Running the Stop Sign

Friday afternoon at the office was a tangled mess so at 4pm my boss said, "Let's call it a week and go home early today." No argument from me.

I be-bopped to the corner store to pick up a six-pack of Coors Light and was looking forward to a cold one later in the evening. As I eased through the intersection of Old US 377 South and 20th Street, an elderly gentleman to my right never saw his stop sign. As I looked over I could see him drinking from a travel mug. At the moment of contact, coffee went all over his windshield. And my six-pack of beer slammed into the floorboard.

My immediate reaction was, "DAMN!" I utlilized my cell phone and asked the dispatcher to send a law officer to our location. Called Sam and then called the local Chevorlet House to send a wrecker for my vehicle. The elderly gentleman was a little rattled when we met outside our vehicles. He told me, "M'am, you never stopped." I told him, "No, sir, because YOU have the stop sign." I pointed out the sign to him and he mumbled, "Oh, no."

The law officer showed up and asked me what happened. "I was driving through the intersection and his vehicle hit my vehicle." The officer asked the elderly gentleman what happened. "I was drinking my coffee, looked up and she was in my way." Welcome to Little Town investigations. Insurance information was exchanged, blah, blah, blah. Mr. Elderly's pickup damage consisted of a busted headlight and a barely dented front bumper. Either he isn't from this area or he hasn't been here very long because his pickup does not sport a grill guard.

Initial assessment of my vehicle at the body shop is a damaged front passenger door, damaged passenger front quarter panel, bent control arm to the right front wheel, damaged wheel/rim, and possible bent frame. Oh and Mr. Elderly's insurance company is out of Atlanta, GA. I'll deal with all that crap on Monday. I am sporting some bumps and bruises and a little soreness but nothing worth crying about. And for the record: EVERY SINGLE BEER IN THE SIX PACK SURVIVED! Needless to say, I did consume a couple of them once I got settled at home.