One of those Commutes(By Car)
Traffic on I-476 was moving, but slowly this morning. Maybe 45-55 MPH, instead of the customary 65-70mph. This was probably for the best. It was still raining. There was mist and spray everywhere.
The 18 wheeler in the middle lane was like a 20 ton fog machine. For a time, It looked like no one wanted to move thru its wake. Certainly not the 2 or 3 cars in front of me. I was ok with that.
It gave me time to consider my crash from yesterday. I was considering how all my bicycle crashes so have been accidents unrelated to racing: ie an oil slick going down a hill during a century that took my bike out from underneath me, a patch of sand that sent me over my bars at a charity ride, a loose water bottle on a sunday base ride, and most recently, consideration for a mother goose.
I’ve been lucky.
This is where my head is as we(the cars in front of me and myself) get clear of the 18 wheeled fog machine. I guess my foot was not so heavy because the lead cars disappear into the mist.
And then I see a black honda civic. Its moving from the right lane into the center lane. I watch it begin to hydroplane perpendicular to traffic. Time slows down. It crosses into the center lane. The car continues its rotation, water jetting out from its tires.
I moved onto the shoulder as the car continues spinning. As I pass it, I look over to see the passenger and driver both with their hands up in the air. The car is facing oncoming traffic. The have come to a complete stop.
My first thought is to stop and help. And then I remember that I am moving down an interstate at 40-50 mph, and that it is rush hour, and that to do so would be to court a Blues Brothers level car pile up event on top of me.
I’m off the shoulder in a few seconds, happy to be clear. I don’t immediately hear the sound of metal crunching and glass shattering. And then I realize that my heart is racing and I can barely breath.
I checked 1060 when I got to work. No reports of a big pile up. So maybe everyone came away ok.
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