08.10.06
“When we crashed, my entire life flashed before my eyes. It didn’t take too long.”
- Nick (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids)
So, this last weekend I decided to rent a car for my little trip up to Dows Corn Days. Usually I just borrow whatever car I have available, or get one of my brothers to pick me up, but I figured that it would be more fun this way. Fun was quite an understatement. When I got to the rental agency, I got upgraded to a mid-size, and was handed the keys to a 2006 Pontiac G6. Let me just say it now. This car is fun to drive. I made my way up to Dows, had a good time visiting with family, and then, on Saturday, left to head back.
On my way back home to Cedar Rapids, I swung through Des Moines, bought some new headphones, and had supper with some friends. At around 9:30, just East of Altoona, at about, I don’t know, here, I decided to change the station on the radio. I glanced down just for a second and, it turns out, I drifted slightly to the left. Unfortunately for all involved, I was in the left lane at when this happened, and headed into the left shoulder. Another vehicle (a ‘89 Ford) had pulled over on the left due to a flat tire (Or so I heard from the police. I’m not completely sure, but close enough for an internet story).
I clipped the back right tire with my car, and proceded to spin out. I spun around for a bit, then ended up in the grassy area between the two lanes. At this point, I found out later, my front right tire caught in the grass, which caused the entire car to roll over. After one complete revolution I was back on my wheels again and now sliding backwards. Finally I came to a stop. I started in the left lane on the East bound side, and ended up in the right lane on the West Bound side facing West.
In the end, nobody was hurt (surprisingly). The car I rented protected me, and the people who were going to change the tire were not in the car at the time. When I went the next day to pick up my things from the car (none of which, by the way, was damaged in any way. Including the laptop that was in the trunk), first the guy at the tow truck place says that they were surprised to see me up walking around. They were sure that I had gone to the hospital and was possibly not even alive. As he’s taking me out to the car, he says, “Have you ever seen a 3 wheeled G6? You’re about to.”