Thanks Marylb. To be honest, it affected the way I felt for quite a long time when it came to being hemmed in by semi trucks on the freeway.

And it affected my wife even worse. For a few months, she only drove in the right hand lane on the freeway, and if she had a semi on her tail, she took the next offramp and pulled into some parking lot or another.

One time only a couple of weeks after dad died, she had such a close call with a semi that she sat in a parking lot, white-knuckling the steering wheel and shook for about a half an hour before she could calm down.

Our youngest son was just getting ready to take Drivers Education when it happened. It put him off learning for a few years. He was scared of semi trucks, and he just didn't want the responsibility. He did take a Sears driving course a few years down the road, and he's been driving ever since with no problems.

Now I have driven semi trucks, and dump trucks and big equipment haulers. And I know that sometimes those little cars cut in front of you and hit their brakes.

I also have a grasp of physics, and I understand that a big rig can't stop on a dime. So I always drove accordingly.

Even so...there were times where other drivers did such stupid things, I still almost clobbered them.

Thank you for your kind and supportive words. They mean a lot to me.

Some more info from KSL - man this crazy. I really feel bad for this lady and her family.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3793710

dinko1x wrote:
Some more info from KSL - man this crazy. I really feel bad for this lady and her family.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3793710

Thanks for the update, I read it fully this time ..... Unbelievable

My condolences go out to the family as well.

Troopers say 28-year-old Melissa Sandoval of Santaquin was traveling north when she drifted into a semi, then bounced off into the path of an oncoming tanker truck.
. . .
However, the northbound driver, 43-year-old Marcus Winzer, was arrested for reckless endangerment and a log book violation.

How do they get reckless endangerment if "she drifted into a semi, then bounced off into the path of an oncoming tanker truck."?

Years ago I happened to be on the passenger side of a semi in heavy traffic. I could not go forward or slow down to get behind him because I was hemmed in. I watched helplessly as he pulled into my lane and into my car. I was lucky. I was able to slow (luckily didn't slam on the brakes) down and pull off the highway. He only made a large dent in my rear fender. When the cops arrived he told them that I HAD PULLED INTO HIM! "Yeah, right," I told the cop..."like I couldn't see HIM"! The cop agreed with me but since no witness stopped and told the truth, the cop decided that no tickets would be issued. I had to pay to get my car fixed. Also - after he hit me, his traveling companion sat up! If she had been awake, he wouldn't have hit me. The PT Crusier was a larger car than mine was but the fact of my accident was that the large flat nose of his truck obstructed his vision and he did NOT see me AND he was going too fast! I NEVER travel on the right side of a semi truck again! I stay behind and pass them on the driver's side as quickly as possible. These trucks are deadly weapons and drivers need more training, alertness, companions that are awake! and drugged drivers are everywhere. A lot of them also take speed to keep awake. My brother worked at a State Inspection station for years and said they scared the H--- out of him. What is the answer?

Wow what an awful story. My condolences go out to the family.

Ithappenedtometoo -- thanks for your post. What a scary experience. I never really thought about not driving on the right side of a semi.. but it totally makes sense. Thank you for sharing your comments and insight.

Sasha
United First Financial