LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Yesterday morning (Tuesday 11-26) I was finishing a 5-day road trip (Albuquerque for lunch with Erich and FishBait, Flagstaff AZ, Las Vegas NV, Grand Junction CO, then home to Pueblo CO). Driving east on US 50 about 30 miles west of Gunnison CO in moderate snow, roads lightly snow-packed, using 4WD and maintaining a modest speed consistent with good control. Vehicle in the westbound lane lost control on a curve, fishtailed and corrected, ending up coming directly at me in my lane with maybe 500 feet between us (at a closure speed of ~50MPH, maybe a second to make my decisions).
My choices were to accept a head-on collision (my speed about 25 or so, her speed 30 or so), or take the shoulder and steep embankment. I chose to steer for the shoulder, leaving my lane wide open for her.
Left front of her vehicle struck at my left rear wheel and quarter panel, knocking me sideways off the road and about 25-30 feet down the embankment in deep snow. No rollover, but stopped at a steep angle making it a chore to get out of the truck.
Her vehicle stopped on the roadway perpendicular to the eastbound traffic lane. I asked if she was OK, she piddled with her cell phone, then said she had a child in the car and needed to take care of him. I fired up the cell phone and made connection to 911 operator, then I was able to read off her license plate number while she drove away (leaving only 30 or 40 lbs. of debris from her front end at my feet)!
I spent the next hour standing in a snowstorm on the side of the road, then a US Parks Police Officer stopped as an assist to local authorities. Colorado State Patrol stopped the hit & run driver 5 or 6 miles to the west, still driving away. 3 hours later, and a $512 wrecker bill to recover my truck, I was back on the road. Moderate damage, some mechanical issues due to alignment being jacked up by dragging sideways down the slope. Stopped overnight in Salida rather than trying the Arkansas River canyon at night with alignment problems.
The miracles mentioned? Here they are:
Miracle #1: I was able to avoid a head-on collision with a goofy broad driving too fast on a mountain road during a snowstorm while her baby was not secured in a proper car seat.
Miracle #2: Despite suspended driver license, bogus license plates, and operating an unregistered automobile, the goofy girl actually had CAR INSURANCE! Just got off the phone with her insurance company, expecting an adjuster to visit within the next few days.
Young woman may be explaining herself to a judge in the coming weeks; hit& run, failure to give information & aid, suspended license, misuse of license plates, operating an unregistered vehicle, no child restraint seat, maybe a few other extraneous charges. She could have been booked into jail, but that would require placing the child with Social Services (a judgement by the Trooper that I must agree with).
This story could have had any number of less pleasant endings, so I will spend tomorrow being truly thankful to have another Thanksgiving with my family.
My choices were to accept a head-on collision (my speed about 25 or so, her speed 30 or so), or take the shoulder and steep embankment. I chose to steer for the shoulder, leaving my lane wide open for her.
Left front of her vehicle struck at my left rear wheel and quarter panel, knocking me sideways off the road and about 25-30 feet down the embankment in deep snow. No rollover, but stopped at a steep angle making it a chore to get out of the truck.
Her vehicle stopped on the roadway perpendicular to the eastbound traffic lane. I asked if she was OK, she piddled with her cell phone, then said she had a child in the car and needed to take care of him. I fired up the cell phone and made connection to 911 operator, then I was able to read off her license plate number while she drove away (leaving only 30 or 40 lbs. of debris from her front end at my feet)!
I spent the next hour standing in a snowstorm on the side of the road, then a US Parks Police Officer stopped as an assist to local authorities. Colorado State Patrol stopped the hit & run driver 5 or 6 miles to the west, still driving away. 3 hours later, and a $512 wrecker bill to recover my truck, I was back on the road. Moderate damage, some mechanical issues due to alignment being jacked up by dragging sideways down the slope. Stopped overnight in Salida rather than trying the Arkansas River canyon at night with alignment problems.
The miracles mentioned? Here they are:
Miracle #1: I was able to avoid a head-on collision with a goofy broad driving too fast on a mountain road during a snowstorm while her baby was not secured in a proper car seat.
Miracle #2: Despite suspended driver license, bogus license plates, and operating an unregistered automobile, the goofy girl actually had CAR INSURANCE! Just got off the phone with her insurance company, expecting an adjuster to visit within the next few days.
Young woman may be explaining herself to a judge in the coming weeks; hit& run, failure to give information & aid, suspended license, misuse of license plates, operating an unregistered vehicle, no child restraint seat, maybe a few other extraneous charges. She could have been booked into jail, but that would require placing the child with Social Services (a judgement by the Trooper that I must agree with).
This story could have had any number of less pleasant endings, so I will spend tomorrow being truly thankful to have another Thanksgiving with my family.
As always, it was great to visit and enjoy good food.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be that uncommon anymore.
