CAL Captain
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2018
- Threads
- 13
- Messages
- 668
- Reaction score
- 409
- Location
- Arroyo Grande, CA
- Vehicle(s)
- 2019 Bullitt Mustang
- Thread starter
- #1
So... In the number 1 lane cruising up 101 near Arroyo Grande and I see cars braking ahead. I start to slow when I see it: an 8 or 10 foot ladder in my lane, spinning in circles.
In the space of about a half second, I simultaneously stand on the brakes, check my rearview mirror, and glance at the number 2 lane to my right. No relief anywhere; if I keep braking, I'm going to get rear-ended for sure not to mention a potential chain-reaction crash behind me for stopping in the number 1 lane, the guy in the number 2 lane has kept perfect pace with me in my braking, thus preventing me from escaping to the right, and there's nothing but a very narrow, ice plant-filled mess in the center divider. So, slowed to about 30... I drive over the ladder which has stopped spinning and is now perfectly perpendicular to my direction of travel. I will not ever forget the sound or the jolt or the notion that everything on the underside of my Bullitt will be shredded by the aluminium ladder-monster. As I drive over the ladder, I take another quick look in my rearview and see that the guy behind me opted for the ice plant and is now stopped at about a 30 degree angle to the roadway.
I jump off the freeway at the next off-ramp and take a look under the car. Everything seems ok but I call the Ford dealer in San Luis Obispo anyway: "Ooooh, yeah... better let us take a look at it."
Result: Some scrapes on the muffler and a fresh alignment. No tire or wheel damage and the car drives great.
I don't know whether to hold my breath and hope nothing else shows up or consider myself blessed and lucky that no one was hurt, not even Lt. Bullitt.
In the space of about a half second, I simultaneously stand on the brakes, check my rearview mirror, and glance at the number 2 lane to my right. No relief anywhere; if I keep braking, I'm going to get rear-ended for sure not to mention a potential chain-reaction crash behind me for stopping in the number 1 lane, the guy in the number 2 lane has kept perfect pace with me in my braking, thus preventing me from escaping to the right, and there's nothing but a very narrow, ice plant-filled mess in the center divider. So, slowed to about 30... I drive over the ladder which has stopped spinning and is now perfectly perpendicular to my direction of travel. I will not ever forget the sound or the jolt or the notion that everything on the underside of my Bullitt will be shredded by the aluminium ladder-monster. As I drive over the ladder, I take another quick look in my rearview and see that the guy behind me opted for the ice plant and is now stopped at about a 30 degree angle to the roadway.
I jump off the freeway at the next off-ramp and take a look under the car. Everything seems ok but I call the Ford dealer in San Luis Obispo anyway: "Ooooh, yeah... better let us take a look at it."
Result: Some scrapes on the muffler and a fresh alignment. No tire or wheel damage and the car drives great.
I don't know whether to hold my breath and hope nothing else shows up or consider myself blessed and lucky that no one was hurt, not even Lt. Bullitt.
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