So, I'm driving to work, minding my own business...
...wait a second, let me 'splain first.
Along my route to work, I take one interstate (I64 east) to another interstate (I264 west). The exit from 64E to 264 East and West is two exit-only lanes that break to the right from 64E. Shortly after the break to the right from 64E, the exit for 264E breaks to the left (and loops around and over I64). I go to 264W, so I can stay in either lane and end up where I'm supposed to go.
Go
*click* HERE *click* to see the intersection. In the map, 64E is heading south (if you think that's confusing, keep panning south around 64E until it loops around the south side of Norfolk and ends up going west before it ends...or begins).
This all happened in a matter of seconds. It took me longer to type "This all happened in a matter of seconds" than it did for the incident to take place...
Anyway, I'm exiting 64E in the right-most exit-only lane when I notice that there is an 18 wheeler ahead of me doing well under the speed limit. So I move over to the second-from-right lane (also exit-only) and begin to pass him just as the two lanes are breaking away from 64E. No problem...right?
Well, I get about midway alongside his trailer and he suddenly starts coming over into my lane...no signal, no nothing, just tons of metal coming over into my lane, right on top of me.
I hit the brakes and lay on the horn. No response. In fact, his turning radius actually DECREASES (he starts coming into my lane faster). I'm hard on the brakes at this point, to heck with the horn, it's not doing anything anyway.
So he keeps coming at me in his ever-increasing angle while I continue applying more and more brake pressure to attempt to offset his lunacy. I'm probably down to 15MPH when I realize that his turning radius has decreased to a point that the front of his truck is now pointed toward the sign in the middle of the gravel triangle created by 264E breaking away to the left from the exit lanes for 264W.
It's about this time that I realize that he's not just cutting INTO my lane on top of me, he's actually cutting ACROSS my lane in an insane attempt to head up the left-hand exit for 264E!
As that realization hits my early-morning brain, I realize that he is going to, literally, come right across my bow in his attempt to save himself the approximately 2.68 minutes that it would, otherwise, take him to go to the next exit, loop around, and head back the way he, apparently, wants to go.
As he continues turning harder and harder left, I put the brake pedal to the floor and beyond (didn't know it went that far). Just before I come to a COMPLETE stop (on an interstate...thought that warranted additional mentioning), I realize that the left rear (port stern) of his trailer (the part behind the trailer axles) is actually, literally, technically, REALLY passing OVER the right front of my hood. I yank the wheel hard to the left, come to a complete stop, and watched a loaded trailer pass over my hood as his (thankfully) inset rear drop-down bumper came closer and closer.
I heard one of those seemingly unrealistic *crunch* noises.
I realized I was sitting completely still, straddling two lanes of interstate (exit) traffic.
It dawned on me that an 18-wheeler had just hit me.
I pulled directly forward into the aforementioned gravel triangle as I watched the 18-wheeler keep going up the ramp to 264E. I memorized the company name and trailer number as I pulled out of the path of traffic. After I got stopped, I got out to inspect the damage. I noticed, as I walked around the front of my truck, that the 18-wheeler stopped halfway up/around the looping exit ramp to 264E. Whatever, I needed to know what my right front looks like.
Well, it turns out that he ended up hitting the right front plastic wheel fender flare. Thank the Lord that it sticks out like it does, because, try as I might, I couldn't find a single scratch on any metal. It still amazes me that he hit JUST that plastic piece!
The young driver of the 18-wheeler walked back to my truck and was absolutely terrified and apologetic. I ended up deciding that calling the police, waiting for said police, making a report, claiming damage, making myself late for work, and potentially ruining his career, was more trouble than it was worth for some scratches on my plastic fender flare.
So the Jeep is in one piece, but I have some new trail (asphalt) pinstripes on my front right fender. Oh, and I was late for work...had to make that up later in the week.
I'll take some picts later. Right now...I need a drink.
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) and I would've been nailed for leaving the scene of an accident if I were to not call the police.
