How I Got Hit by a Car Today - Ron Edmondson

We are not in a good city for running. Most roads are too narrow and we have few sidewalks or running trails. I run down a main road near my house that does have a sidewalk. Cheryl likes that because she feels I’m safer. The problem on the main road is that cars are constantly pulling in and out of businesses along the busy stretch of road.

Today I was approaching a business entrance and a jeep was pulling out. The driver was on her cell phone but at the time couldn’t pull out because of heavy traffic. I thought we made eye contact, so I went to run in front of her. About that time an oncoming car turned on his blinker to turn into the same business entrance. When the jeep saw the blinker she took off quickly (The kind of take-off that would normally squeal tires) to pull in front of the other traffic. The only problem was that I was now in front of her car.

It all happened so fast, but basically as the car went to hit me I jumped up and towards the hood of the car. I don’t know what motivated me to do so, but had I not I would have been knocked backwards into oncoming traffic or run over by the jeep. As I landed on the hood of the jeep I obviously scared the driver half to death. She slammed on her breaks, I jumped off, stumbling to my feet and twisting my ankle, but I was able to somehow keep going.

I never stopped and neither did she. I’m sore tonight with a slight headache, but otherwise seem to be okay.