Drunk drivers!

[TravelingGal]

We were driving home yesterday night at a pretty low speed (35-40 mph) when in my rearview mirror I see a car HURTLING toward the back of my car. Realizing in horror that it wasn''t stopping, I braced myself and was completely jarred and jolted as the car hit the back of mine dead on.

After a few seconds of shock, my husband got out of the car to see A) if the person was OK, and B) if the person hadn''t run off. A young woman came out of the car and said she was sorry and please to not call the police...that our insurance companies could handle it or she could give me cash.

She kept trying to grab my arm/phone as I insisted I was calling the police. I asked her why in God''s name she was driving so fast that she would ram up the back of me? Her answer: that she wanted to clear the intersection we had crossed (clearly on a green light) and sped up to run the yellow light. There was no one behind me as I crossed it, so she must have FLOWN to pass it.

I still called the cops. She was guzzling water like crazy and when they arrived, she disappeared, stating she had to go to the bathroom. Ten minutes later, some friends she had called to the scene went and looked for her because everyone was wondering where she went. She came back holding a cup of coffee!

The traffic officer was not happy about this and a series of sobriety tests ensued. Finally the breath test thing and I watched them handcuff her and take her away.

Our car doesn''t look bad, but she must have braked right as she hit our car because the underside of the back is totally damaged (as I think she actually lifted our car off the ground), the frame twisted and the sides of the car moved forward (unallowing us to close the door). Her car was totally mashed...and all this while we were both MOVING. I can''t imagine how bad it would have been if she had hit a still car! My poor little car...a mustang convertible, paid off and only 55K miles on it even though it''s over 7 years old. I am guessing it will be a loss.

This morning I felt momentarily guilty that I really screwed her by calling the cops. But then I came back to my senses (after TGuy slapped me upside the head) and said he did not feel bad about it whatsoever. Better that she learned this way than learning by killing someone. We were pretty shaken up though.

Damn STUPID drunk drivers!!

 

[musey]

That is AWFUL! Sometimes I'm just amazed at the stupidity of some people.

How are there still people in existence who think it will be "fine" if they drink and then get in their car to drive??

I'm sorry for your mustang. Hopefully her insurance will cover the damages. I hope she's still sitting in jail

 

[luckystar112]

Wow TGal...I''m so sorry.

You are so lucky that little wench didn''t kill you! Especially in that little car! I mean, imagine if you would have tried to swerve out of the way and she hit the side of your car instead of the back!

What time of night was it?

I usually try to stay off the roads right as the sun is setting, and anytime between 11-2am....because that seems to be when the most accidents occur. I gave up on the freeway about a year ago alltogether because I almost had the same thing happen to me by a drunk driver.
They really need harsher penalties for them. Sad to say it, but she''s probably out of jail already.

 

[chrono]

TGal,
I''m glad you both are all right. If you hadn''t call the cops, she might have continued to drive and could have hit/killed another person with her drunken driving that day. I do feel sorry for her but unfortunately, it needed to be done.

 

[Lorelei]

OMG - thank goodness you and TGuy are ok. I am very glad you called the police. Don't feel bad, she made the choice to drink alcohol and then get behind the wheel, it serves her right and thank God she didn't kill or maim you or someone else.

 

[luckystar112]

I wonder if you can sue someone for hitting you while intoxicated...

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I agree you did the right thing! What a horrible experince. I am so glad you and TGuy are both safe and unharmed!!!

 

[TravelingGal]

Thanks gals.

*sniff*

Her insurance should cover...and if not, I have great coverage through mine. I won't even have a deductible if hers won't pay.

Luckystar, I hear ya on the driving late thing. I try to stay off the roads, especially when bars close. However we were just a friend's house and the accident happened at 10 pm. Not that late at all.

And yes, TGuy and I were saying that we were lucky...I just held on and braced (and am feeling it today - both of us are going to the doc shortly). If I had swerved, she would have hit my side. TGuy was very grateful that I didn't swerve and just let her hit the back of my car dead on. He doesn't even remember me screaming right before. He was totally caught off guard, which actually is a good thing because he was relaxed and not tensed up like I was.

She is out of jail, I'm sure. They said she could be picked up early in the morning to her friends after she sobers up.

 

[phoenixgirl]

So sorry to hear about you car but I''m glad you''re ok.

You definitely did the right thing by calling the cops. She needs to learn a lesson before she hurts more than an automobile.

 

[onedrop]

TG, first I am happy that you and hubby are okay and the only thing hurt was your car. I can''t believe this woman wanted you to be complicit in her driving drunk!! Things could have been much worse even if just a few variables were changed. You did the right thing in turning her in, because getting arrested might be the wake up call she needs.

Sorry about the Mustang.

 

[Skippy123]

Oh my gosh, that is awful. I am so glad you are safe. You did the right thing calling the cops. I wish we could stop all the drunk drivers; it is disgusting!!!! I am so sorry about your car.

 

[Kaleigh]

Oh TG thank god you and TG Guy are ok. I think you definitely did the right thing by calling the cops. I am sorry about your Mustang.

 

[luckystar112]

At least she blew! Do you have any idea what her blood alcohol level was?

In Texas they give you the regular "walk in a straight line" tests, but you can choose not to blow if you don''t want to. But if you decide not to you are automatically detained overnight. The bad part about that system is that a lot of people can pass the tests even though they are over the legal limit. So when they go to court their charges are dropped because they didn''t blow and no one can prove how much they had to drink. It happened to one of my old roomates.

Great system, huh?

And I can''t believe she tried to grab your arm!!! I got mad just reading that part.

 

[littlelysser]

I''m glad you are alright TG. That is some scary stuff. Just wow.

And please DO NOT, for even one half of a second, feel bad about calling the cops on this woman.

You didn''t screw her...she screwed herself!

It appears to be a lesson she needed to learn...and luckily no one was killed this time. If you hadn''t called the cops and made her accountable for what she did...she could have done it again, and maybe the outcome would have been much worse!!!

 

[Mandarine]

That''s terrible!! Glad to hear you are ok...

Some people are just so irresponsible!

A good friend of mine was in a bad accident recently...the woman that hit her was wasted! (not a little bit drunk, wasted!). Hello?? I''m all for a party, but have these people ever heard of taking a cab!!?. A friend of mine from high school passes the way after his best friend fell sleep at the wheel (they were both drunk).

People really need to become more conscious!!!!

M~

 

[poptart]

Glad you are ok! Drunk drivers make me insane. Especially after having almost been driven off the road by them myself. She got what she deserved.

*M*

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 7/9/2007 4:28:55 PM
Author: littlelysser
I''m glad you are alright TG. That is some scary stuff. Just wow.


And please DO NOT, for even one half of a second, feel bad about calling the cops on this woman.


You didn''t screw her...she screwed herself!


It appears to be a lesson she needed to learn...and luckily no one was killed this time. If you hadn''t called the cops and made her accountable for what she did...she could have done it again, and maybe the outcome would have been much worse!!!

I TOTALLY agree with this. You are the victim here! So glad that you guys are alright. That''s the important thing.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/9/2007 4:27:53 PM
Author: luckystar112
At least she blew! Do you have any idea what her blood alcohol level was?

In Texas they give you the regular ''walk in a straight line'' tests, but you can choose not to blow if you don''t want to. But if you decide not to you are automatically detained overnight. The bad part about that system is that a lot of people can pass the tests even though they are over the legal limit. So when they go to court their charges are dropped because they didn''t blow and no one can prove how much they had to drink. It happened to one of my old roomates.

Great system, huh?

And I can''t believe she tried to grab your arm!!! I got mad just reading that part.

If they refuse a breath test, aren''t they given mandatory blood tests to get the alcohol reading?

 

[Gypsy]

Good lord! What on earth is wrong with people? Are you guys, physically, okay? She lifted your car up for Pete''s Sake.

Stupid stupid stupid.

I think you ABSOLUTELY should have called the cops. This will have very harsh repercussions for her, which is all the better IMO! Something needs to get through to her that "Don''t Drink and Drive" is more than just a slogan!

 

[snlee]

That''s awful!!! I''m so glad you and TGuy are ok! I''m sorry to hear about your car. You did the right thing calling the cops!

She could have killed someone!

 

[Madam Bijoux]

I''m glad you and TravelingGuy weren''t hurt. As far as I''m concerned, DUI''S should have their licenses permanently revoked. She could have killed one or both of you. I hope she learns her lesson from this.

 

[TravelingGal]

You know, I don''t think she was wasted, but even that was quite a lesson to us. There are times where I''ll have a glass of wine or two at dinner and assume I am not over the legal limit, but what if I am? This girl was not butt stumbling drunk, but obviously she was impaired enough to do what she did. The safest thing to do is truly NOT drink and drive. I hope it was a wakeup call for her, but it definitely affirmed to us to never be in that position, ever.

Thanks for the condolences on the mustang.

If they can fix it, I will be happy. If not, that means we will have to get a new car and that will make TGuy happy as he hated how cramped my car was. And I''ll look on the bright side and be happy too, as we can get a bigger car...just in case we *may* need more room in the future.

Luckystar, I don''t think you have to blow in California either...but people don''t know they have that right. They figure a cop is telling you to do something, you''d better do it.

She seemed like a nice enough person...just one who made a very bad choice. BTW, she didn''t grab my arm aggressively...it was more in a pleading kind of way. Too bad for her, when I am mad I am a witch and can''t be deterred. I just kept thinking my husband could have been hurt! (and oh yeah, I could have been too!)

Mandarine, was your friend OK? They really should make drunk driving rules more harsh. You''re taking people who can''t even walk and putting them in the seat of a very heavy weapon!

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 7/9/2007 4:36:36 PM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 7/9/2007 4:27:53 PM
Author: luckystar112
At least she blew! Do you have any idea what her blood alcohol level was?

In Texas they give you the regular ''walk in a straight line'' tests, but you can choose not to blow if you don''t want to. But if you decide not to you are automatically detained overnight. The bad part about that system is that a lot of people can pass the tests even though they are over the legal limit. So when they go to court their charges are dropped because they didn''t blow and no one can prove how much they had to drink. It happened to one of my old roomates.

Great system, huh?

And I can''t believe she tried to grab your arm!!! I got mad just reading that part.

If they refuse a breath test, aren''t they given mandatory blood tests to get the alcohol reading?

Varies state by state.
In il the penalty for refusing is higher than the penalty for drunk driving.
If someone is killed a blood test is mandatory in IL.

TG
Glad to hear your ok.
Some friends of mine were murdered by a drunk driver and every time I hear of one I want to beat the crap out them.
You did the right thing calling the cops.

 

[Lorelei]

Thanks Strm. I am so sorry about your loss.

 

[Mandarine]

My friend is still recovering...she had to have multiple surgeries, but she will be ok. She is such a positive and great girl that I know she will get through it, but I can only imagine how horrible she must feel everytime she remembers the accident.

I am so glad you are ok!!!.

Some people just really don''t eralize how dangerous it is. If they want to be stupid, be it...but they shouldn''t include innocent people in their stupidness!...

 

[surfgirl]

TG, SO glad you both are alright! Just be aware that sometimes whiplash/back injuries can take a few days to show up so if you have any pins/needles or sharp jabbing pains over the next several days, get yourself looked at...I was rear ended much like you once and it was horrible to see the car coming up and thinking "they HAVE to stop. Oh crap, they''re not slowing down..." I''m glad you''re alright.

Dont feel bad for one second about calling the police! You did the right thing. If you hadn''t, she might have killed someone soon. You were just being responsible.

I have a personal policy - I dont care what anyone does in the privacy of their own home. They can take whatever drugs they want, do whatever weirdo things they like, drink themselves into oblivion, I honestly have no issues with that. But, once a person gets behind the wheel of a car, my attitude changes. Last year I was driving behind a guy who was weaving all over a two lane busy road. People were literally pulling over on the shoulder of the road to get away from his swerving, or speeding up to get out of his general area. I pulled up next to him at a light, and the guy was so wasted he looked directly at me, without really seeing me, took his pipe out and tapped it on the outside of his car door to clean it, then proceeded to pick up a huge bag of pot and re-fill his pipe. I was staring at him the entire time and he was so messed up he couldn''t see me! I was furious. Not that he was smoking pot but that he was SO messed up that he couldn''t drive safely and he was endangering everyone around him. I mean, really, if you''re that screwed up just stay home, eat a bag of potato chips and watch Jerry Springer, but for gods sake stay off the roads! Anyway, I called the police, I found out later that they pulled him over and arrested him. Apparently he was completely out of it and was in possession of a lot of pot in the car. Months later his lawyer called me and asked me to re count the events to her. I became irate because I knew she was trying to trick me into mis-remembering a minor detail so she could get this guy off on a technicality. So I went ballistic on her, telling her whatever the police reported was what happened and that I was the last person she''d want to call to a witness stand because I remember every detail and I''d do nothing but put this guy in jail for a very long time. I never heard from her again and I have no regrets about calling the police. He would have killed someone at some point and hopefully, he got into enough trouble that he wont do it again. Hopefully this woman will do the same. Feel better!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/9/2007 4:46:25 PM
Author: surfgirl
TG, SO glad you both are alright! Just be aware that sometimes whiplash/back injuries can take a few days to show up

Ain''t that the truth as I know from experience.

 

[Efe]

I am so glad to hear that you both are okay. I do recommend though you get yourselves checked out because you may feel fine now but in a couple of days you may feel differently. As far as I am concerned, you had a moral obligation to call the police. She needed to be off the road and unable to hurt/kill someone else. If you just let her walk away, rest assured she would do it again.

 

[enbcfsobe]

TG -- so glad you and TGuy are ok!! It really is amazing how much just a little bit of booze can really slow your reflexes. People really just don''t take it seriously enough. It''s better for everyone -- even her -- that you called the cops. Hope your soreness goes away soon!!

 

[Selkie]

I''m so sorry that happened to you, and glad you are doing OK as well. What does it TAKE to make people aware of the dangers of drunk driving???