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Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive April 2006: Terrifying Saturday evening
I can honestly say that this Saturday was one of the most terrifying evenings I've ever had. (The explicit version is on my blog, for those of you who read it, but if curse words offend you avoid that post) We went out for DH to go skydiving, and since it's an hour drive our friend Paul, and his 2 year old daughter rode with us. So, we've got a van full, with the three adults and our collective kids. We had a blast out at the jump site, DH LOVED it, and can't wait to go again. Paul didn't jump that day, so he and I got video of N's landing, and our other friend's 100th jump (he jumped naked for that, apparently it's a tradition or something). At the end of the day everyone took a small shot of tequila to celebrate (except me because I was driving), we load up the kids, and start heading home. All in all, we've had a great (albeit CRAZY) day, everyone had a blast, and we're ready to get HOME! It's getting near bedtime, so we grab some fast food and are doing 80 on the interstate, when this guy starts tailgating me BAD. He was so close you couldn't see anything but his dashboard when you looked in the mirrors. I am blocked in by traffic, and can't get out of this guy's way, so I just curse a bit, and keep driving. Well, long story short(er), he cut into the right lane, and pulled up beside us, tried to nudge us off the highway, I slowed down a bit, he pulls in front of us, then decided to slow down and get next to us again, in the right lane. I'm focused on keeping the van on the road, while DH and P are watching this guy, and he PULLED A GUN off his dashboard, cocked it, and pointed it at us with his finger on the trigger. N was already reaching for his cell to call 911 when this happened, so he tells me to slow down because this guy has a gun, and he's giving the dispatcher all the information. Well, the guy pulled off on an exit, waited for us to pass, then started chasing us. N is still on the phone with the dispatcher, and as the guy starts to chase us we notice a Sheriff (who had been listening to the 911 call THANK GOD) sitting in the grass. N is yelling at the dispatcher that the guy is chasing us, we just passed a Sheriff, we've got kids in the car, someone needs to DO SOMETHING NOW. The Sheriff starts to chase the guy, and the guy decided to run, we pull off the highway to wait for instructions from the dispatch. They tell us they caught him, with the gun, and want us to go to the next exit and wait at a gas station to make statements. The Sheriff who we had passed was the one who came to take our statements, and DH described the gun (brand, caliber, etc) to a T, that's how close this guy was when he pointed it at us. The officer saw the kids in the car, and was furious that this guy had not only pulled a gun on the highway, but pointed it at a vehicle with small children inside. He assured us he was charging the guy with everything possible, from brandishing a firearm, to attempted aggrivated battery, and everything in between. Either way, the three of us were pretty shaken, which is hard to do when both the guys have been in the military for a while, and Paul's been to Iraq at least once. Even in TX, where you can carry a concealed weapon, I've never run into anyone that crazy, I just don't understand road rage like that. I'm just really grateful he didn't manage to wreck us, and he didn't actually fire the gun, I shudder to think what could have happened.
Crystal, that's TERRIBLE!! Wow, I'm so sorry you all went thru that. It will probably take a while for you all to calm down, especially you, as the mommy! What a horrific story. I'm glad it ended well, but that doesn't erase the trauma or fear it evoked. How are the kids doing?
Wow! I'm so glad nothing worse happened to you guys. What kind of effect did it have on the kids? HUGE hugs to all of you.
OMG Crystal:I'm so sorry you guys had to experience something like that.Thats really scary.Nowadays when someone upsets you on the road you can't even make eye contact in fear of losing you're life.((((HUGS))))
((((((HUGS)))))
OMG, how scary. I'm so glad you are all ok. I would be completely freaked out. You did a great job keeping your driving under control.
I can't imagine how scared you must have been and how furious you must be now. {{{Crys}}} I'm so glad that, ultimately, there was a happy ending to this scenario.
I would have been scared to death, especially with my DD in the car!!!! {{{Crystal}}}
OMG!!!! Crystal, that's horrible. People can be so mean. Please let us know how everyone is doing, especially the kids. (((((Crystal))))
{{{HUGS}}} I can't even IMAGINE what that must have felt like! I'd want to get my hands on that guy's throat and SHAKE him to death for being so stupid...Thank God you guys are all safe!
Good grief. What was the guy's problem? I would have been so scared!
OMG!! I'm glad you guys are all ok.
Wow, Crystal, you'll have to keep us up to date on what happens with this guy. Will you have to go to court? If you do, are you going?
omg i'm shaking for you i'm so sorry to hear this i'm so glad everyone is "okay" ...
That make me shiver. People are just nuts nowadays. Thank God no one got hurt.
Thank you everyone. As far as we can all tell, the kids really didn't catch on to what was going on. The guy was right next to the front passenger window when he pulled the gun, the closest child was Paul's DD (sitting in the middle row passenger side), and she was having busy eating. Shane has a bit of an obsession with policemen, so he was aware that we were talking to one, but the officer just said hello to them, and we made sure they knew we weren't in trouble. We don't know if we'll have to go to court or not, I'm not even sure they took contact information for Paul, other than his sworn statement. I was the most shaken, I told the officer I was sorry, by the time I wrote my statement it had hit me hard, and I know it wasn't as accurate as the guys' statements. And yeah, I'll definitely think twice about flipping someone off again, it's not something I often do, but if they are aggressive enough to make me want to, they might be truly dangerous.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! My chin is on the floor after reading this. Glad you are all ok!!
OMG.
Definitely one of those times that makes you want to kiss the ground and hug the kids. I am so thankful you got through it okay.
No, it was not a pellet gun, it was a P99 Ruger, my DH used to own the same gun, which is why he could describe it so accurately. The police said they didn't find any ammo in the vehicle, but DH clearly saw a bullet in the chamber when the guy cocked the slide back, so he must have discarded the bullets at some point. It happened in Wabaunsee County, I'll have to check the ledgers for the area, it's closer to Topeka than our area.
OMG!!!!!!!!!!! That is awful!! I can't even begin to imagine how terrified you all were. People are N-U-T-S!! I'm so glad that everyone is okay and that a scary situation didn't turn into a tragedy.
Crystal, it is important to remember that you didn't panic, even though you were terrified, you kept the car on the road and drove safely, and braked when your dh said to. If you had not driven so well, things could have turned out very badly. Breaking down after the emergency is over is the right time to break down - you clearly had your priorities in order.
Thank you, Ginny. I was lucky to have both DH and our friend there to help me stay calm, and they both offered to drive the rest of the way home, but of course I declined since they had had a shot before we left. I figure better safe than sorry after all of that. The officer was very supportive and understanding that my statement wasn't quite as good as I would have preferred.
I just saw this one, I am glad that you guys are ok, and like Ginny said that were able to hold it together. What was wrong with the guy anyway? My...people are crazy! Glad you are all well darling.
How scary! I'm glad you are ok!!
Crystal,
Thanks again, everyone.
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Everyone seems to be doing alright now, I hope to find out what happens to the guy, and will update if I do.