Close Call

It was the afternoon of July 10th, 2024. I was driving my car to my place of work. I had just stopped behind the motor vehicle in front of me at a traffic light. This light is the first one encountered after immediately exiting the expressway (Georgia State Route 141). So drivers are often rapidly decelerating from speeds above 65 mph to a complete stop. Shortly after stopping, an automobile could be heard suddenly approaching from behind us. Before I could even react, an older woman driving an SUV barreled down the road at a high speed and slammed into the vehicle adjacent to me. I quickly got out of my car to ascertain the condition of the civilians involved in the collision. The two men whose van had been rear-ended exited their vehicle and appeared to be unscathed, although their van had sustained significant damage. I tried to check on the woman who caused the accident, but she could (or would) not lower her window and/or open her door. I did not spot any external injuries on her body through the glass, but I will never forget the look on her face. She seemed confused and concerned; I think she may have been in shock. I suspect she was most likely either driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs or driving while distracted by an electronic device, such as a cellphone. And I certainly hope she was not experiencing a stroke or some other life-threatening emergency. Regardless, since I figured the lady probably suffered a concussion and the crash definitely created a hazardous area on the road, I dialed 9-1-1. After I arrived at my place of employment, I assessed the state of my sedan. All I discovered was a minor scratch on my rear left light. For the first time in ages, I felt very fortunate that day. I prayed for those negatively impacted by the incident, especially that woman.