What to do when someone hits a pole in front of your house? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 05-27-2008, 05:49 PM

Yesterday we were sitting and watching something on tv and there is this loud bang. So I walk out on my deck to see whats up, seeing nothing I go out front and there is a fellow who I know who happens to be a fairly prominent local citizen picking up beer and sodas from the street because he has hit the phone pole on the right side of the street out front of my house and it spilled out of his cooler in the back of his truck.

His vehicle is a very beautiful collectible truck which now has its right front wheel nearly under the firewall.

We know each other but aren't really close. I say "you ok?" he says yeah, I was talking on my cell and next thing I know wham!....and I've been drinking so if the cops come I am in trouble". I say can I do anything to help. He says "yes you can help me pick up these beers so when the cops come they won't be so obvious."

I think to myself....right....help conceal the situation....so I say "I don't think I better do that"....he says "I understand".

About then a police car pulled up behind him and I head for my house.

I saw him earlier sitting on a chair in his driveway with a bunch of folks. He had about four blocks more to go to get home all in a straight line. (A straight line that goes right by the police station).

He didn't seem drunk to me.

Damn!

Cell phones and beer don't mix (and driving).

I felt a little guilty but I figured there was no way to get it all put away before the police got there and I didn't want to get in trouble myself.

Oh, and the telephone pole is about 6" behind the curb instead of behind the sidewalk so its right out there where its really easy to hit. I nearly hit it myself maneuvering my trailer in and out of the driveway. If that pole was behind the sidewalk where it really should be he probably would never have hit it.

Tom W

Hatterasguy · #2 05-27-2008, 06:18 PM

Damn its so hard driving after a 12 pack!

Brian Carlton · #3 05-27-2008, 06:22 PM

The beer in the back of the pickup is not the problem and there's no violation for carrying it.

It's the beer that's already down the hatch that's going to get him in trouble.

And, you can help him clean up all you wish...........there's no statue against a "cleanup" AFAIK.

450slcguy · #4 05-27-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I felt a little guilty but I figured there was no way to get it all put away before the police got there and I didn't want to get in trouble myself.

Tom W

And just what would you have gotten in trouble for? You should have helped him out even though he brought the problem upon himself. I would have. But that's just me.

Hatterasguy · #5 05-27-2008, 06:25 PM

You could have asked him to keep a few. However they are all foamed up so let them sit for a bit.

aklim · #6 05-27-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

His vehicle is a very beautiful collectible truck which now has its right front wheel nearly under the firewall.

Tom. You seem like an educated guy so why are you using the wrong tense? here is how I would have stated it: His vehicle was a very beautiful collectible truck which now has its right front wheel nearly under the firewall.

t walgamuth · #7 05-27-2008, 07:51 PM

Troo dat!

Tom W

Botnst · #8 05-27-2008, 08:03 PM

Call the embassy?

B

KarTek · #9 05-27-2008, 09:15 PM

When I see someone screw up like that, there's just something inside me that kicks in and wants to keep them out of trouble. One of my neighbors is this old guy who's retired and always seems to have a beer in hand. One night, the GF and I go out a little past dark and as we are going up the road I happen to see movement on the right side, down the embankment. Since I'm always on the lookout for deer, these kind of things catch my eye but this time it's not a deer, it's the old guy struggling to get up the hill to the road. We stopped to check it out and helped the guy into my truck. He was completely sht-faced and said he was running out to get something to eat. He had gone wide on the corner and ran his truck down into the bushes. Now I realize driving drunk is a serious no-no but this is way out in the country with little chance of hurting anyone but yourself. I give him a little bit of a lecture on drunk driving, took him home, called a wrecker from the shop that was 100 yards down the road and they took care of the rest.

riorust · #10 05-27-2008, 09:18 PM

Many years ago in Northern CA, I was eating dinner when I heard a loud crash out on the secondary highway, which my house fronted on. I went out to check and see if any one needed help. Fortunately no was hurt beyond some scrapes and bruises.

It turned out that I knew the guy from my pool league and he had enjoyed a few prior to the incident. In a (misguided) effort to keep him from getting a DUI, I invited him into my house to use the phone and have a beer or 3 while waiting for the CHP. I was thinking, I could save him from a DUI if he had several beers after the crash...... it worked.

What I did not count on, was that this guy did not learn a damn thing. Roughly two years later, he wiped out on the same corner and was not so lucky this time... center punched a big redwood at about 80 and was DOA. (Blood alcohol level roughly 3x the limit)

I will never know for sure if my initial actions had any bearing on what happened some two years later, but personally, I feel they may have.

Tom......I am sure you did the right thing.

aklim · #11 05-27-2008, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riorust

What I did not count on, was that this guy did not learn a damn thing.

I will never know for sure if my initial actions had any bearing on what happened some two years later, but personally, I feel they may have.

Ya Think?

Probably not. He did what he would have done even if you didn't leave him be. Good thing he is dead and doesn't cause us any more problems

riorust · #12 05-27-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Ya Think?

Probably not. He did what he would have done even if you didn't leave him be. Good thing he is dead and doesn't cause us any more problems

You are probably right, I'm approaching 50 right now, and still working on getting rid of guilt trips instilled by so many years of Catholic Schools.

I have to agree that he won't cause any more problems, but he did leave behind a wife and a two year old daughter. They are struggling, and the daughter is unfortunately paying the price.

If this ever happens again, I'll be calling the police for sure. This is the last time this monkey will be on my back.

aklim · #13 05-27-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riorust

You are probably right, I'm approaching 50 right now, and still working on getting rid of guilt trips instilled by so many years of Catholic Schools.

I have to agree that he won't cause any more problems, but he did leave behind a wife and a two year old daughter. They are struggling, and the daughter is unfortunately paying the price.

If this ever happens again, I'll be calling the police for sure. This is the last time this monkey will be on my back.

Do what the Pope does. Shuffle it away. Don't like what Cardinal Law did? Shuffle him to another part of the world, in his case, an office in the vatican.

Well, mother should have done something and had him committed if that was possible. You can't fix everything.

Won't make a difference whether you called or not. This would have happened. This wasn't an "oopsie" where he had literally 1 beer too many. He had enough to be 3 times the legal limit. He is a habitual alcoholic.

t walgamuth · #14 05-27-2008, 10:39 PM

I figure its a good thing he hit the pole and not a person.

Tom W

Larry Delor · #15 05-27-2008, 10:43 PM

Call the power company and/or the phone and cable company.

Take pictures of the pole and the wreck. Snickering, is optional.