a scary experience today...

[thinkerlady[$]]

As I was driving home from school today, I had a really scary experience. I was stopped at a stop sign, waiting to make a left turn onto a rather busy street. I was there a while as there was a good deal of traffic, both ways.

Out of the blue, I realized I had been "bumped" from behind. Ok--it really wasn't much of a hit, and I was sure there was no damage. I looked in the mirror, and there were 2 guys in the car--laughing. Then he hit me again!!! I was shocked. Then he beeped his horn, and hit me again. Now there is still a ton of traffic--and I cannot move. I didn't know what to do. When I finally was able to make the left, I got into the lane (only one lane each way)--the guy passes me on a double yellow line!!! I got as much of the license number as I could--and came home and called the police.

They came out to my house, took the information, and are going after the guy. I was really shocked. I have read about this sort of thing happening, but I never thought me--in suburbia???

Anyhow, he will probably get some kind of citation, but I might have to appear in court. I should know before the weekend is over.

My neighbor said she heard that there is a group stealing cars--going after us "middle-agers"--bumping us until we get out of the car to look for damage, and then jumping in and taking the car. I don't honestly know why I didn't get out of the car. I guess I was too scared.

What a day.

[taurusmoon]

Oh Angie,

What a nightmare. I'm so glad to hear that you and the car are okay.

Pour yourself a drink. You earned it.


Sara

[nicholmere]

Oh, that does sound frightening. It is great that you had the presence of mind to obtain the license plate and to follow through with a call to the police.

Youthful exuberance is one thing. Malicious attacks meant to scare or harm people and their property should not be tolerated.

I'm glad you're okay.

[magenta321]

Wow that is very scary!

I had a similar experience on Dixwell Ave in Hamden (a very busy two lane road).

It was very late at night, probably like two or three am. The street was relatively empty. I was driving behind a van, and something seemed wrong. The back door to the van was partially open. That made me nervous, so I switched lanes. The van switched lanes. I switched lanes again. He switched lanes again. I got worried. I slowed way down. The back door of the van opened and someone threw a GARBAGE CAN out at my car. Luckily, both the van and I were in the fast lane. The van anticipated that I would swerve to the slow lane, but I didn't, since that was the way I thought the garbage can was flying. I swerved into the other lane, and drove down the wrong side of the road for a little bit. Thank God there was so little traffic, or I could have hit someone head on.

In all the melee, I didn't get a licence number, so I didn't bother to call the cops. "Yeah, a white van headed down Dixwell right on the Hamden/New Haven line." He was long gone, and there are far two many vans in the two cities for them to have ever caught the guy who tried to get me.

The only thing I could not figure out was "why." You smash my car, possibly kill me? What would you get out of that? Who wants to steal a smashed car? Why would someone be so malicious to commit a crime without any rhyme or reason? It's beyond me.

I feel bad about what happened to you, and I am glad that something made you stay in the car. I think both of us are very lucky that we behaved in ways the defied expectation. Glad you are ok!!!

[kurt_messick]

In sleepy little Bloomington, I had someone hit my car, pull a gun and fire in the air, and then chase my car through the town. I drove to the police station. The police gave me a ticket for leaving the scene of an accident!

Turns out the driver was son of a former sheriff.

Well, my lawyer didn't think much of that. Neither did the city government when the local newspaper showed up the next day.

It was all a misunderstanding, they claimed.

[conradd]

OMG, Angie and Margaret both, thank God you didn't get out of your cars! I've read about women who have been hit, get out of their cars to exchange information and then end up raped and/or murdered. Too scary. The best thing to do if your car is drivable is to just drive to the nearest police station. If it isn't, lock your doors and stay in the car.

This is what cell phones are made for. I resisted getting one for years, but finally caved a year ago. Since then, I've called 911 several times when I've come upon an emergency situation out on the road.

Deb

[thinkerlady[$]]

Deb--you are so right. That is WHAT cell phones are for. I could kick myself because I didn't have mine with me. I figured I wouldn't need it that day, so I left it home. Never again. If I go into the car, the phone is with me.

[patach]

While we're on the subject of car accidents, I may not have a story as edgy as Kurt's or Thinker's... but I could remember driving down a highway on my way to the hospital because I broke my finger during football practice.

I was steering the wheel with one good hand, and the other one with a mishapen finger dangling around useless. Suddenly the semi-truck on my right went out of control and drove sideways into my lane. I narrowly dodged the semi using my good arm's grip on the steering wheel.

I could see the woman's face in the semi-truck's driver's seat extremely relieved she didn't kill me after her accident.

I'm glad that you are okay, thinker.

[poseidon]

That's what a handgun under the front seat or in your purse is for -- so if they do cause any trouble beyond what they did you have the means to protect yourself.

It doesn't take much to smash a side window of a car. Windshields are a lot of work, but side windows are just tempered glass. I guarantee you that if someone wants to smash your side window or try to get inside by some other means, they'll not be so brazen if you point a gun at them.

I'm glad you didn't get hurt -- and I hope that the police catch these idiots.