Central California Dangers
Current mood: pissed off
Category: News and Politics
A couple summers ago, I was traveling through Central California on the 395 coming back home from a vacation. I was traveling with another couple each of us in separate vehicles. We encountered a white van traveling 20 MPH in a 65 MPH zone. Of course, being self respecting speed freaks and wanting to get home before the change of the next Millennium, we attempted to pass this annoying obstacle. My buddy in the lead vehicle sped up when it was safe to do so and started to go around this wonderfully courteous driver. The aforementioned driver at this point sped up and matched my friends speed, keeping him in the oncoming traffic lane with no where to go. Just before my friend and a large truck had an unfortunate meeting, he moved over and the van let him in. It was now my turn to go around this unpleasant road warrior. Of course as soon as my friend got around him, as expected and even anticipated, the white van menace slowed down to 20MPH again. I could see my friend up ahead quickly disappearing over the horizon. My opportunity to pass came up. The oncoming lane was clear and I had plenty of room. I sped up put my turn signal on and got in the oncoming lane. I accelerated with all the power my truck has, which I might add is substantial. Unfortunately, the van had the same engine and this sick puppy sped up keeping me alongside of him. What a surprise................... Soon in the lane in front of me appeared 8 tiny reindeer - no a huge semi truck. Of course as it was bearing down on me it looked like the queen Mary on wheels. I did everything I could and finally at the last second got the edge on our hero and moved in front of him.
I continued down the road and watched in my rear view mirror as this unique individual proceeded to play the same game to the unfortunate soul in the vehicle now behind him. I caught up with my friend and we both proceeded down the road. Mind you, this whole time we are in radio contact with each other and are discussing this fun experience. We thought the whole thing was over. Silly us...................
The road had now become two lanes in our direction and we were all passing this extremely slow vehicle, that I can only assumed was being peddled. Just as I came up on said vehicle our old friend from the way back came speeding up on my right and passed between myself and the slow guy in the next lane cutting me off, almost hitting the slow guy and just about running over my friend in the vehicle in front of me. He had to slam his brakes on with smoke and swerving to keep from hitting him. O boy, were having some fun now........
He continued trying to run over my friend and slamming his breaks on in front of me. He was multitasking so to speak. He was a multi-talented asshole in other words. I got very tired of this whole affair and decided to get around the menace. I got in the number two lane and passed him. He finally backed off and I proceeded to move over back behind my friend again. Just as I did this, Mr. multitask er sped up with everything he had, clipped the driver side of the back of my truck, passed me and my friend in the breakdown lane and ended up going over the center divider stopping in oncoming traffic.
I didn't even know I was hit until my friend called me on the radio and told me. It was a real shock. Well, we weren't going to stop to trade insurance info with Mr wonderful in the white van. This guy had proven himself to be crazy in the broadest sense of the term. We called our insurance company and proceeded down the road. When we saw a highway patrol car we flagged him down and reported the incident.
I was later charged with hit and run. This fun experience cost me $14,000.00 in legal fees as Mr. wonderful was apparently related to someone important in Independence California.
My advice. Stay away from Independence California. These people, in my opinion are dangerous.
