HM
03-23-2007, 04:00 PM
Right now, there is construction on the Ortega and is one lane. They do a decent job on traffic control, so it is really only a little longer. They are also doing some work down at Antonio Parkway and Ortega (the intersection where the dump road is). There are a couple passing zones where you can pass, but there is no point to passing right now as you end up waiting in line, only to be a few cars ahead.
So, this morning I am traveling the Ortega west. It is crowded, but moving nicely. We get down into the flats where the two passing zones are and I see in my rear view mirror a car coming up from behind pass 8-10 cars in the first passing area - it was a clean pass and he got back into traffic easily. Then, he passes another 8-10 cars in the second passing zone and stays out passing all the way into a corner. Very risky, but he does it cleanly. He is now two cars behind me and there are 5 cars infront of me in which a big dump truck is leading the pack. There are no more passing zones until you get into Capistrano. But, just after the passing zone, there is a signal (Quest Dignostic - Old Nichols Institute) and it is wide and straight for almost a quarter mile.
So, right as we crest to the light and you can get a good visual of on coming traffic, he bolts out across the double yellow and goes for the massive pass. The car is a lowered Infinity G35 two door. The car is pretty fast and he is rolling 90+ (we were going 55). He goes for the entire pass all the way to the dump truck and keeps going....even though they are entering the corner!
Well, his luck ran out. Coming the other way is a double trailer gravel truck...and the truck does not make any evasion manuevers. The kid just squeezes by a red kunt hair between the dump truck and the gravel truck. But, the kid overreacts and/or is just plain too fast and his car fish-tails. He loses control and goes off the road backwards off into a ditch clearing a 4 ft fence. His car only did a half roll and smashed to a stop, upside down against the upslope of the other side of this ditch.
I pull over and see his car upside down against the upslope and I think he is dead. As I am jumping the fence to get to him, he manages to crawl out and is basically uninjured - a small bump on his head. Turns out to be an 18 year old kid and says he is a "mortgage banker" for Lending Tree. He is pretty shaken up. After a couple minutes, he says...."You know, I shouldn't have braked." I just looked at the kid and said...."Or, you could have not passed going into a blind corner doing 100 MPH?" He just looked down and started swearing to himself.
Here are the pics (they are from my camera phone...so quality is so so):
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/447Mar23_0008.jpghttp://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/447Mar23_0009.jpg
Here is looking into corner. The car is off the road on the other side of the cars on the right.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/447Mar23_0010.jpg
Here is looking at the end of the straight-away. Notice the double yellow, and it is double yellow on that entire straight.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/447Mar23_0011.jpg
If you look to the right of this picture, you can see one of the wheels of the car.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/447Mar23_0007.jpg
So, this morning I am traveling the Ortega west. It is crowded, but moving nicely. We get down into the flats where the two passing zones are and I see in my rear view mirror a car coming up from behind pass 8-10 cars in the first passing area - it was a clean pass and he got back into traffic easily. Then, he passes another 8-10 cars in the second passing zone and stays out passing all the way into a corner. Very risky, but he does it cleanly. He is now two cars behind me and there are 5 cars infront of me in which a big dump truck is leading the pack. There are no more passing zones until you get into Capistrano. But, just after the passing zone, there is a signal (Quest Dignostic - Old Nichols Institute) and it is wide and straight for almost a quarter mile.
So, right as we crest to the light and you can get a good visual of on coming traffic, he bolts out across the double yellow and goes for the massive pass. The car is a lowered Infinity G35 two door. The car is pretty fast and he is rolling 90+ (we were going 55). He goes for the entire pass all the way to the dump truck and keeps going....even though they are entering the corner!
Well, his luck ran out. Coming the other way is a double trailer gravel truck...and the truck does not make any evasion manuevers. The kid just squeezes by a red kunt hair between the dump truck and the gravel truck. But, the kid overreacts and/or is just plain too fast and his car fish-tails. He loses control and goes off the road backwards off into a ditch clearing a 4 ft fence. His car only did a half roll and smashed to a stop, upside down against the upslope of the other side of this ditch.
I pull over and see his car upside down against the upslope and I think he is dead. As I am jumping the fence to get to him, he manages to crawl out and is basically uninjured - a small bump on his head. Turns out to be an 18 year old kid and says he is a "mortgage banker" for Lending Tree. He is pretty shaken up. After a couple minutes, he says...."You know, I shouldn't have braked." I just looked at the kid and said...."Or, you could have not passed going into a blind corner doing 100 MPH?" He just looked down and started swearing to himself.
Here are the pics (they are from my camera phone...so quality is so so):
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/447Mar23_0008.jpghttp://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/447Mar23_0009.jpg
Here is looking into corner. The car is off the road on the other side of the cars on the right.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/447Mar23_0010.jpg
Here is looking at the end of the straight-away. Notice the double yellow, and it is double yellow on that entire straight.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/447Mar23_0011.jpg
If you look to the right of this picture, you can see one of the wheels of the car.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/447Mar23_0007.jpg