My Un-Accident

[shatto]

Maybe this is this guy's way to handle the recession....

I was carrying 650 pounds of stationary up the 580 freeway through Castro Valley towards Oakland and then to the Judicial Commission in San Francisco.

Traffic was moderate and I was tooling along at 64 MPH, on cruise control, in the number two of four lanes. No traffic in the left mirror and nothing visible in the right mirror.

ZIP! A black Mustang cut in front from the right, missing me by a few feet.

I had time to think; "Guess he wants to teach me a lesson. I wonder why?" Then, so close I couldn't see the license plate, he hit the brakes. I had time to think; " I wonder if he wants me to hit him?"

WHAM! I cruised right into him. I was on cruise control, you'll recall.

I recall him signaling me to follow him to the side of the freeway, as I put on the flashers, cleared, and moved right. As I did this I scribbled his license plate number; then as I parked I grabbed one cellphone and called 911, which put me through to the California Highway Patrol, and I reported what happened and requested an officer, then I used the Nextel phone to report in and tell my office to cancel the pick-up on my way and arrainge for someone to pick up my load if there was a time problem.

Meanwhile the agitated driver was signalling me to exit my truck and come to him. Then there was a tap on the window and a man handed me a note, stating he was a whitness. Maybe...the plot was thickening.

I got out and met the guy I'd hit, who, when I asked why he braked in front of me said the car in front of him braked and he had to, then he said, "you are at fault if you hit someone from behind."
Seemed to me like he was looking for money so I simply turned around and got back in my truck.

When the CHP arrived I suggested he take the information from the whitness, who had stayed, parked behind me, so he could be on his way, then he took my info and then talked top the Mustang driver. When he returned to me he said he had a little chat with the driver and pointed out that he "took away my cushion and it was impossible for me to keep from missing him." The Officer gave me a card with the case number and when I'd be able to go on-line and get the information.

He was talking to the guy as I left.

Strange day.

Scratched the bottom of the bumper of my pretty truck. Dammit!

Moral of the Story;
I'm sure this guy makes a living by getting people to hit him, then give him some cash to forget contacting Insurance companies, or worse making medical claims and all the rest. Keep an eye open in case someone does this to you.