I literally almost just died | FerrariChat

I literally almost just died

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by mbmike, Feb 4, 2006.

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  1. mbmike

    mbmike Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2003
    752
    I was just walking home a few minutes ago, on the sidewalk of a one-way street (Walnut, for you Philadelphians). All of a sudden, my friends start yelling "what the ****!" I look up, and there are two cars up on the sidewalk, going the wrong way on the one-way street, about to hit me. I literally jumped out of the way just in time. Another half a second and I would have been hit. It was one of those moments where you know your life is at stake.

    Just, unreal.
     
  2. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 14, 2003
    61,183
    In front of you
    Full Name:
    BCHC
    Glad to hear you're alright! Did they crash into anything? Did anyone happen to get their plates?
     
  3. CMY

    CMY F1 World Champ

    Oct 15, 2004
    10,142
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Chris
    Try crossing the street at Catalina and Diamond sometime. I'm glad you made it but I've had far too many close calls (like leaping OVER a car) to get misty-eyed over it.
     
  4. MurcieMurcie

    MurcieMurcie F1 Rookie

    Jan 31, 2004
    3,100
    Glad you're okay, beware on Fashion Island too;):D
     
  5. ferrari-350

    ferrari-350 Rookie

    Nov 11, 2004
    9
    Thank God that your friends shouted. Funny how most people respond with " w t f" , I experienced something like this but I was a passenger of the car. The navigation system said "turn left" then sure enough the car was turning left but when I looked over my friend was asleep and the car crosses the on coming traffic and hits a pole.
     
  6. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    52,479
    SFPD
    Full Name:
    Dirty Harry
    Congratulations on beating the alternative.
     
  7. Webby

    Webby F1 Veteran

    Sep 12, 2004
    6,821
    Glad you're okay. That's scary.
     
  8. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2003
    43,881
    26.806311,-81.755805
    Full Name:
    Dave M.
    Mike.

    Glad to hear you escaped with your life.

    How long you been in Philly? If it's more than a couple of weeks, and this is your first brush with attempted vehicular homicide, you've been extremely lucky.

    Try riding in a cab down that way, you'll decide no matter how hazardous the sidewalk seems, it is infinitely more safe than the road it borders.

    Good luck, keep your eyes open, and wear body armor.

    Dave
     
  9. mbmike

    mbmike Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2003
    752
    There was a police officer right next to us when it happened, but he almost got hit too, so he was just to stunned to do anything about it. Unfortunately I think these guys got away. I just hope they didn't actually hit anybody over the course of the night.

    I've been in Philly for about a year and a half now, so I've had plenty of near-misses, but this takes the cake for unusual situation. Usually, its just people blowing red lights and not looking when they're making turns that I have to look out for. Never expected to be run over on a sidewalk!

    You're right about the taxis though. They are just purely crazy here. During the transit strike I was working a convention at Locust and Broad, so I had to take a taxi. The guy ran 4 red lights and went over the sidewalk twice to get around cars. I've had another cab ride where the driver got pissed off by the guy behind us and was stopping really quickly to try to get rear ended. I just don't get why drivers in this city are so crazy!
     
  10. boffin218

    boffin218 Formula Junior

    Oct 8, 2005
    888
    Philadelphia
    Full Name:
    Chris
    The two reigning theories on Philadelphia drivers are

    a) They drive according to the traffic rules of their country of origin. Usually that means that if they hit you, you (or your family) get a goat.

    b) They drive as well as Philly keeps up their streets.
    Chestnut St. looks like it's been hit by mortars. The South St. bridge has holes in it that allow you to see the Schuylkill river beneath, and, of course, from time to time it drops chunks of concrete onto 676. My personal favorite is the 10" deep hole on South street that the city fills with sand every week, but nothing else. They put the sand in and, after a week, it's all gone. So they put more sand in it. Repeat cycle for a year. It's the PennDOT version of job security.

    Ahhh...driving in Philly.
     
  11. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 2, 2004
    72,968
    Cloud-9
    Full Name:
    Jason
    Damn man! Glad you realized it in time. You shoulda chewed that cop out for being a puss and not going after them.
     
  12. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Jan 20, 2004
    40,697
    Purgatory
    Full Name:
    Clifford Gunboat
    Glad you're OK. We're they young criminal types or retirees???

    Reminds me of Goldie and Irving:

    This guy is driving down I-95 in Florida returning to Century Village and his wife calls on the cell phone:

    "Irving," she says, "Be Careful! On the news they said there is a maniac going the wrong way down the highway!"

    Irving replies, " No, Goldie, there are hundreds of them!"
     
  13. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Feb 27, 2005
    12,091
    glad to hear you are ok. Where on Walnut did this happen?


    I almost saw a lady get hit yesterday. For philly (most the suburbs guys), you know on Mont. ave right next to the bmw dealership how there is that hill that goes over the Cynwyd train station? Well she was walking across the street and some car going about 50 mph comes over the hill towards the bmw place and sees her and slams on the breaks, skids about 50 feet and stop right in front of the woman. I mean right IN FRONT of the woman.
     
  14. mbmike

    mbmike Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2003
    752
    Between 35th and 36th.
     
  15. Fan512bbi

    Fan512bbi Two Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Mar 25, 2004
    20,938
    Wales-UK
    Full Name:
    Steve.
    Glad you are OK , i bet your heart had a good workout, did the copper put out a description?
     
  16. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Feb 27, 2005
    12,091
    hahahahahaha it was a philly cop, no
     
  17. cs s60

    cs s60 Karting

    May 16, 2005
    179
    PA
    I think Philly keeps the roads like this on purpose...just imagine how fast people would drive if the roads were half decent. At least u have to slow down some to get on the sidewalk!!
     
  18. Fan512bbi

    Fan512bbi Two Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Mar 25, 2004
    20,938
    Wales-UK
    Full Name:
    Steve.
    I take it you dont have faith in these cops.
     
  19. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Feb 27, 2005
    12,091
    you have no idea what philly cops are like. They just sit there and do nothing
     
  20. mbmike

    mbmike Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2003
    752
    That's true. Penn Police are better than the rest, but since nobody actually got hurt, the cop just stood there shaking his head. Plus, it was dark and the whole thing happened so fast that it would be hard to come up with any helpful information. I think one of the cars was an old white Chevy sedan, but I didn't see the second at all, and I really can't be sure about it.
     
  21. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2003
    43,881
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    Full Name:
    Dave M.
    Richard.

    Please remove your last name from your rectum.

    Not all Philly cops sit and do nothing.

    Just last week I saw one guarding the Dunkin' Donuts, from inside. I think he may have been undercover, pretending to buy donuts for the precinct while actually he was guarding the holes.

    DM
     
  22. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Feb 27, 2005
    12,091
    finally someone actually gets my name joke! And that cop was probably tasting all of the donuts for poisons
     
  23. coolestkidever

    coolestkidever F1 Veteran

    Feb 28, 2004
    5,538
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Patrick
    oh philly.

    I wont say anything though, Ive had to go on the sidewalk many times to avoid:
    Pools of Water
    10ft potholes
    Two trolleys that stalled
    people
     
  24. fastliz

    fastliz Formula Junior

    Jun 22, 2005
    439
    Palm Bch County, FL
    Full Name:
    Mike
    I've had two "near death" experiences. One was running out of air at 80' scuba diving... dumb, DUMB mistake on my part. I hit the surface like that submarine in "Hunt for Red October." Fortunately, I didn't get bent or embolize.

    The 2nd experience was getting trapped on train tracks with a train coming. A garbage truck ahead of me stopped to turn left on the road running parallel to the tracks. He couldn't turn because of the stationary line of cars headed the opposite direction. I didn't anticipate him stopping, and there was no sign of any train coming. I joked with my wife, "Wouldn't it be funny if the train warning lights started now?" And, just then... the bells started ringing and lights flashing! He wouldn't move up despite my honking as I watched the gate go down behind me. A car was immediately behind the gate. I was trapped. Instincts took over, and I performed a driving maneuver worthy of Starsky & Hutch or Dukes of Hazard (depending on your generation) and darted across the tracks (head on to the opposing traffic) and just barely under that closing gate on the opposite side of the road. I squeaked through between the first car and the gravel on the side of the track JUST as the locomotive barrelled through behind us. Scared the crap out of both of us. I chased down the garbage truck and read him the riot act. He was clueless. I don't think I've ever been so angry. My wife pulled me away. I'm breaking a sweat just re-telling the story here. It was very close.

    Glad to hear you escaped, mbmike.

    Mike
     
  25. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Feb 27, 2005
    12,091
    HOLY CRAP!! glad you are ok. I would have jumped outta the car. I wouldn't have risked being stuck on the tracks if I had to drive on them.
     

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