An odd experience. Was I almost killed by someone having a stroke?
By The Horse
@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
@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
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@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
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@GardenGerty (162307)
• United States
23 Jan 20
Could also be a diabetic incident, but definitely sounds health related.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (45650)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Jan 20
Either the person was under the influence or was feeling ill.
1 person likes this
@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
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@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
@andriaperry (118328)
• Anniston, Alabama
24 Jan 20
@TheHorse I would drive myself
1 person likes this
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@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
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
24 Jan 20
@TheHorse that is possible, glad you were behind him!
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• 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
@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
@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
@VivaLaDani13 (60827)
• Perth, Australia
24 Jan 20
@TheHorse Good on ya for doing something about it. You've got a good heart.
@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
@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.
@anya12adwi (10139)
• India
1 May 21
Very wise of you!! Here, we don't have any hazard light in our vehicles
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