Your on HWY 10 in Minnesota. At night….

So last night I ended up going to Wadena MN first before going out to Merrill WI which is fine, more miles, more money. I left Wadena around 8:15 p.m. and had a 6 hour trip ahead of me. I figured I’d be sitting in WI around 2:30 am. I wasn’t thrilled with the weather since the air was heavy and it was raining now and then. It never helps me truck that way, as I always love it when it’s nice and clear with a ton of stars in the sky. Last night I would have rather been tucked in bed somewhere.

I hadn’t drove far, just east of Motley  when I see a 4 wheeler (car) going very slow up ahead of me. I hit the hammer lane thinking I’d breeze on by and the slow 4 wheeler would be just a memory. As I approached this vehicle it hit the hammer lane like a shot which made me hit my breaks and swear. I do that at times… What the hell I thought? I backed out of it waiting to see what this little car was going to do as I do not pass on the right. I sat there going barely 5o mph in a 65 mph zone watching someone who had no excuse to be out on the road….

The little car had a driver who had no clue there was a 18 wheeler behind him wanting to get around. He tottered along like he was on a Sunday drive so really I thought he was messing with me. That is until he hit the hammer lane shoulder. He went towards the median, which was luckily shallow enough he eased in and then using his directionals (Blinker) came back to the shoulder and into the hammer lane and then the slow lane. He then sped up to about 65 again so I sat back and watched to see what would happen next…

He sat in the slow lane for about a half mile, and I was thinking this was my shot to get around him. I wasn’t quick enough though, because without any warning he shot back into the hammer lane, down into the median again and then just as quick shot back onto the roadway using his directional again, as if he just passed something or someone… I am slowly getting further away because I am having visions of a little car under my trailer. He sits in the slow lane again, and then uses his directional to hit the the shoulder on the slow lane. I thought maybe he was going to pull over since he was so proper in using his directionals, it almost looked as if he knew what he’s doing. That thought quickly slipped out of my mind to this guy is drunk, on something, having a heart attach, some kind of insulin reaction or worse. As he slows to the shoulder I am starting to catch up again but very leary about wanting to go around because he seems to be off…

Just as I get close to him, off the shoulder he comes like a shot  into the hammer lane right in front of me. I’m pissed. That’s it. I pick up the phone and call 911.

My call(s) go something like this.

Phone rings a woman says hello? I say, um is this 911? She say yep.

Ok… Usually they answer with 911 what’s your emergency?? So I tell her I have a drunk driver in front of me and need someone to come get him off the road. She asks where I’m at so I give her the mile marker. She tells me to hang tight. I do all the while watching dumb shit drive like a flippen lunatic. Finally she gets back on and says, hmmm, we don’t have anyone in the area right now…

I am thinking really? That’s what you have to tell me??? So I tell her that she better get someone because I’m afraid to pass this guy and he is going to cause a wreck and I don’t want to be in it with him. I give her the make, model, and license plate #. Then I’m thinking…. Hmm,  I wonder where the closest bank would be…. If nobody is around, heck I could be rich by morning.

The woman and I exchange thoughts about what is going on in front of me, and she says she will work on getting someone out there. We chat a little more, I can hear every once in a while a man which I assume was the cop telling her where he is…  Then she gets on the phone again and tells me they will try to get someone out there but call back if the driver gets any worse. Really?

So, I hang up. Confused. Can’t law enforcement do like 120 mph to get somewhere if help is needed? I’ve saw them high steppin’ before, but maybe a drunk driver isn’t as much of a problem since the towns are so spread apart. I’m looking at my clock now. This has been going on for about 20 minutes now. I’ve had enough. I need to go. I don’t want to see what he is going to do next. I’m coming by. So, I hit the hammer lane push Rosie to the limit and I fly by. Whew. No problems, except he is now driving down the shoulder, then the hammer lane, and catching up to me…. The race is on.

I am responsible. And I just can’t let this guy be out here like this. What if someone else comes up on him and isn’t paying attention?  I call 911 again. I get the same woman who answers the phone again with a “Hello?” I tell her who I am and that she NEEDS to get someone out here. Again we go through the where I’m at, where the cop is, where the 4 wheeler is…  I tell her I’m coming into Little Falls. There should be a cop there right? Yes, we will have someone waiting… I hang up.

I go through town on HWY 10 and no cops in sight. There is me and the little 4 wheeler. He’s still driving on the shoulder of the road, every once in a while I can see him use his blinker to change from the shoulder to the actual highway. I keep thinking at least he knows how to change lanes properly…

Finally. My phone rings. It’s the lady at 911 or at her home in bed; I’m not really sure at this point. Can you see lights coming? I look, the air is heavy with moisture and everything behind me is blurred. I may… Are your guys finally on their way or do I have to wait till I get to St Cloud? She was not impressed with my question at this point because I was being a little smart I guess… Finally I see it. Lights. Pretty blue, red, and white lights… They came!!

From the looks of it there was 3 cars that got the little 4 wheeler. I got a call this morning needing more information from me. Looks like he was drunk. Looks like they want to hang him. And looks like I will have to go to court and testify if he thinks about trying to get out of it…