This may ramble. At this point I’m so shook up I don’t know if I should shit or go blind, but I want to write this while it’s fresh in my mind, and right now I don’t belong behind the wheel.
20 minutes ago I was going north on HWY 83 in Kansas. I was all alone, no one in front of, or behind me. This part of Kansas is very desolate, with not much traffic, which is why I love it. It’s a road I’m very familiar with, as I have traveled it for years now.
I was heading north bound on HWY 83 just south of Oakley Kansas. The road is beautiful, and I was enjoy the rolling hills and vast prairie that is always beautifully laid out before me. I was listening to the tunes, singing away, watching the road and blue sky, thinking about the roast I’m going to cook, and what I could accomplish tomorrow when I get home….
I start to go up a hill and Rosie starts to slow down a bit. I see a Kenworth cresting the hill ahead of me. He’s going south, I’m going north. No big deal. I notice he’s pulling a tanker, still no big deal.
All of a sudden, a blue car juts out from behind the tanker. The car starts to pass him. I’m thinking to myself, he’ll jump back in behind the tanker, but he doesn’t. Then I’m thinking to myself someone is going to die. We are on two lane road. Again, I will say the tanker is going southbound, and I’m going northbound. We are on a two lane road. The tanker has crested the hill, I’m about 3/4 of the way up.
I hold my lane. There is a shoulder, but I hold my lane. He’s coming head-on at me, along side the tanker. I hold my lane and hang on. The tanker swerves. The guy in the car passes me on MY shoulder. Again, I’m going north, he’s going south. There are 3 of us on a road built for 2. He passes me on my right side, on the shoulder. The guy in the car takes off like a bat out of hell. Luckily, he’s alive.
This event could have had many different outcomes. Many of which flashed through my mind as this was happening.
- I could have hit the car head on, seriously hurting myself, totaling my truck, and most likely killing the guy in the car. Even though I did nothing wrong but be in the wrong place at the wrong time, I would have to live with this the rest of my life.
- The tanker, because he swerved to avoid the car, could have rolled his truck and been seriously injured. If he was empty there is a good chance the tanker could have exploded. If he was loaded, there would have been one hell of a mess to clean up.
- If I would have given up my lane (which I will not) I could have flipped my truck in the ditch.
- There could have been trucks or cars behind me that didn’t know what what happening and been involved.
All because someone is in a fucken hurry.
I could go on but I won’t. The thing is, all of the above events has end results on me and my well being. Right now my legs are numb, I’m shaking, I’m pissed, I could cry, and luckily I have finally gotten over the feeling of having to vomit.
I’ve said this before. I DRIVE FOR BOTH ME AND YOU. I want to explain a few things though. I WILL NOT GIVE UP MY LANE, OR PUT MY VEHICLE IN THE DITCH TO SAVE YOUR LIFE. These days, truck drivers are at fault before anyone even looks to the other person. If I would have hit the shoulder to give this DUMB SON OF A BITCH room, and my steer tire would have went over the edge of the road, I WOULD HAVE BEEN AT FAULT for not having my vehicle under control, AND THE DUMB SON OF A BITCH that caused the accident would have kept driving…
Please people. Drive like your life depends on it. Because it does. Slow down. Have respect. Think about the other person. What you do, does have a direct result on other drivers.
I know everyone thinks because we drive big trucks that weigh 80,000 pounds we are indestructible. I may not get killed as easily as you in your passenger vehicle, but there is still a cost. There are human lives driving these trucks. We have the same feelings as you. We have family we want to go home to. And speaking for myself, I don’t ever want to kill someone. Even if they are in the wrong. I CAN NOT IMAGINE!
About Bethany
Stupid stupid stupid assh*le. I am SO sorry this happened to you.
Just reading this sped my heart rate up a bit, glad to hear your okay. I don't blame you one bit for not giving up your lane because i used to floor it & hug the yellow line when that same type situation would happen to me (driving a 6-wheel home delivery fuel tanker). Come to think of it, my TT trainer told me about the only reason he would ever advise to take a rig off the road for was a school bus, to which i uttered the same exact reason as he was telling it me.
The absolute arrogance and stupidity of people! I see things like this all the time here – cars challenging logging and oil field trucks on our hilly, winding, 2 lane country roads. As a car driver, I've had to take the ditch too many times to avoid an oncoming idiot trying to pass a truck – and it's every wo/man for himself on the roads that have no shoulder at all.
Thank heavens you're alive and physically unharmed.
Wow, I can only imagine how horrifying this was for you. After your nerves are put back in place along with your stomach, this type of experience can only leave you shaking your head, and wondering how some people have such little regard for life and other people.
Take a deep breath, collect yourself and keep on trucking.
Thank the Good Lord, the two people in the trucks kept their heads on straight.
I'll bet he was sh******ing his drawers after that episode. Serves him right.
Oh! My! I was there, you took me right thru it, I could feel you trembling, I could sense the moment, ur duress, your decision.
As I have told you before, you are an example for all of us. Don't ever underestimate your leadership within our group. I praise our Lord for keeping you, and everyone else safe, regardless of all the decisions made at that moment.
hugs
Holy shit! I am so sorry this happened to you Bethany. It's one thing if someone wants to go for the Darwin Award, but involving others in their persuit should be grounds for retroactive birth control.
You are amazing–I am honored to share the road with you.
oh.my.LORD. i’m sitting at my desk, stunned & teary-eyed just reading this. i can’t believe the life-and-death bullshit you had to deal with all because of some f***tard’s actions, and soooo relieved you’re okay. thank you so much for saying what you said about driving safely, the message means so much coming from someone with your experience.
Bethany: All I can say is, YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!! But, More important you are alive an well, and so is the other driver…THANK THE GOOD LORD!!…I’ve got a very relatible story…when you want to talk, you call me and I will share it with you. I hope this makes you feel better…I left here at 9:30 a.m. (PST) to go turn some paperwork in. I DID NOT get back here till 1 P.M. (PST) an you were on my mind the whole time I was gone!! When that happens I know God is want’in me to pray, an that’s what I do when someone is on my mind A LOT!! Had NO IDEA what was go’in on, or what happened, UNTIL I got back an got back onto Twitter!! I will say it ONCE AGAIN…Bethany, YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!! Did you, or the other driver, EVEN get a partial License plate number on that car? IF EITHER ONE OF YOU DID, CALL KANSAS HIGHWAY PATROL AN REPORT WHAT HAPPENED!! That 4-wheel driver NEEDS TO HAVE HIS LICENSE TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM!! Thank God that you an the Tanker driver KNEW WHAT TO DO IN THIS SITUATION!! YOU SAVED 2 LIVES TODAY, GIRL FRIEND! YOUR’S AN THE OTHER DIRVER’S!!
I am just so glad that you are okay.
Oh, Bethany ~ I"m so glad you're as ok as possible, everything considered. I've always held, and this proves it again, that speeding is so EFFING selfish of people. Animals get hit, people get hurt. I'm so glad you have this platform to share this story ~ hopefully it will help influence the decisions of drivers in the future……..
SO glad you're alright… You write from such an informed position (I didn't know an EMPTY tanker was more dangerous than a full one), that I felt really reassured about truck drivers in general (hoping that they're all as skilled and thoughtful as you). Love your blog!
You did good girl……….be careful
These kind of (passers) scare me too, and I drive a 4 wheeler. Same scenerio, but TWO perps are in the process of passing the 18 wheeler and coming right towards me, and quite quickly. After the first A-hole clears, my mind instantly starts to process how the remaining chain of events are going to play out. I began to wonder what the truck driver is thinking of doing( thank god there’s one’s like you out there).Do I began to slow,swerve to the left or right(from what you stated you never know what the perps reaction will be)Obviously shooting to yourside of the shoulder is an option…ugh!!! You wonder if your reaction/decision will be the wrong one. Glad your Ok!! It’s crazy how your mind can process so many outcomes mere seconds before you make your decision. I love your posts and pictures. It’s a great addition to my run-of-the-mill city life… Thanks again, Karen
JeezLouise! You are a hell of a driver, hang in there and don't let the maroons get you down.
Your story left me shaking too. That highway is so narrow and hilly. The first time I visited your blog, I thought that I had seen your truck. Since I live in KS, I probably have. Good luck and safe travels.
such a eksperience is something i wouldnt want for even my worst enemy… been thru almost the same… but… there were no shoulder on the road…almost got a tiny car in my front…i ended up with the trailer on the side… but saved the truck… the car disapeared like nothing happend… some may say it was wrong of me to avoid the car… but done is done… as far as i know its not a easy answer what to do…
would like to at the same time thank you for your storyes… seems like you have a wonderfull gift of words that captures an fascinate… almost feels like riding along with you Bethany and i really enjoy evry word
Wow , can I relate! I was on 84E about the Pa.-Ny. line , climbing the hill before the rest area /scenic overlook when a “mega”-camper pulled out of the rest area and promptly broke down ; the driver ran around back to open the engine compartment -ohhhkay we’re both in the right lane but there’s room to get in the left lane , hit the turn signal and behold it’s like NASCAR must speed up and pass the tractor-trailer,now i’m getting closer and i don’t want to squish the guy with a load of mail , so I start edging over , at least 8 cars still passed me despite the fact that lane kept getting smaller and smaller (don’t they see the LARGE camper! obviously not) . I safely am just getting around the camper and am completly in the lane when one more moron decides to pass on the left , ie. 2 lanes 3 vehicles – NO ROOM and no place to go . To this day I don’t know how he fit between me and that guide wire without being crushed or launching along with the gravel he sent over the edge of the highest point with his pick up but he did , he then immediatly cuts over cuts me off and gives me a giant break check while giving me the finger and I still avoided rear-ending him . And the icing on the cake his female passenger reached down on the floor and lobbed a full beer can out the window into my drivers side of the windshield! I really think they have NO idea how close to dieing they came that day. Trust me I get it and it’s not the 1st or last of the idiot crew. hang in there sisters and brothers its not malicious its just plain stupidity. after the good old shakes wore off I thanked the powers that be no one including me died that day.