Close Call...

Drivers Beware..
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Yesterday, I had lunch with a fellow "Gary" at Bob Evans here in Delaware. On my way back to the church, I grabbed the cell phone and started to call my wife.

Meanwhile, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a stray tire on the other side of the highway, a ways down.

Well, that stray tire bounced and rolled its way towards me, probably at 25-40 miles per hour. I was headed towards that tire at 45 miles per hour. Though I swerved to avoid the tire, the tire CRASHED into my Accord, striking the left front-quarter panel, and apparently bouncing back into the road.

Officer Steve tells me that stray tires often cause fatal accidents. Looking at that $2,700 damage done to the front and side of my car, I should be grateful to be alive. If I hadn't swerved to the right, that tire would have easily smashed my front windshield, and who knows what after that.

I was definitely shaken up for the rest of the morning. Still am, as I think about it. I can still picture the tire coming towards the car, and it felt like in a video game, trying to avoid oncoming obstacles.

I thank God for His protection, and that no other cars were involved.

Fortunately, a few minutes after I called the police, I saw a man slowly walking northbound on the side of the highway. He had come to claim his tire. The tire had fallen off a flatbed truck, apparently toting a modular home. Dude has insurance, but so far they are not much help. With a name like "Love Insurance," you'd think they'd have arranged a rental car by now. Might be time to ask my "Good Neighbor" for a little help in getting this guy's insurance to cooperate.

Meanwhile, I'll try to avoid oncoming objects while driving.