Nearly died yesterday

ericm979 · May 19, 2024

My wife and I were driving back from Oregon yesterday on I-5 in Northern California's central valley. That part of I-5 is two lanes each direction. I went to pass a semi truck and looked up the road to see a wrong way pickup truck headed my way in the fast lane at full speed. I slammed on the brakes and just managed to tuck behind the semi's trailer before getting hit head on. If I'd been a second slower we'd have been hit. If it hadn't been on a dead flat and straight section where I could see far down the road we'd have been hit. A head on or even a glancing hit at 120 mph+ combined speed would be deadly. I was really shook up for a while after that. It still bothers me.

My wife followed the highway patrol feed to see what happened. It sounds like the driver went for at least 10 miles before eventually pulling onto the center divide and turning around. No accident reports but a lot of scared people. I hope everyone here had a less exciting day yesterday.

MossRoad · May 19, 2024

YIKES!

Glad you were on your game!

dicktill · May 19, 2024

ericm979 said:
My wife and I were driving back from Oregon yesterday on I-5 in Northern California's central valley. That part of I-5 is two lanes each direction. I went to pass a semi truck and looked up the road to see a wrong way pickup truck headed my way in the fast lane at full speed. I slammed on the brakes and just managed to tuck behind the semi's trailer before getting hit head on. If I'd been a second slower we'd have been hit. If it hadn't been on a dead flat and straight section where I could see far down the road we'd have been hit. A head on or even a glancing hit at 120 mph+ combined speed would be deadly. I was really shook up for a while after that. It still bothers me.

My wife followed the highway patrol feed to see what happened. It sounds like the driver went for at least 10 miles before eventually pulling onto the center divide and turning around. No accident reports but a lot of scared people. I hope everyone here had a less exciting day yesterday.

Glad you're okay!

dodge man · May 19, 2024

I hate to hear that. I had it happen to me. I saw the car coming at me from a distance, I was also in the hammer lane. It took me a minute to process a closing speed of over a 130 mph but I had plenty of time to get over. I think I saw brake lights come on after she passed me, I had my horn blaring as she blew by me.

I figure this happens when someone get on an exit ramp thinking it‘s an on ramp.

riptides · May 19, 2024

Good to hear you were alert and made the right moves.

etpm · May 19, 2024

I'm glad you avoided the truck. I got hit head on when I went around a blind corner 700 feet from my driveway. This was in 1999. $470,000.00 in medical bills. You probably would have been killed. Once again, I'm so happy you were able to avoid the truck.
Eric

steve tym · May 19, 2024

Whew. At those speeds it's amazing how fast the gap closes.
Good reflexes, saved your wife's life.

scootr · May 19, 2024

Near headons are no joke. Glad you are okay.

1 person died here last week when an SUV crossed the center line while cresting a hill. The driver said their dog was trying to jump out their window at the time of the accident. The motorcyclist did not survive... less than a mile from my house.

EddieWalker · May 19, 2024

That's scary. I'm glad to hear that you are OK.

I heard a guy on the radio talking about head on accidents on the Interstate, and it's more common then most people realize. Drunks drive up the wrong Onramp and don't realize it. Or they black out for a second and cross the medium and end up in the other lanes. They get in "their" right lane and anybody driving in the correct direction in the left lane ends up dying from a head on collision.

The guy on the radio said that you should always stay in the Right lane when driving at night. Almost no head on accidents happen in that lane.

Joel/ak · May 19, 2024

Unfortunately happens to often here. The on ramps to the highway are antiquated. Usually alcohol is involved.

I live in the country but work in the city. Roads to my house you see impatient drivers waiting for a tractor and they just jump out. They don't care if your driving towards them.

It's Michigan, people are assholes

RandyT · May 19, 2024

EddieWalker said:
That's scary. I'm glad to hear that you are OK.

I heard a guy on the radio talking about head on accidents on the Interstate, and it's more common then most people realize. Drunks drive up the wrong Onramp and don't realize it. Or they black out for a second and cross the medium and end up in the other lanes. They get in "their" right lane and anybody driving in the correct direction in the left lane ends up dying from a head on collision.

The guy on the radio said that you should always stay in the Right lane when driving at night. Almost no head on accidents happen in that lane.

Or state trooper crossing the median while travelling 120 mph while talking to his wife on the cell phone and hits a car head on killing two sisters.

lman · May 19, 2024

EddieWalker said:
That's scary. I'm glad to hear that you are OK.

I heard a guy on the radio talking about head on accidents on the Interstate, and it's more common then most people realize. Drunks drive up the wrong Onramp and don't realize it. Or they black out for a second and cross the medium and end up in the other lanes. They get in "their" right lane and anybody driving in the correct direction in the left lane ends up dying from a head on collision.

The guy on the radio said that you should always stay in the Right lane when driving at night. Almost no head on accidents happen in that lane.

In this state, the law requires you to drive in the right lane unless passing. It's another law that far too many people violate.

BravoXray · May 19, 2024

Only had that happen once, way back in the 70s. Was westbound on Indiana Route 2 west of South Bend on a foggy morning. Was driving a semi pulling a dump trailer loaded with sand headed for Chicago. I was in the right lane when out of the fog came a car going the wrong direction in the left lane going too fast for the visibility. Scared the bejesus out of me.

ericm979 · May 19, 2024

This is the second way way near head on I've had. The first was in the 1980s on a remote two lane highway in California at night. The other driver was in my lane. They must have thought it was two lanes in each direction. That highway has a lot of that, just not in that part. The paved shoulder there was wide- just enough to squeeze my small car onto and let the other driver go by.

I think yesterday's driver must have thought they were on a two lane road instead of I-5. Makes you wonder how dumb or impaired they had to be to take 10 miles to figure it out.

deserteagle71 · May 19, 2024

ericm979 said:
Makes you wonder how dumb or impaired they had to be to take 10 miles to figure it out.

By any chance was this anywhere close to the California town of "Weed"???

Welcome to Weed

The City of Weed, California is nestled at the base of Mount Shasta in the Cascade Mountains and half way between San Francisco and Portland. The community is surrounded by natural beauty, breathtaking vistas, and unmatched outdoor recreation. The City is a historic lumber town which has...

www.ci.weed.ca.us

Thomas · May 20, 2024

Whew...deep breath long with many thoughts,glad you and Mrs. okay.

oosik · May 20, 2024

Glad you are still here and posting. Many years ago. Fellow came up behind my truck and began to pass me. Guess he did not see the motorcycle coming in the opposing lane.

Stuck my arm out the window and waved wildly. He must have seen the cycle then. He ducked back into the lane.

Bet the fellow on the cycle filled his shorts. It was such a VERY close call.

MoKelly · May 20, 2024

RandyT said:
Or state trooper crossing the median while travelling 120 mph while talking to his wife on the cell phone and hits a car head on killing two sisters.

Southern Illinois? I hear he is trying to regain his driving privileges.