As I traveled through Wood County to Ohio May 5, I decided to pass the slow-moving car in front of me. Luckily, I looked over my shoulder that third time as I pulled into the fast lane. And there he was.
If I had continued my move into that lane without again looking, I suspect he, me and my 3-year-old granddaughter would have been dead. He was too close to have avoided hitting me.
I had just driven over a rise, well-aware of the traffic around me. However, he must have been doing at least 90 miles per hour. And since he wasn't using lights or siren, I had no idea to expect him to be there.
It's for this reason that Virginia requires all officers responding to a call to use lights and siren. It required the death of a teacher and his father to make that law. The officer hit the teacher's car so hard the seats broke off their bases in the vehicle and threw the men from the car.
I guess it will require the death of someone like me and my granddaughter to force common sense on our officers, too. I'm just glad it wasn't me and my granddaughter this time. He ought to be glad it wasn't him, too.
Anne McCulloch
Charleston
