EVOLUTION

It was dark when I left home for Auckland this morning but the weather was clear and the roads dry.

Just south of  Whangarei I could see, up ahead something that didn’t look quite right. A vehicle’s tail-lights were off to the left of the road and were a bit askew and headlights were shining at an odd angle illuminating some trees. Rounding a sweeping turn I had to brake suddenly and swerve as a truck-driver jumped out of the cab of his truck that was stopped on the bend. There were other trucks and vehicles stopped on either side of the road. 

 

Another driver ran across the road and into a field where a truck and trailer unit lay on its side almost upside down. It looked like a large wounded animal, the steam rising from the crushed bonnet making a hissing and whistling sound. The wheels were still slightly spinning. Another vehicle was also off the road a few metres from the big truck.

All I could see was the underside of it. It was a surprising sight, one that you feel you shouldn’t be seeing. We don’t normally see vehicles from that angle and it reminded me of seeing the back-yards of peoples homes when traveling by train.

I considered stopping but there were already many people there, some with cell-phones in their hands. Another ‘rubber-necker’ wasn’t needed. I continued on to Auckland thinking that as this accident had only happened minutes earlier, if I hadn’t stopped for petrol in Whangarei I might have been involved in this.

The headlights of following cars fell back a bit as they slowed and continued on at a lower speed than previously. To me they personified guilt but it was more likely anxiety and concern.

I hope the driver(s) are OK.