I almost killed a Little 6 year-old Girl today.

[BlueJazz]

...Course it doesn't really matter about a persons age...anyway..

I was headed to the store this afternoon on a very busy hi-way (6 Lanes)
...doing about 50-55...came up to a intersection...I had the green light...

A mother and her daughter were waiting to cross the street.
The Daughter (as I learned later) saw her friend across the roadway.
She ran out in front of me...and I mean, I was one..maybe 2 seconds away from her little body.
I jerk the wheel hard to the right// (She was running from right to left and I knew if I turn right, it would be all over.

The abolutely terrifing thing is I missed her by 3..4 inches and she passed UNDER my left side mirror.

I actually saw her face pass by my left window..Close.

I gained control... pulled into a parking lot and ran back to the intersection where her mother was in tears (with Daughter) and She thanked me and all that...(We had a little talk).

After the Near Killing/Nightmare..I pulled into a Gas Station and bought Gas..
I didn't seem to mind the high Cost.... :) :) :)

[XemaSab]

1. How TERRIFYING.

:(

Hitting a pedestrian or bicyclist is about my worst nightmare.

[Arugula Latte]

2. Good gawd!

Talk about terrifying! :scared:

So glad you missed her! Good job driving! :toast:

[NJmaverick]

3. WOW! Thank God you had quick reflexes

[u4ic]

4. Holy sh*t

I would be shaking for days if something like that happened.

I think that mother will be holding her daughter very tightly tonight, and also the next time they cross the street together.

[cordelia]

5. I am so glad things turned out as well as they did.

I am sorry for what you must be going through, as well as any other parties. Some good vibes - be happy you are a responsible driver.

And to think of that pity party I've been for myself for scratching my rear bumper Tuesday.

I'm just glad are all alive and unhurt.

Take good care.

[Ptah]

6. Wow.

Thanks for being an attentive driver.

[DS1]

7. Nice driving

[bigwillq]

8. At least everyone is ok.

That must've been terrifying. :hug:

[zanne]

9. Oh My God...

Kudos to you for keeping it together during that horrible moment. That made the difference between life and death for that little girl. You're a hero, BlueJazz.

[Lasher]

10. You were a real hero today.

Nothing can justify our lives more than saving the life of another.

[mikita]

11. yikes

gave me goosebumps reading your story.

What scares me is that I don't believe my reflexes are that quick anymore.

Good on ya.

[ThomCat]

12. I am so glad that you had enough control to avoid her.

:hug:

That is horrifying! I hope you're okay.

[electron_blue]

13. omg, my knees would still be jelly had I been the driver (or mom)

As the parent of a 6 yr old girl, this hits home. At that age they have that taste of independence and you're fooled into thinking they don't need to hold your hand all the time (when crossing roads, anyway). I'll be holding my daughter's hand extra tight when we cross.

[BlueJazz]

14. Thanks so much to all of you...I've been in a "Daze" since it happened......

..I feel gloriously happy with life right now...

[madeline_con]

15. A word to the Mutha....

hold your kid's hand, or ARM if they tend to dart.

[driver8]

16. Wow -- glad that everyone is ok.

I cannot imagine how terrifying that must have been.

[Schema Thing]

17. good god man!

Glad it turned out ok.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

18. way to swerve and miss !! -- dayum!!

:scared: and keep things in perspective. :wow: I bet your heart skipped a few beats :D :hug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. Jeeeeeezus!

I would've been shaking like a leaf after that!

I'm glad you're both ok. :hug::hug::hug:

[LibDemAlways]

20. That had to be terrifying. I was once

doing 25 down my parent's street in a quiet residential neighborhood, and a little girl who was pushing her baby brother or sister in a stroller along the sidewalk decided to push the stroller out into the street - right in front of my car. I swerved and managed to avoid hitting it, but I shook for a long time afterwards. It was totally preventable by the way. The little girl's mother was about half a block behind and had stopped to chat with somebody on her cell phone.

I'm glad your story had a good outcome as well.

[emilyg]

21. Makes you realize what's really important.

[BlueJazz]

22. Boy...Ain't that the Truth !

Any other problems I have seem "quite OK" now.. :)

[stuntcat]

23. omg

that's TERRIFYING.. SO many things could have happened, all kinds of horrible outcomes :scared:

[skygazer]

24. Wow.... just wow....

I've often wondered how a person learns to live with accidentally killing or injuring someone - I am SO glad you don't have to find out.

What a terrifying experience - and I can't imagine how the kid's mother felt, seeing it. :scared:



Gahhhhh.... I'm all creeped out now.....

[GreenPartyVoter]

25. One of the many reasons I don't wanna drive. Glad it ended ok *hugs*

[BlueIris]

26. Drive at a speed which is cautious and prudent at all times.

Jesus Christ.

[zingaro]

27. That made me shudder, and then

when I stopped to consider the wide-reaching ripple effects your split-second reflexive action had on how many lives (yours, that families, the friend watching and that family, all the families who know them, anyone who might have worked that scene and their families, any of us here who might have followed the story...) I shuddered some more.

Damn that's a profound story. I am grateful it had a happy ending.

[suninvited]

28. A horrible story with a good ending

it is a good thing you had such fast reflexes. We all have to learn to be good defensive drivers, because so many times these situations dont end so well. I will be that mother will have daughter in hand from now on near the road, a good lesson for her !

[Whoa_Nelly]

29. Amazing story!

And happy ending!

*WoW* what a shake-up for everyone! :hug: :hug: :hug:

[KSinTX]

30. You go, Cool Hand Blue! Nice reflexes.

[av8rdave]

31. OMG! How scary!

Great job avoiding what sounds like the nearly unavoidable. She and her mom were very lucky you were at the wheel.

I'm sure it will take some time for the nerves to calm, but when they do, give yourself a pat on the back!

[Iris]

32. Awful, but I love that you and the mom obviously had a civilized exchange despite the high emotions

that were involved!

[lunatica]

33. I had a similar experience twice

Two kids stepped out from a median which was made of raised sets of flowerpots which were taller than they were. I did the same thing. I swerved away from them. Another time I was at a stoplight and the light turned green and I started to go when I saw the very tip of a kid's head crossing right in front of the hood of my car. I still feel a cold sweat when I think that I could have been looking in any other direction and I would have never seen them. It's also possible that I saw them because I'm a cautious driver (I learned to drive in Mexico where you have to be aware of 360 degrees around you).

:scared: