Morning everyone,
I left work yesterday afternoon to go to Harveys to pickup some lunch. On the way back, I was stopped at a red light (first car, curb lane) at a busy intersection here in London Ontario for about 10 seconds and then I heard a THUD and my Ranger moved forward (I had my foot firmly on the break).
Oh Fark I thought, I looked in my rearview and saw a red Dodge Caravan, sh*t, sh*t, sh*t I thought. I put on my four ways and got of the truck. I looked at my rear bumper and couldn't see much damage, looked like it was tilted under slightly. Caravan's license plate and cover is smashed in and the bumper is all messed up. I am in Canada, and it is cold and snowy, but the road was dry, this guy should have been able to stop. I head to the drivers window and he rolls it down, "Sorry Man", he says. I reply "Sorry does not quite cover it". I ask him for some ID, his license and insurance. There might not be much damage, but I want his info in case there are things I cannot see. My plan is to take the truck to the dealership and have them give it a through look over. Guy hums and hahs, says "Hey, there is no reason to get the Police involved". This guy is either drunk or very low on the IQ scale, he is not speaking very well. I hadn't mentioned anything about the Police, I should have paid more attention to this remark. He starts to get his wallet out and suggests we turn into the parking lot as we are holding up traffic at a major intersection (Clark and Dundas for any local people). I get out a note pad and pen and write down the make, model and license plate of the van. I then get back into my truck and turn into the parking lot. He does not. The third car does turn in and stops to talk to me. The lady asks, "Was he supposed to follow you in here?" I reply "Yes he was". "He left", she says. She asks if I got the license plate and gives me a note with her name, number and what she wrote down.
I go into a store to use the phone, I call the police. The police are there in about 15 minutes. I am with the police for about 45 minutes as they take a report. They show me a picture of the guy and ask if it is him, I say it is. He is known to them. He has no license and is under suspension. The dispatch a cruiser to his house to keep an eye on it to make sure he does not go out.
I am asked to follow the officer to the goof balls house and to wait nearby in case I have to identify him.
With two cruisers outside his house, I wait in a nearby parking lot about another 45 minutes. Finally the police come out and I speak with the officer. I am told they are calling him an ambulance as when they were talking with him, he was fading in and out. They cannot charge him with DUI because he was home alone for a period of time and could have started drinking when he got home. He does have 5 previous DUI's, a suspended license, no insurance, and was probably drunk at the time. He was charged under our Federal law with Leaving the Scene of an Accident, which is a pretty serious charge. I am told that I might be called to trial if this goes to court.
The officer was very nice, polite and courteous. He thanks me for waiting around and for the help I have been.
When I got home I called my brother (GM of a car dealership) to see when I can get my truck in for a full once over. There doesn't seem to be any damage, and if the guy had just given me any info, that might have been the end of it.
This ruined my Day. I never did have lunch yesterday and I hope there isn't anything wrong with my truck.
What an idiot.
David.