confuZion3
confuZion3 Reader
5/30/08 10:59 a.m.

So I was driving the Miata up the North-bound I-83 on-ramp at Schawann Road yesterday evening at about 5:15 when I saw something strange. It was a guy sitting in his car on the right side of the road, facing 90 degrees to the left -- perpendicular to traffic. I thought, 'That jerkstore either spun out or is trying to turn around and drive back down the ramp because he made a wrong turn.' The onramp is pretty darn long and it curves gently to the right. He was about half-way up it and on a straight section. Spinning didn't seem reasonable.

Oh well. I proceeded to squeeze by him, but I watched him on my way up the ramp. He didn't seem to move.

I then proceeded to merge onto the freeway and, of course, it was jammed up. We quickly started gaining speed though and started heading down a big hill. Once we hit about 45 MPH I looked back behind me and saw a white car about 100 feet back in the right lane swerve hard to the left, then to the right, and finally way-hard to the left and BAM! He smacked the guard-rail head-on. Cars were diving out in all directions trying to avoid him, and they were all successful - he was the only car involved somehow. 'O . . . K . . . '

So I stopped and called 911 and went back up the hill on foot to check on him. I was still walking when a few other people went up to him and checked him out so I stopped and concentrated on making the call. He appeared to be just fine. Then I noticed that it was the SAME CAR that was sitting sideways just 300 yards back! I had already hung up with 911, but I thought I'd call them back and point out the fact that this guy was sideways on an onramp just a minute before - I told them I thought he might have been on drugs, intoxicated, or was otherwise acting very strangely.

So I asked a woman that I work with this morning if she saw anything. She had no idea about the accident, but she sure as shit watched him spin the first time on the on-ramp! Apparently, he was behind her and they were moving quite slowly. Inexplicably, he spun around TWICE on a straight road and got stuck in some dirt (he only spun on one occasion, but he spun 720 degrees - not two separate spins). She went back and helped him get out and then asked him if he was ok. His response was "I'm OK." No explanation, or "Man, that's really weird. Thanks for helping." Just, "I'm OK.". Then he just sat there.

It was really strange. If you are "That Guy" I apologize if I embarrass you. But dude, that was strange.

confuZion3
confuZion3 Reader
5/30/08 11:01 a.m.

It is possible that there was some mechanical failure in the suspension - like the rear disconnected somehow and just made the car turn from the rear. But if that was the case, he was crazy to try to drive it home.

I just want to know what happened now.

John Brown
John Brown GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
5/30/08 11:06 a.m.

What kind of car was it? MR2? Dodge Charger? Unimotorcycle?

confuZion3
confuZion3 Reader
5/30/08 11:11 a.m.

Oh, yeah. I think I remember it being a white Chevy Malibu or something like a Malibu. Let's say it was from 2000 to 2005 or 6. It was a big, white, American-made sedan.

93celicaGT2
93celicaGT2 New Reader
5/30/08 12:15 p.m.

I've actually done that in my car... didn't hit anything, BUT:

The top bolt that connects the brake caliper to the arm down there vibrated out, and the caliper swung forward and jammed against the rim, stopping it dead.

After i got the car stopped, there was NOTHING noticably wrong. The caliper had gone back up on the rotor, and it looked fine, except for the 300ft of skidmarks that i left.

So... me being an idiot, figured i'd try and drive it again. Did the same thing.

Figured it out that time, but man..... you want to talk about a weird feeling walking around your car that almost killed you, and NOTHING looking wrong? Screws with your head, bad.

John Brown
John Brown GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
5/30/08 12:23 p.m.

Grand Prix and Regals are prone to breaking lateral links and I have seen them toss the rears out in the rain.

Jack
Jack SuperDork
5/30/08 2:50 p.m.

The wierd part is that I know exactly where you are talking about. Oregon Ridge is/was a favorite hiking spot of mine.

FYI - I have an 06 Malibu and it's certainly not a BIG sedan.

Jack Seattle, WA, but formerly of Cockeysville, MD

confuZion3
confuZion3 Reader
5/30/08 3:02 p.m.

Haha. EVERYTHING is big compared to the Miata. Yeah, not big for a sedan, you're right, but you know - bigger than a small car.

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