Right time, wrong place?

[Uben]

So, I awoke this morning at 2:30 AM, mainly because I hit the hay around 8:00 PM last night. This is not unusual for me, I usually get up between 3 and 4 anyway. Turn on computer, play a few games, read DU, standard routine. Nothing on tv as usual. Damn, out of smokes, so I decide to go to town to get some (15 miles). Got my smokes, stopped by the grocery store and picked up a few items, and hit Burger King for a quick breakfast.....headed back to the house.

I'm travelling down the highway headed east when just as I am topping a hill, I see a car on my side of the road headed straight at me! I was in the right-hand lane, he was in the left (thank god!) I quickly turned around and chased after the guy. I just knew the next hill he topped he would meet someone head on and SMASH! HE came to red light and stopped, which allowed me to catch up with him (don't know why he stopped, there was no light on his side because he was on the wrong side). I honked several times and motioned for him to come to my side of the road. He didn't, he just kept going! So, I took off, lights flashing and horn honking to get his attention and warn oncoming traffic. He comes to another light and stops. Again I don't know why other than he realized he was at an intersection. This time, I was able to get his attention and he then got on the right side of the highway. He was just about to go over a railroad overpass which again put him and anyone else on the road in peril!

This is the second time this has happened on the same road. The last time was some twenty years ago. Both times turned out okay as no one was killed or injured. I suspect both times involved drunks. I was so nervous my foot was shaking to badly to drive. I pulled over, at my breakfast sandwich, and proceeded home.

Little did I know that this could have been my last morning to wake up. Had I been in the right hand lane going over that hill, it would have been a head-on at 55 mph. As it turned out, I may have saved someone else, including the guy on the wrong side, from being injured or killed!

You just never know when it's your time. It can happen so fast....then it's over.

[islandmkl]

1. scary...'Death Takes a Holiday' in real life....

close-calls render awareness we are not usually tuned into...

[Ian David]

2. I've done that sort of thing sober in unfamiliar places. Sometimes the roads aren't clearly marked.

Actually, all three times it happened to me was in Florida.

[Uben]

3. The first time I reported the guy to the cops......

...and found out he was a known drunk driver. This time the guy really just seemed disoriented. He did not display any other signs of being intoxicated, and actually waved at me when he realized his error. I did not report him. I was just thankful no one got hurt.