My collecting activities were almost cut off abruptly a week ago last Thursday afternoon. I had to leap straight back to get out of the way of a white pickup truck quickly accelerating into a left turn directly at me as I was myself crossing the street on foot. (We were on opposite sides of the street when I stepped out to cross.) The driver must have been making the rookie mistake of still looking to his right to make sure there were no cars coming rather than looking where he was driving (which was directly at me). But like I say he was actually speeding up so I had to spring backward to get out of the way. I landed on my back and smacked the back of my head hard enough on the asphalt to draw blood. I don't remember ever taking a harder rap on the head. Other pedestrians helped me up because I was temporarily dazed and would likely not have beaten the ten count unaided.
And no, the driver did not stop.
A police car arrived on the scene a minute later but the cops themselves didn't actually see the incident though there were other witnesses. One of the officers bandaged up my little finger from which I was bleeding and spoke with me for thirty minutes to make sure I was lucid and not concussed. They called an ambulance initially but then called it off after about forty minutes. They then drove me a couple of blocks to the Freshco supermarket to which I'd been going and left me with instructions to head to Emergency if I showed any concussion symptoms at all over the next couple of days.
But other than a small tender spot on the back of my head and scraped hands, I believe I'm fine. No headaches or dizziness since. The more I think about it though, the more clearly I realize how lucky I am to have escaped very serious injury. I'm actually surprised I managed to spring backward in time to avoid being hit. And I'm very lucky I wasn't closer to the curb because my head struck softer asphalt as opposed to the hard concrete curb.
:-\
Be thankful today for your cat-like reflexes, Hepcat. Would've been sad to lose you.
Wow, I'm glad you're ok.
Hey Hep, glad you're ok. Honestly, this must be an unfortunate sign of the times, you wouldn't believe some of the things I see here where I live almost on a daily basis. Probably a good percentage of these drivers here don't have a valid drivers license, let alone insurance. And whoever taught them to drive is of questionable ability. I realize bad drivers have been around for a long, long time, but here where I live, as with you there, cross the streets at your own risk. I've said many times (and still do), that the city of Reading PA. just might as well take down the stop signs, as well as speed limits.
Glad to hear you're OK Hepcat. Toronto drivers leave a lot to be desired particularly when they're talking on their phones >:( .
As others have posted, I'm pleased you're not seriously hurt! I've never been to Toronto , but drivers there sound like many drivers in other big cities I've seen. Take fellow Monster Kid!
RF
Thank you all for your concern! It's much appreciated.
It's actually been one of those things that makes a person stop to smell the roses and really appreciate all the good things one has, the most important being one's health!
:)
Glad to hear you're alright and doing fine. You have nine lives...don't use them all at once, lol.