I'm on my last sales trip up here in Ohio to visit my customers prior to the holidays. Yesterday, I had just refueled my rental car (Chrysler 300 urban status car of choice these days)and was about 150 yards from the I-71 onramp in a line of 18 wheelers. Suddenly, a car in the opposite direction makes a left hand turn between the trucks in the inside lane into a gas staion. I braked, but not enough, and hit the other guy in the R/H rear knocking him (a '93 Buick Park Ave) into a guy in a newer pick-up then pinballed into the guardrail. No one hurt, but my rental car was pretty trashed on the R/H front fender. My thoughts were first 'WTF?!?!?!' and then 'Boy, am I glad I wasn't riding my Triumph!!'
The other guy got the citation for illegal left turn. He said the trucker on my side in the inside lane had signaled him that it was clear to make the turn between the trucks.
This was my first accident in over 15 years. If ya GOTTA have an accident, have one where no one is hurt, it's the 'other guy's fault,' you aren't driving your own car, and you aren't on a motorcycle.
I hope this one is my last for at LEAST another 15 years.
Watch out for left turners out there. In fact, look out for EVERYONE out there.
