiff and stuff, like the difference between a ragdoll and a plastic one.

    I cringed reading about that pole. That part alone could have been so dangerous for you! It definitely isn't something I would have expected to have happen...even at what may have been a seemingly safe distance, who would expect THAT?! I'd have been shaking for a long time too!

    Sounds like you may be like me in emergencies. Stay calm, get it done, then when all is over, FLIP OUT! That's a good thing though, gets stuff done. On the other hand, it also means we put ourselves in danger without thinking it through all the way. Be careful out there...and maybe start carrying around a cape. LOL Wait, someone earlier posted that heroes wear dog tags. I'm tempted to send you a set! :thumbs:
     
    #11 Gina B, May 16, 2012
  12. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    A good one. :)
     
    #12 annsni, May 16, 2012
  13. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Yep - I'm always really good in an emergency but afterwards, forget it. I can shake for hours! LOL
     
    #13 annsni, May 16, 2012
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