Early morning jolt reaffirms faith in humanity
I was taking my son to school this morning along my usual path along what I call North Main Street through downtown Watkinsville (evidently the Sheriff's Dispatch calls it Highway 15) when I crawled up to the busy intersection with the Highway 441 Bypass. There was a smallish gap with a couple of vehicles barreling down east in my direction on the highway towards Athens, but this morning I decided not to engage the rocket power of my Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel truck and instead remained steadfast and resolute when suddenly there was a large and loud "thud" on the back of my bumper.
I was rear-ended by a gentleman in a SUV in the lane where one would merge with the rapid traffic of Highway 441, causing much worse damage to his front bumper then it would appear to my trailer hitch or rear bumper. A 50-cent piece slice of plastic came off my assembly near the license plate, which as anyone who has paid for any repairs lately means an $800.00+ damage estimate at your local neighborhood body shop. We decided to involve insurance companies and police and play it by the book. Turns out we were supposed to be going to the same concert that evening.
I have nothing but praise for everyone involved, from the Sheriff's Deputy (Bob?) with the Oconee County Sheriff's Department, to the Georgia Highway Patrolman, to the dispatcher with the Oconee County Sheriff, to the neighbor Jimmy Marbut who stopped and asked if I was alright on his motorcycle, to Lars Rudow driving his big rig for Ru-Wood spools, to my son and the gentleman in the SUV. He was very polite, as was the GEICO agent Kaffeus Sanders, and anyone else. The folks at my son's school were understanding as well. I think we were maybe half an hour late by the time everything was said and done.
The one thing I would like to see done is extend on the 441 Bypass is an acceleration lane all the way to the Stone Store and the area around where the Waffle House is. I am well aware of how unlikely this is given the current economic crisis. I did hear from one very knowledgeable Sheriff's Deputy today however who told me accidents where mine occurred today are an almost daily repeating ritual at that dangerous location.
Be safe out there, even when sitting still at an intersection. Thank God no was injured in the minor fender bender this morning.
I was rear-ended by a gentleman in a SUV in the lane where one would merge with the rapid traffic of Highway 441, causing much worse damage to his front bumper then it would appear to my trailer hitch or rear bumper. A 50-cent piece slice of plastic came off my assembly near the license plate, which as anyone who has paid for any repairs lately means an $800.00+ damage estimate at your local neighborhood body shop. We decided to involve insurance companies and police and play it by the book. Turns out we were supposed to be going to the same concert that evening.
I have nothing but praise for everyone involved, from the Sheriff's Deputy (Bob?) with the Oconee County Sheriff's Department, to the Georgia Highway Patrolman, to the dispatcher with the Oconee County Sheriff, to the neighbor Jimmy Marbut who stopped and asked if I was alright on his motorcycle, to Lars Rudow driving his big rig for Ru-Wood spools, to my son and the gentleman in the SUV. He was very polite, as was the GEICO agent Kaffeus Sanders, and anyone else. The folks at my son's school were understanding as well. I think we were maybe half an hour late by the time everything was said and done.
The one thing I would like to see done is extend on the 441 Bypass is an acceleration lane all the way to the Stone Store and the area around where the Waffle House is. I am well aware of how unlikely this is given the current economic crisis. I did hear from one very knowledgeable Sheriff's Deputy today however who told me accidents where mine occurred today are an almost daily repeating ritual at that dangerous location.
Be safe out there, even when sitting still at an intersection. Thank God no was injured in the minor fender bender this morning.
Comments