I’m probably not superstitious but maybe I should be.
Friday, a friend stopped at a 4 way stop, stopped, then proceeded into the intersection and another vehicle coming didn’t stop for their stop sign and they all came so close to colliding but there was not an accident.
Monday, Addie’s school bus had an accident. It wasn’t serious and no one as hurt but it scared one little girl!
I should have remembered things happen in threes and maybe I should have waited til tomorrow to drive to MO.
I made it through Oklahoma City and Tulsa just fine . . with the regular traffic issues. Then I got to Joplin, took the 249 bypass, not expecting any trouble. The speed limit is 70 mph and I was driving along 69, 70, maybe 71. I went to pass the car in front of me and about the time I was even with her, she started to head over into my lane. I glanced over at her and then when I looked up, there was a car going the wrong with on the divided highway and I guess the driver next to me was trying to decide which way to go to get out of his way. I slammed on my brakes so hard that they screamed and probably left skid marks. I went over onto the shoulder and partially onto the grassy median. Thank goodness, the other lady moved over to the right shoulder and the guy going the wrong way went right between us. Thank goodness this wasn’t an area where they had concrete barriers (road construction) and we had places to go to get out of his way.
It scared me so badly that I had to fight back tears and calm down before I could even call 911. The only thing I could tell them was that it was a white smaller SUV with a man probably in his 50’s driving.
I could see cars behind me moving over to the shoulder and some even going into the median so I have no idea what happened after he passed us. I looked at the Joplin news outlets and didn’t see anything about an accident caused by a wrong way driver. I hope everyone got out of his way and he got straightened out before hurting someone.
It was definitely the most frightening things that’s ever happened to me in my 50 years of driving and I’ll be real happy if nothing like that ever happens again.
I’m happy to be in MO and off the road and with that special little girl!!
Carol says
I live in Carthage and travel 249 frequently. So glad you were able to avoid an accident and are okay. I think I would still be shaking. Also too many drivers that text.
Sue Edberg says
Judy, I am so glad that you were able to get out of the way and were not hurt. We have so many wrong-way drivers on our freeways all of sudden. It scares me to death to drive the freeways anymore. Prayers going up that you have no more close calls and you are able to enjoy your visit and you get home safely.
Dar in NC says
Oh my!! So glad you’re okay!! That’s terrifying!
Marilyn Smith says
Judy, thank goodness that you and the other lady reacted correctly and were both able to move over. Last week, we had a bad experience in a huge parking lot. We were driving thru the center road of a shopping center to go have lunch at Panera. All of a sudden, coming out a parking area from the Home Depot was a pickup truck with the driver talking on his cell phone heading fast out of the parking lot from the Depot into our lane of traffic where he would have to turn left or right. He went right thru the stop sign. No signal and was headed right for my passenger door. DH blasted his horn, stepped on the brakes and fortunately was no car driving out the exit lane where we were so he was able to pull over. The driver flipped us off like we had done something wrong. I saw him coming and let DH know and he just missed us. Otherwise, I don’t think I would have still been around. We had the right of way, no stop signs. He ran right thru it at probably 30-35 mph. Scared the hell out of us!
glad you are safe at home with the kids and your Addie. Enjoy every minute! We take off Thursday for a 16 day cruise thru the Panama Canal and we can”t wait!
w jordan says
You had your angel in the back seat with you. Glad it worked out for all so scary when things like that happend. You wonder if I had been a few minutes later or earlier things might have been different in so many ways. Have fun enjoy Addie be safe.
carolyn says
So happy you arrived safely and avoided the wrong way driver. How scary!
Teri says
OMG How scary. So glad you are ok. Enjoy your time with Addie and Chad and Nicole! Safe travels there and back home.
Nelle Coursey says
I am so glad you made it with no accidents or problems. That would have had me shaking so bad, I don’t know if I could drive or not!
dezertsuz says
Wow, that would be terrifying! If a car even comes over toward my lane, it’s scary, and you had them coming from everywhere! Thank goodness you are okay!