Nearly Involved In Accident Today

I-70 eastbound in Western Colorado, around 0500 this morning. I came around a sharp curve and was met by a very thick cloud of smoke. I knew it wasn't fog bc the smoke was very dark. My first thought was "It's a rock slide" (lots of steep, rocky walls on the side of the road). I slowed down quickly. I didn't slam the breaks hard enough for a critical event.

When I broke through the smoke screen I glimpsed a car spun out on the right side of the road and in front of me there was all sorts of debris strewn across both lanes. I ran over pieces of the shattered vehicle and felt something dragging under my truck. I pulled over a couple hundred yards later to find the hood of the car wedged beneath my drive tires.

Police arrived almost immediately. It turns out the car was stolen and the driver was trying to get away before losing control and crashing.

The police report and subsequent inspection shows no violations or fault on my part. The crew that came out to clear the wreckage were able to get the hood pulled from under my truck by having me roll my front drive tires up onto some cribbing they laid down for me. No damage to the truck.

Driver of the car was taken away in an ambulance. Don't know what kind of condition she was in, but the vehicle was mangled.

Whoa, wild... glad you're ok!

God was looking out for you today buddy for sure, could have been alot worse! Glad you are okay and hopefully the driver, though she will have robface consequences comes outbunscathed as well.

Be safe man!

I-70 eastbound in Western Colorado, around 0500 this morning. I came around a sharp curve and was met by a very thick cloud of smoke. I knew it wasn't fog bc the smoke was very dark. My first thought was "It's a rock slide" (lots of steep, rocky walls on the side of the road). I slowed down quickly. I didn't slam the breaks hard enough for a critical event.

When I broke through the smoke screen I glimpsed a car spun out on the right side of the road and in front of me there was all sorts of debris strewn across both lanes. I ran over pieces of the shattered vehicle and felt something dragging under my truck. I pulled over a couple hundred yards later to find the hood of the car wedged beneath my drive tires.

Police arrived almost immediately. It turns out the car was stolen and the driver was trying to get away before losing control and crashing.

The police report and subsequent inspection shows no violations or fault on my part. The crew that came out to clear the wreckage were able to get the hood pulled from under my truck by having me roll my front drive tires up onto some cribbing they laid down for me. No damage to the truck.

Driver of the car was taken away in an ambulance. Don't know what kind of condition she was in, but the vehicle was mangled.

Glad you are okay! You did the right thing by slowing down like you did. I've had my share of close calls over the years. You just can't live out on the road like we do and not come across some trouble now and then. We have to be diligent and careful anytime something is amiss.

This is no doubt the closest I've been to witnessing or being involved in an accident. There is no time to really think about how to steer around it or how hard to break or look around to see if you can switch lanes. I guess that is why it is important to stay aware constantly of everything around you and try to imagine what your options are in case of an accident, before there is an accident.

I think I remember Old School saying that he plays a mental game of what if. That way he is ready to react if something goes wrong.

Glad you are okay! You did the right thing by slowing down like you did. I've had my share of close calls over the years. You just can't live out on the road like we do and not come across some trouble now and then. We have to be diligent and careful anytime something is amiss.

Ha-ha! I was writing as you posted. Good timing. And you pretty much said what I was thinking😉

You were fortunate due to your own diligence. This is a great example of how a "typical drive" can go sideways around the next turn, or at the next mile marker in an instant.

I've always considered the final hour of the night, the hour before the sunrise, as the "hour of death." I think that's when the risk of driving is greatest.

I'm very thankful to read this was a close call for you instead of "I was involved."