This One Leaves Me Speechless!

[dockmurgw]

Tragic, but good grief!

SEBASTIAN, Fla. (WCAX) - A 87-year-old Vermont man was killed on the interstate in Florida while trying to help a turtle.
As reported in the Miami Herald, Florida troopers say it happened on I-95 near Sebastian in Indian River County.
They say the man was trying to help a turtle cross the roadway. A car slowed down to avoid hitting him, but a pickup truck behind it didn’t stop in time and rear-ended the first vehicle, sending it veering off the road. The truck then hit the 87-year-old.
He died at the scene. We don’t know the man’s name or where in Vermont he’s from.

This was in our local news this morning. Now around here, stopping in the road to escort turtles, frogs and salamanders across the road in the Spring is what people do, its everywhere. With our sparse traffic people can do it with little inconvenience to others. But I-95 in Florida! This guy forgot he wasn't in Vermont and paid the ultimate price. I really feel for the other people involved in this; they have to live with what happened. Not their fault, but they have to live with it anyway.

 

[glenncal1]

It is bad enough trying to drive in I-95 let alone being a pedestrian.

 

[oink]

Yeah, I95 isn't the place to be a pedestrian. I think the traffic flow in that area is 80+. Sad, unfortunate situation.

Is it too disrespectful to ask if the turtle made it?

 

[Rule3]

I always stop to help turtles on the road if I can, BUT not on a interstate Crazy!

 

[dockmurgw]

Is it too disrespectful to ask if the turtle made it?

This story is ripe for comment...but like you ask, is it disrespectful, so I'll contain myself.

 

[biku324]

Too many years ago a family stopped along I-40 in New Mexico near mile 29 to let the family dog out to pee. The dog jumped straight into traffic; their 5 year-old jumped right after it to try to save the dog. The boy was killed immediately, horribly (by traffic which could not avoid him) in front of his family.

Traffic is dangerous.

 

[Onomea]

Well, no disrespect intended to the old guy, but it will make for a helluva family story for his descendants.

 

[mtgianni]

I have posted about it here before but I came within inches of hitting a lady who had stopped in front of a bridge after a blind corner. She had a door open and was in the other lane trying to rescue a magpie dragging a wing. I missed her but took out the magpie. Some people have no sense about where they are.

 

[LVSteve]

10/10 for the thought to save wildlife, minus several million for the chosen venue.

The big heavy things with wheels will kill you given the least chance. As a small boy in London this was drilled into me. It's one of the reasons I find the assumption that the pedestrian always has the right of way so laughable.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Tragic, but good grief!

SEBASTIAN, Fla. (WCAX) - A 87-year-old Vermont man was killed on the interstate in Florida while trying to help a turtle.

Wow. Random act of kindness?

Note to self: Do not do that.

 

[Yendor357]

If I make it to 87, and then killed instantly, I’m ok with that.
I feel more sorry for the other people involved.

 

[pharmer]

I have wiped out all sorts of wildlife going 75 mph. Better them than me. Joe

 

[SMSgt]

I slowed for a family of young raccoons once. The result was a totaled pickup and severe chronic back pain. Never again.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

It happened in NC some years ago to a woman who parked her car on the shoulder and walked across the wide median to rescue a turtle in the opposite lane only to be hit and killed. The driver who hit her had no idea anyone was even there as her car was on the opposite shoulder. High speed traffic is nothing to play with. There have been numerous good samaritans killed on the high bridges going into New Bern NC where they stop to help a broke down car or flat tire. If i had a flat on that bridge I would rim it until I could get off.

 

[pharmer]

I TRY to miss armadillos; hitting one feels like a landmine at 75. Joe

 

[TX-Dennis]

Many years ago in southern CO heading back toward NM I hit a rabbit at about 80 mph. Suddenly there were rabbits everywhere on the road. Do they migrate?

At any rate, it became unavoidable hitting rabbits. Must have taken out dozens that night. The first few we were all saying, "Oh no! We killed a rabbit." Eventually it became somewhat funny. Now I'm not advocating killing wildlife with your vehicle, but that was a weird night, and I've never seen so many rabbits before or since.

Oh, there was that time in the TX panhandle when there were tortoises everywhere. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, crossing the road for several miles. Do tortoises migrate?

Neither species is usually thought of as herd animals.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

The worst that i have seen was 4 deer hit and obliterated by the same 18 wheeler on the dual lane road coming into the plant where I worked for 40 yrs.

 

[biku324]

Many years ago in southern CO heading back toward NM I hit a rabbit at about 80 mph. Suddenly there were rabbits everywhere on the road. Do they migrate?

At any rate, it became unavoidable hitting rabbits. Must have taken out dozens that night. The first few we were all saying, "Oh no! We killed a rabbit." Eventually it became somewhat funny. Now I'm not advocating killing wildlife with your vehicle, but that was a weird night, and I've never seen so many rabbits before or since.

Oh, there was that time in the TX panhandle when there were tortoises everywhere. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, crossing the road for several miles. Do tortoises migrate?

Neither species is usually thought of as herd animals.

There was a migration of green desert army worms across I-10 near mile 110 one summer; a driver freaked out, slammed on her brakes, slid on the slimy mess she was making, and the the car overturned. Her husband was sleeping in the back seat and was thrown out; he slid on his back and posterior a couple hundred feet, burning through his Levi's, then skin, then muscle tissue, then into his hip bones. He was alive, but quickly passed out from pain and blood loss. He lived.

 

[Greyman50]

Years ago I was restoring a 79 Ford van. Had done lots of body work and mechanical work and was driving it to work. About a week later hit a deer and totaled it. Was very PO’ed as van was going to be my gun show van…..

 

[quikdraw67]

I try to avoid all wildlife. Turtles, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks etc because I like seeing them.

Deer, bear, turkey because they will damage the car.

I saw a turtle trying to cross I-84 near Danbury CT.

I missed him, the 3 cars behind me didn't.