On the Road
Last night, while driving west on 6th Street past Lavaca, my car came close to hitting pedestrian State Rep. Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, who was not using a crosswalk. I thought this was bizarre happenstance. A few months ago I came within a foot of hitting House Speaker Tom Craddick on 10th Street. As a result of these events, I am starting a new series called "Lawmakers I Almost Run-over", or L.I.A.R.
We'll begin with the first two entries.
Lawmaker: Patrick Rose, October 10th, 2007, approx. 6:12pm
Situation: Car traveling west on 6th. Had begun to accelerate after turning onto 6th from Colorado. Dark-haired man is crossing the street at a walk/slow jog, probably headed to Austin bar, The Belmont.
Chance of actual impact (on 1-10 scale): 3. Rose had almost made it across the street when I drove by.
Lawmaker: Tom Craddick, August 30th, 2007, approx. 6:24pm
Situation: Exited parking garage at 10th and Brazos and car was traveling west at a downward slope toward Congress Ave. As if out of nowhere, a man on his cellphone sneaks into crosswalk to my left. I slam on brakes as light turns red and realize it's the Speaker.
Chance of actual impact: 8. We came close enough to each other to lock eyes for a second.
If you have a LIAR experience, please write me and I will include it in the series.
Comments
Elise, this L.I.A.R. series you plan on starting may attest to the fact that you're not a very good driver. Just a suggestion..=)
Posted by: Shabaz (Senate Messenger) | October 13, 2007 2:41 AM
Elise,
Although my L.I.A.R. experience doesn't involve members who work in the statehouse I did almost hit councilman Brewster McCracken on Friday evening as I drove down Guadlaupe and he came peeling out of city hall's parking garage in his white Benz.
I guess fighting to make panhandling illegal, pushing for city subsidized parking, and more or less being complicit in the selling of Austin soul in general will make one blindly speed out of parking garages without looking for oncoming traffic.
Posted by: Baconnachos | October 15, 2007 3:56 PM