Road Terror
Driving on the highway on the way home from volunteering at BINGO for Dino's band, I saw a child sized body thrown from a mini van, get hit by a car, and go tumbling along the side of the berm, losing shoes.
I, and five other cars went screeching to the side of the road, and I and five other people went running back to the motionless shape. I was dialing 9-1-1 as I ran.
The man who'd hit the body got there first, tears streaming down his cheeks. He staggered back, screaming, "OH, GOD! Oh, God, oh God, oh God!" and bent over double, hands on knees. My heart went into my throat.
As I pounded up, I got a clearer look at the figure. It was a very realistic mannikin, with wig, fully articulated, with socks, underwear, pants torn, a sweatshirt, and curly hair. It took me a couple of beats to realize even up close that it was just a doll. I hung up my phone as the other three people came running up.
One of the guys who came up picked up the mannikin, and said, "We have to take this out of the road, or someone else might have an accident trying to save it." He suggested the guy who hit it should take it, so the damages to his car and the mannikin could be shown to the insurance agent.
We all started walking back to our vehicles, all grim and upset. My phone rang, and I answered it. It was 9-1-1, calling me back because I'd dialed them. I explained the circumstances. They'd just had 10 calls from the exact area, so having my explanation I think helped.
Still, it took a while for my pulse to stop beating so hard it hurt my chest, and for the bands around my chest to loosen. I wondered for a bit whether *I* was going to have a medical emergency from my running and fright.
I got some egg rolls at a Chinese restaurant, and stopped by a friend's and ate them, and hung around until I was much calmer.
I, and five other cars went screeching to the side of the road, and I and five other people went running back to the motionless shape. I was dialing 9-1-1 as I ran.
The man who'd hit the body got there first, tears streaming down his cheeks. He staggered back, screaming, "OH, GOD! Oh, God, oh God, oh God!" and bent over double, hands on knees. My heart went into my throat.
As I pounded up, I got a clearer look at the figure. It was a very realistic mannikin, with wig, fully articulated, with socks, underwear, pants torn, a sweatshirt, and curly hair. It took me a couple of beats to realize even up close that it was just a doll. I hung up my phone as the other three people came running up.
One of the guys who came up picked up the mannikin, and said, "We have to take this out of the road, or someone else might have an accident trying to save it." He suggested the guy who hit it should take it, so the damages to his car and the mannikin could be shown to the insurance agent.
We all started walking back to our vehicles, all grim and upset. My phone rang, and I answered it. It was 9-1-1, calling me back because I'd dialed them. I explained the circumstances. They'd just had 10 calls from the exact area, so having my explanation I think helped.
Still, it took a while for my pulse to stop beating so hard it hurt my chest, and for the bands around my chest to loosen. I wondered for a bit whether *I* was going to have a medical emergency from my running and fright.
I got some egg rolls at a Chinese restaurant, and stopped by a friend's and ate them, and hung around until I was much calmer.