Tangle with an 18-wheeler
While driving to turn in a U-haul trailer, I was stopped at the red light on South South Street at Sugartree in Wilmington, Ohio, in the left turn lane. Streets are narrow, so left turn hold lines are set back several feet to make room for turning trucks.
An 18-wheeler coming from my right swung wide to turn left across my bow. He hit the horn once as he wheeled around the turn, and I, realizing it was going to be tight, checked my mirrors to see if I could back up and give him more room. A car appeared snug behind the U‑haul, but I couldn’t tell how much room I had, if any. No matter. The truck was zipping along, and the trailer rode over the brush guard and into my left front fender amidships the trailer as the trucker finally hit the brakes.
I slammed the truck into Park and got out swearing, just as the trucker climbed down swearing. We were both swearing at the situation, not at each other, which is generally a good thing in that sort of meeting.
Meanwhile, the car behind me backed up a little and pulled around. I got back in and backed out from under the trailer and pulled around the corner to the right to clear the intersection, and the trucker finished his turn and pulled to the curb.
We went to a radio station on the corner to get the police department number and I stored it in my phone and called it and told the person of a minor, non‑injury accident at Sugartree and South South. She said a car was on the way.
The trucker called his boss and got chewed out for moving the truck. All we were thinking of was not shutting down that busy intersection for a bent fender.
It took the police officer about half an hour to fill out the report and the exchange of insurance information sheets for both of us. I was glad I had a current Proof of Insurance card with me. I explained that I didn't live at my license address anymore and was, at the moment, technically homeless. Gave him the address of the house I hope to buy.
The trucker got the ticket for improper turn. He protested that I was over the stop line. I was aware of the line but could not have said I knew I was behind it, or how much over it. Trucker said it was about a foot and a half. I checked where on his trailer my paint was and said he’d have got me anyway, but probably with the rear trailer wheels.
The only damage is to my fender panel. Hood and grill and lights are untouched, though the headlight points a little high.
The last two times I’ve damaged other vehicles in the past 30 years or so were both while backing without being able to see clearly what was behind me. Both were minor, my fault, and expensive. Had I backed into the car behind me and allowed the truck to clear, he’d have been out of the picture and I’d have had the ticket and probably damage to the trailer I’d declined insurance on. Far better to be stopped and hit in a minor skirmish than to hit something while trying to evade what's coming.
An 18-wheeler coming from my right swung wide to turn left across my bow. He hit the horn once as he wheeled around the turn, and I, realizing it was going to be tight, checked my mirrors to see if I could back up and give him more room. A car appeared snug behind the U‑haul, but I couldn’t tell how much room I had, if any. No matter. The truck was zipping along, and the trailer rode over the brush guard and into my left front fender amidships the trailer as the trucker finally hit the brakes.
I slammed the truck into Park and got out swearing, just as the trucker climbed down swearing. We were both swearing at the situation, not at each other, which is generally a good thing in that sort of meeting.
Meanwhile, the car behind me backed up a little and pulled around. I got back in and backed out from under the trailer and pulled around the corner to the right to clear the intersection, and the trucker finished his turn and pulled to the curb.
We went to a radio station on the corner to get the police department number and I stored it in my phone and called it and told the person of a minor, non‑injury accident at Sugartree and South South. She said a car was on the way.
The trucker called his boss and got chewed out for moving the truck. All we were thinking of was not shutting down that busy intersection for a bent fender.
It took the police officer about half an hour to fill out the report and the exchange of insurance information sheets for both of us. I was glad I had a current Proof of Insurance card with me. I explained that I didn't live at my license address anymore and was, at the moment, technically homeless. Gave him the address of the house I hope to buy.
The trucker got the ticket for improper turn. He protested that I was over the stop line. I was aware of the line but could not have said I knew I was behind it, or how much over it. Trucker said it was about a foot and a half. I checked where on his trailer my paint was and said he’d have got me anyway, but probably with the rear trailer wheels.
The only damage is to my fender panel. Hood and grill and lights are untouched, though the headlight points a little high.
The last two times I’ve damaged other vehicles in the past 30 years or so were both while backing without being able to see clearly what was behind me. Both were minor, my fault, and expensive. Had I backed into the car behind me and allowed the truck to clear, he’d have been out of the picture and I’d have had the ticket and probably damage to the trailer I’d declined insurance on. Far better to be stopped and hit in a minor skirmish than to hit something while trying to evade what's coming.

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