I had a scary episode while on Interstate 90, in the NW suburbs of Chicago today. I was traveling west (or NW if you may) and had just paid my toll, and as I got back up to speed (70mph), I noticed a new white Camaro, in the inside lane about 30 ft back, traveling at the same speed, when I just happened to see a something black and large, start flying across the median of the Interstate from the opposing traffic. The item started to "frisbee" toward us, and the Camaro and I slowed drastically, and as it when by in front of us, about 50 ft away, I identified it. A pickup truck had lost its formed bed liner, with cargo, and that was what just missed us. It flew completely across the interstate and landed on our side, past the paved shoulder, into the grassy area. As the Camaro came up next to me, I saw 2 teens in the car, with "pie pan" eyes, and they were kinda laughing. I wasn't! I pulled off, onto the shoulder, and just said my, thanks. Lesson learned? ALWAYS be aware, even of the oncoming traffic........

 

Way to stay alert!

I had a half sheet of plywood fly off of the truck in front of me and at speed (50-ish). A quick look for surounding traffic, flip of the wheel and it missed me by inches. Guy behind me caught up (he had the same "pie pan" eyes) and was pumping his fist with the thumbs up sign to me.
If I was driving the truck I think it would have hit me.

 

Several years ago I guy I used to race bicycles with was on a training ride, heading home on Pacific Coast Highway along Bolsa Chica State Beach just north of Huntington Beach. PCH is 4 lanes wide with a center divider there, flat and straight for a little over a mile, speed limit is 50mph. He's headed north in the bike lane doing probably 30mph (strong guy, usually favorable winds) when out of the blue he gets thrown to the ground. He had absolutely no clue what happened, but a car stopped immediately and said that a car headed southbound with a surf board on the roof apparently didn't have it strapped down very well. It went airborne, really airborne, and came down on my buddy. He never saw it, but the guys in the car that stopped to help him saw everything. He was a little scraped up (well, OK, a lot scraped up, but nothing worse than any of us had experienced at some time in a race) but otherwise fine. The guys that stopped asked him if they could keep the board.

 

Last year driving up I95 with Ashley, there was a pickup in front of us with bails of hay. Several flew off in front of us. I missed them, but a couple of cars behind us got nailed.

I call 911 because the idiot wouldn't stop. FHP came cruisin up within 5 minutes and pulled him over. The guy knew they had dropped 4 or 5 bails.

 

Our oldest was driving with myself, our other 2 kids and children from 2 other families. Going over a very long bridge on I75/Flint. By this point the center wall was pretty high to prevent oncoming traffic's lights from getting into your eyes. From over this center wall comes a wheel with tire mounted flying in the air.
Some butt hole didn't secure it down, now it was the luck of the draw as to who would get nailed.
Bless our daughter she just kept going same speed and direction. I watched it bounce evenly onto the tread about 15' in front of us. then bounce up and over us, again onto the tread between cars then off to the edge. No cars were hit.
I just kept thinking in their haste they would have damaged 3 families in our car and who knows whom else in the ones behind us. Don't you ever wonder how ofter we actually miss these things due to some random act, like looking for keys or talking on the phone longer?

 

Many years ago I was a CHP motor officer in South Los Angeles. One boring Sunday on I 405 I found my self following a truck with no tailgate, hauling a very large load of aquariums with only one rope around the back side. As I lazily watched I realized this was a very unsafe load and I was right behind it. About that time the truck hit a pavement joiint and the the whole darn load began falling. I couldn't do anything but hunker down behind my windshield as I started running over the tanks. At least they all were breaking and folding up so it wasn't a really big problem, but the ticket and butt chewing the driver got sure was.

 

Im glad you are safe and sound Howard.

 

Howard, I'm glad there were no incidents as a result of this, but I'm glad I didn't join you today...

 

I'm glad you got by unscathed! Your story reminds me of my test drive in my Crossfire. I had just pulled onto I-35 in Overland Park, KS just at the beginning of rush hour. I was driving about 65-70 mpy and was about seven car-lengths behind the pickup in front of me. All of a sudden, a stove falls out of its bed and parts went flying everywhere as it slid down the highway.

There were cars to the left, cars to the right, and headlights in the rearview mirror. I just slowed down at the same rate stove slowed down and prayed that the driver of the truck behind me was paying attention. As you know, there's not much distance between the rear bumper and the seats. Luckily, nothing hit the body of the car and we were able to change lanes and get on our way. My heart, as well as the salesman's, were racing.

 

It didn't happen right in front of me but Tuesday a truck had dropped two large rolls of carpet in the left exit lane, just as I was ready to enter my right exit lane. Many folks maneuvering in front of me to get around the mess. This right after I had passed another vehicle stopped in the left breakdown area picking up HIS dropped load and securing the rest

Maybe people should be required to show they can secure a load before they get a truck licence :ugh:

 

So glad this occurence did not have a horrible ending! The accompanying posts can make us all more alert. It is too easy to forget how important it is to stay aware to the unexpected on the highway - and simply everywhere. That event is the kind of thing you never forget.............. Happy that you and your XFire are still rolling! Alicia

 

Unsecured loads can be a real hazarxd. I have been guilty of it myself.

Big hardware store went out of business. I bought a full bale of 3/4 re-bar and had it loaded on my Dodge pickup. Rods were 10 feet long and my bed was eight, but with the tailgate down it did not extend much past the end. Bundle weighed about 500 LBs and seemed rock solid.

Driving home was all local streets, 30 MPH, so I did not secure the load. As I pulled away from a stoplight, the entire bundle slid right out in one piece, landing right in front of a police cruiser.

Not only did I do this foolishness in front of a Cop, but my truckplates were expired.

The officer helped me reload the bundle, piece by piece. All 100 pieces. Then sent me on my way. We later became frends (he ran security for our subdivision) and I asked him about the expired plates.
"I can't believe you didn't notice them?' I asked.
"Yep but you were having enough issues that day."

Got lucky that day. And so apparently, did anybody behind me.