The Crash

 

On a dead night, in the Spring, I was fishing the Breakers, catch and release, looking for the big one, letting the others go with warnings.

 

Fix your headlight.

Register your car.

Slow down.

 

I stopped an old Volvo for all three on the corner of 25th when I heard a roar, an engine screaming with speed.

 

I looked back to the source of the sound, and saw an Audi racing down the the viaduct over the rail yard, closing a quarter mile in a second.

 

There were four in the car, one shouting at the driver to turn left onto 25th. She did it at seventy, already a quarter way through the intersection.

 

The back end of the Audi broke traction. She could not hold the turn. The car launched up the sidewalk curb cut. The front wheels hit air, then the wall of the warehouse at an angle, ricocheting off, back to the street, back to the traffic stop, back towards the Volvo with me standing on the driver’s side watching the Audi arch towards the top of the cruiser, on path to roll down and hit me.  

 

I yelled, Duck!  

Then looked to dive over the hood of the Volvo when the airborne Audi’s driver side wheels caught the guide line to the power pole eight feet up. The steel cable captured the car’s axle pivoting the passenger’s side to the concrete. The wheels spun shooting sparks into the night.

 

And then, I heard the hiss, a giant rush of air, angry, loud, and overwhelming. I followed the sound, looked at the building, and saw the broken natural gas line.

I handed the Volvo back her info.

 

Leave. Leave now.

 

“What?”  

 

They hit the gas line. Go!

 

The Volvo sped off as I ran to the wreck, reaching for my lapel mike.

 

“7David6. Priority. Crash at 25th and Breakers. Car on it’s side. Occupants trapped.  The car ruptured the gas main  and it’s sparking.”

 

At the Audi, the gas is suffocating, I have seconds.

 

I bark.

 You hit the natural gas line.  

Get your foot off the gas pedal.

 Get out of the car.

 It’s going to blow!

 

The Driver’s side doors burst open. The occupants boiled out and hit the ground.

 

Run!

 

We sprinted.

 

Don’t stop for two blocks. Get out of the blast range.

 

We made it.

 

The World arrived. 

 

Fire capped the broken line.

 

After the accident, during the debrief, one witness said, “I saw the car coming down, saw it turn,  saw the officer and thought, ‘Oh my God! That’s a dead cop!’”

And per the DA, the driver of the Audi walked away with a Careless cite.

 

Comments

[Jade]

Just "careless" cite?
I have much stronger language rolling around in my brain for this one.

[RD]

I charged the driver with other offenses. The DA rejected them, and recommended Careless Driving: a violation.

The driver did have to pay for the thousands of dollars of damage to the line and the capping effort.

[Wrexie]

Dang...you sound like a stunt guy for a Clint Eastwood movie. whew. too close, eh?

It's isane how the DA handled it. A slap on the hand? For all that damage and nearly killing you? If that's simply "careless" I'd hate to see what it takes for him to deem something "dangerous and life threatening".

[Xavier319]

That is absolutely ridiculous. I know it's the DA, so there's not much you can do, but seriously? I'm glad you're safe.

[Insomniacmedic1]

I'd have loved to have seen the driver on a charge of attempted murder of a police officer...

[Tactical Tom]

That last line makes me so angry can barely type!!

glad your ok, RD

[Slamdunk]

Well told RD and glad you are still with us.

Careless driving? That is just a fine and the equivalent of squealing tires in my old jurisdiction. That must have been frustrating.

[RD]

I was dumbfounded at the DA's decision, but I went to the young woman's home to cite her for the careless, she was still deeply disturbed and very sorry. She planned on taking a year off driving. She could not shake the thought of nearly killing me, the Volvo driver, herself, and her friends. She did not understand why she was not facing more charges. She would not have fought the others.

[Cath]

Oh, you gave me a scare there, Raindog. Too close for comfort, methinks. It's a dangerous job you have; having to stand on all kinds of roads with all kinds of drivers around. Take care :-)

[CO-MC-50]

Rookie DA afraid to prosecute?... Or old incompetent and lazy DA? I would venture a guess it was one or the other. Though, thank god, it sounds as though the young lady shook herself to the core and was not too self absorbed and uncaring (afterwards at least) to take notice.

[Mrs. Fuzz]

1/2 way through reading this I thought, "he's a goner", but realized you are here to tell the tale! You had me on the edge of my seat! So glad this turned out the way it did. Lucky.

[burk]

Glad your safe RD,

[41050]

Glad you aren't hurt, sounds like everything lined up just right.

[Tucson Auto Accident]

Talk about close calls. Glad you were not hurt. Someone up there really likes you.