An odd experience. Was I almost killed by someone having a stroke?

@TheHorse (223656)
Walnut Creek, California
January 22, 2020 7:13pm CST
I just had a really odd experience as I was heading home from work today. I am driving my rental Nissan pick-up truck, and would really rather not be struck by a speeding, texting or disabled driver. I am hoping to get my Nissan Xterra back by Friday. I was at a stoplight, waiting to make a left turn onto Highway 4, which begins my journey (about 17 minutes) home. In front of me and to the left, I spied something odd: a vehicle with its hazard lights on, driving at a normal rate of speed toward us. I wondered why their hazard lights were on. Our left turn light turned green, and the vehicle to my left made the appropriate left turn, onto the merge ramp for Highway 4. I followed slowly, to his or her right. But the vehicle with the blinkers on ran the red light and almost hit the vehicle in front of me and to my left. The almost-victim honked loudly, as Californians do, but I looked at the driver of the car running he red light, and noticed that they seemed compromised somehow. The driver was leaning to left, and looked like someone someone who was either suffering from cerebral palsy or was having a stroke. When I got home, I called Martinez Police to let them know what I had seen. I hope the person who was struggling is safe What would be your hypothesis as to what was going on?
24 people like this
25 responses
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
23 Jan 20
When I see a vehicle with the hazard light blinking and running fast, I would assume that it is on emergency so I would give way.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jan 20
That's pretty much what I did.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
23 Jan 20
@TheHorse if the vehicle in front of you had rushed then he might have been hit. But I guess that is a scary incident.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jan 20
@Alexandoy It was a very scary incident. I'm glad the guy in front and to my left took his time.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472499)
• Switzerland
23 Jan 20
I would have stopped a moment and called the police immediately, giving the number of plate and description of the car and position. Not a good idea to wait to be back home. I always have a mobile phone with me and this was definitely an emergency.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472499)
• Switzerland
24 Jan 20
@TheHorse Now I understand. Two days ago we had a case like this, a doctor on his motorcycle noticed, he risked his life to stop the car not only to help the man in the car, but to avoid major accidents.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jan 20
I left my mobile phone in Montana.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (162307)
• United States
23 Jan 20
Could also be a diabetic incident, but definitely sounds health related.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jan 20
Ah, good point. I wish he could have pulled over. I may never know what happened. I hope he did not cause an accident in Martinez.
@lovebuglena (45650)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Jan 20
Either the person was under the influence or was feeling ill.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jan 20
Not under the influence. He wouldn't have put his blinkers on. I think he was experiencing a medical emergency.
@lovebuglena (45650)
• Staten Island, New York
24 Jan 20
@TheHorse Are you saying that if someone were drunk or high they couldn't possibly turn their blinkers on?
@andriaperry (118328)
• Anniston, Alabama
23 Jan 20
Yes, someone trying to get to the hospital
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jan 20
@andriaperry I have some friends here who would support me. But if it were mild, I might give it a go by myself.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jan 20
That's what I think as well.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118328)
• Anniston, Alabama
24 Jan 20
@TheHorse I would drive myself
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
23 Jan 20
not enough information to hazard a guess but that sounds like a tough place to be.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jan 20
I'm glad I was not three seconds further into the intersection. My rental car is a Nissan truck and he might have rolled me.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
24 Jan 20
@TheHorse that is possible, glad you were behind him!
@anil02 (24688)
• India
23 Jan 20
He may be drunk or have some health problem
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jan 20
I think it was a health issue. A drunk person would not put his blinkers on.
• Austin, Texas
25 Jan 20
I have no idea what was going on. But it was wise of you to contact the police about it. You may never know but it's possible you saved someone's life. You'll be an unsung hero.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Jan 20
I hope the person in question is OK.
1 person likes this
@CinnamonGrl (7086)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
23 Jan 20
Yeah, it does sound like they were having a medical issue. A frend of mine on Facebook had a seizure while she was driving a couple of weeks ago. She ended up in a ditch, fortunately hit nobody else but she did herself a lot of damage and is in the hospital recovering from emergency surgeries. It's scary out there! I'm glad you are all right.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jan 20
Thanks! I'm glad she is alright as well. Will she be allowed to drive again?
@cacay1 (84261)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
23 Jan 20
Can't people help that man in need? I hope the police you called saved the man.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (84261)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
24 Jan 20
@TheHorse I hope someone came closer to the man to save his life. He might have some heart problems.
@JudyEv (347065)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jan 20
It sounds bad, like he was maybe partially paralysed and unable to operate the controls properly.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jan 20
That's what I think. He seemed to be sloching to the left.
@VivaLaDani13 (60827)
• Perth, Australia
23 Jan 20
@TheHorse I would have just assumed something like you did. That the driver was suffering from something which made it difficult to continue driving properly. I really hope the driver is alright!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jan 20
I did call the Martinez police when I got home. I let them know what had happened, and that someone might be experiencing a medical emergency on Alhambra Avenue. I felt I had to do something.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
24 Jan 20
@TheHorse Good on ya for doing something about it. You've got a good heart.
@thelme55 (77378)
• Germany
23 Jan 20
OMG! He might have a stroke, diabetes attack or epilepsy attack. I hope that man was saved.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jan 20
I hope so too.
1 person likes this
@happylife1 (13404)
• Karachi, Pakistan
23 Jan 20
I c Scare and stand by a side
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jan 20
Sometyimes things happen so quickly you can't stand by the side. But that IS my general strategy. I try to keep a distance (if possible) between myself and other cars.
@ptrikha_2 (47411)
• India
23 Jan 20
It could be some stroke or done other medical issue. You did the right thing.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jan 20
I hope the person OK. I'm glad nobody was hit
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
26 Jan 20
That's scary. I hope that person got the help he needed before anything worse happened.
@Lolaze (5093)
• St. Louis, Missouri
24 Jan 20
Hopefully they found him and got him help. I would bet he knew something was wrong which is why he turned his flashers on, but was trying to get himself to a hospital or such for help.
@franxav (13965)
• India
23 Jan 20
I can't be sure but probably it was a heart attack. I am glad you are safe.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jan 20
I was cycling about four years ago when I saw a guy have a heart attack while driving. The muscle contractions led him to hit the accelerator, and he crashed into a fence, where a new apartment complex was being made.
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
23 Jan 20
my hypothesis? he/she was having nascar flashbacks... but seriously. hope the person is okay.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223656)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jan 20
I hope he is OK too. I'd never experienced anything exactly like this before.
1 person likes this
@anya12adwi (10139)
• India
1 May 21
Very wise of you!! Here, we don't have any hazard light in our vehicles