Tag: collision

Posted in neighborhood

The mailbox didn’t have a chance

Posted on by William Douthwaite

How fast do you think this person was driving?

The first thing that caught my eye was the uprooted mailbox post. It was completely lifted up out of the ground. I thought, “Who would do that?”

Then I saw the car or truck parts along the tire track in the lawn. Someone took the curve too fast, swerved onto the grass, and took out that mailbox.

But where was the mailbox? I spotted it up by the house, about twenty yards away. Wow, they must have been moving!

I know the guy who used to live in this house. Used to means I don’t know what happened to him. I used to see him all the time, riding his bike around the neighborhood. He either died or is living in a care facility. A company cares for the lawn each week. But no sign of him.

If someone put their mind to it, they wouldn’t have much trouble finding the offending vehicle that picked up a few dents and dings and left a few trim parts behind.

We’ll see if anyone notices or cleans up the yard in the next few days. It’s on an isolated section of a road I often walk on in the morning, easily overlooked. I’ll also keep an eye out for the rest of the truck or car.

It could have been worse. Some folks build bricks around their mailbox posts for these kinds of moments.

Posted in Life

A close encounter of the garage door kind

Posted on by William Douthwaite

This is a brand new house in our neighborhood. With a brand new dent in the garage door. A work van, an SUV, and a pickup truck are usually parked in the three-car-wide driveway. The van usually occupies this spot.

I can’t help but wonder about the moment this happened.

  • You thought you had shifted into reverse, but you were in drive. A little tap on the gas and BOOM, you’ve smashed in the door.
  • It’s late. It’s dark. No moon in the sky. No one left the outside light on. And you were looking at your phone. It’s the perfect recipe for a close encounter with the garage door.
  • A few too many Coronas for Cinco de Mayo? Actually, I think it’s a Russian family. More likely a little too much vodka.
  • Did someone lose their temper? “Oh no you don’t. You aren’t going to lock me out the house.”
  • “This is a hurricane-proof door. Look, I show you. I’ll bring the bumper of the van right up to the door and you’ll see, it won’t buckle at all.”
  • “I told you there was something wrong with the brakes!”