Things Can Turn Badly So Fast!

Yesterday I was southbound out of Denver on I-25 down around Castle Rock. I'm cruising at 65 mph on a beautifully clear sunny day - I'm deadheading to Pueblo to pick up some steel at Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel. I'm in the right hand lane and notice a Subaru wagon slowly passing me. About the time their passenger door is even with the front bumper of my truck their front left tire falls off the edge of the asphalt and they jerk the wheel to get back over the hump - in the blink of an eye they are doing a 360 spin at about 70 mph. I hit my brakes hard and move over into the right shoulder. I can't move any further because this section of the road has guard rails on both sides of it. They hit the guard rail on the left which throws them back across both lanes and into the shoulder directly in front of me. Smoke is boiling off of my tires by now and all I can see is the top of the Subaru directly in front of me as I'm am about two coats of paint away from T-boning them. I steer hard to the left with my trailer going all squirrelly behind me hoping I can get around them when they hit the right hand guard rail and go scooting back across the road still just fractions of an inch in front of me. I steer hard back to the right hand shoulder and they hit the left guard rail, do a 180 and come to an abrupt stop hung up in the guard rail structure. This all took place in no more than three seconds max as far as I could tell.

Thank God we never actually made contact, and none of the cars and trucks behind us did either. It was nothing short of miraculous in my opinion. I got stopped and went to make sure they were okay. It was a little old lady who was a little disoriented from getting thrown all around in the spins, but she seemed to be unhurt. I stayed with her until the officer arrived and told my story to them and politely asked if I was free to move on as I had a schedule to meet. He let me go with little or no questions, thanked me for helping out, and told me to be safe out there.

After changing my pants, I got down on my knees and thanked God for helping me. I still don't really see how I avoided a complete tragedy. If you don't believe that angels can help you, after going through something like that you just might change your mind! It was like having a flashback of that video that Guyjax posted just the other day. It is incredible the responsibility we have to be on the alert for potential trouble. It can arise from out of nowhere fast!

Y'all keep it safe, and watch out for those little old ladies. They might not be the best drivers, but they don't deserve to be squashed by an eighteen wheeler.

Good heads up driving old school! U never know when it will happen...When I was hauling grain 2 years ago I was coming back from an elevator in Gladstone Illinois and was on Highway 34 2 lane it just started raining hard and I drove about 10 miles back to a field about 2 miles from my turn off a car in front of me about 50 yards hit a big puddle on the highway and hydroplaned side ways in front of me I hit the brakes the truck started to jack knife on the oils and fresh rain on the road the car started to hit the right ditch my truck pitched left the trailer headed straight I let off the brake the truck hooked and I stared it around the car front end still on the road I missed it with truck and trailer but boy it shook me up it was a close one..so ya I know it can happen fast

Yup....its there when you least expect it....

So for those uninitiated drivers who may still think that being scared is for sissies.....

Try one of these scenarios on for size...I bet you end up sittin' in wet pants shakin' like a scared puppy....

Please tell me you a 30 minute line 1 at the next available pull off. If you didn't your a machine...A superhero ... I got a heart rate increase just reading your post.

-s-

Wow man. Glad it all turned out ok...well doesnt sound like your pants made it but glad your ok lol.

Nice reflexes, brother! Can NEVER be complacent in this line of work. You are my hero!

Glad you and that little old lady are ok Old School, way to be heads up and vigilant of the people around you.

WOW!! I'm thankful you pulled through that and the lady is ok as well. Awesome job Old School!

#Continuetobesafe

A big hearty congrats to Old school for the great driving. Just goes to show he is one of the top professinals out there on the road.

Glad everything turned out well. That could have been bad. I had a tough day as well and caught a jack knife on my dash cam. Go to my Facebook to see it. I think I should call you to make sure you're mentally alright after that?