From: stead@skadi.CSS.GOV (Richard Stead)
Newsgroups: dc.general,dc.driving
Subject: One-car accidents (was: Re: ALERT! Anti-gun meeting in NoVA)
Date: 15 Dec 92 00:58:03 GMT
Followup-To: dc.general

In article <62816@mimsy.umd.edu>, purtilo@cs.umd.edu (Jim Purtilo) writes:
> 
> On a more personal level, I know this first hand.  My wife was recently
> in an auto accident, shaken but unhurt.  She swerved to avoid hitting a
> senior citizen who believed that stop signs are only for young people, 
> and hence barreled out from a side street onto 29 south going into Silver
> Spring.  Chris missed the car, avoided oncoming traffic, and managed to
> stop the car at only the expense of some body work and a sign.  Witnesses
> --- and a *Montgomery County Officer* who was on patrol and only a short
> distance back down the road when it happened --- praised her for the defensive
> driving which probably saved the senior's life.  While the clever officer
> was checking out my very pregnent wife to ensure she was okay, the senior
> citizen took off, after having stopped;  the cop did not yet have the
... 
> 	``I'm sorry, Dr. Purtilo.  But these officers have
> 	  no obligation to help you.''

I've been reading the gun/anti-gun flame war with bemused detachment, but
this post hit home for another reason.  Last year, I had my first accident
ever after more than 10 years driving in several areas (including 7 in
traffic-dense LA).  I was driving on 50 in VA, approaching an intersection,
when a woman in the opposit lanes apparently decided she'd waited long
enough to make her turn, and gunned it left directly in my path just as
I entered the intersection at about 45 mph.  Before I had time to form
the thought "I'm about to be hamburger", my instinctive responses ripped
the car left (toward oncoming traffic) and back again, avoiding all
traffic including the clueless one.  In the process, I blew out both
tires on the left side, then could not regain control.  I spun out onto
the grass median, but managed to avoid flipping.  The roof and hood
of my car were carpeted with clods of turf and my shoulder hurt for
3 days from doing the steering manuever (I was not completely aware
of the effort I was using at the time, but when I replayed it in my
mind it was clear).  A kind soul stopped and gave me the license of the
car (clueless left the scene immediately, of course).  The police said they
were powerless to do anything unless I could pick her out of a lineup.
Right, like anyone can get a good enough look in a moment like that.
They also said that even if I could pick her out, it was doubtful that
any charges would stick (There is a "leaving the scene non-contact"
violation in VA, but apparently nobody ever gets pegged for it).  Anyway,
the damage was about $1500, and I was without car for more than 2 weeks
as I worked it through the insurance, then got the body work done.
Howver, the policewoman I dealt with on the scene was very kind, helping me to
do the report (which I probably messed up anyway), and even giving me
a ride to work after my car was towed.  So even though they aren't obligated,
the people are very helpful and have my support.  But the system failed me.
It's only a matter of time before that crazy driver kills someone, if
she hasn't already.


--
Richard Stead
Center for Seismic Studies
Arlington, VA
stead@seismo.css.gov