This could easily have been me...

This Could Easily Have Been Me
Neal Ross
27 August 2007


I am pretty sure that, by now, everyone knows that I am pretty opinionated when it comes to the issue of immigration. I truly believe that our government has got to get its collective act together concerning this countries immigration policy or else this country just is not going to survive.

When I say immigration policy, I used to be referring to illegal aliens, not any more. Our countries immigration policy needs to be reformed in regards to any and all who wish to come here, whether it be to become citizens, those who come here temporarily to work, or those who are here with a green card, but have no desire to become citizens.

Every immigrant who enters into this country must be required to obey the laws of this country or they must leave, either voluntarily or escorted home, never to be allowed to come back again. I don't care about ripping apart families, that sob story doesn't cut it with me, not any more.

Today as I was driving home from work, I witnessed an accident. I was driving over a bridge that spans the river that divides two local cities I have to pass through. The speed limit on the bridge is 45 mph and as you come down into town it drops down to 35 mph.

I was in the far right lane, which allows me to make a right turn to continue heading south on the highway that runs through town. As I was slowing down I looked into my rear view mirror and saw a Ford van in the far left lane coming down the bridge at a high rate of speed. I thought to myself, 'That asshole better slow down". Before the thought was finished the van was coming up upon vehicles that were stopped for a red light up ahead.

I don't know if the driver wasn't paying attention, or if he thought traffic was going to start moving, but he never hit his brakes, (I watched for the brake lights). At the last minute he must have realized that there were vehicles in front of him that weren't moving. The van swerved to the right, whether in an attempt to change lanes or to squeeze in between the two stopped vehicles, I will never know. Whatever the case, it didn't make it. It plowed into a stopped Toyota truck going at least 55 mph. It hit so hard the rear end of the van came up off the ground and the Toyota was shoved forward, causing it to rear end a Ford passenger car.

As I was coming down the bridge, I noticed that people were just driving by gawking. I thought, "Damn, nobody is going to stop to be a witness.", so I pulled into a Midas Brake Shop and parked my truck.

As soon as I got out of my truck some of the mechanics at the Midas place were screaming, "The (expletive) driver is running away, get him." About four of them ran over and caught up with the guy and surrounded him, to make sure he sat down until the police arrived.

While I awaited the police I walked over to the side of the road to check out the damage. The entire front end on the drivers side of the van was demolished and radiator fluid was spilling onto the ground. The Toyota's rear end, including about half the length of the bed, was crushed down to were the bumper was imbedded in the rear tires. It had been hit so hard that the spare tire had been knocked loose and was laying in the median. The Ford sustained minor rear end damage, but I know, having been rear ended myself by someone doing only 25 mph, that it was still going to run about $900-$1500 to repair it. The Toyota must have been a total loss.

Finally I looked over towards the driver, and the passenger, who had finally gotten out of the van and joined the driver. Guess what? They were both Hispanic. I am not going to deny that the first thing that crossed my mind was that they were illegal aliens.

Finally the police and ambulance showed up and the investigative officer asked if there were any witnesses. I came forward and told him I saw what had happened and he told me to wait a few minutes while he shot some pictures.

While the investigative officer took his pictures I saw the other officers collecting ID's and info from the people involved in the accident. I never saw the occupants of the van give them anything. I don't know if they didn't have ID, or if they had already given it to the offiecers. I did hear them trying to answer the officers in Spanish and I kept hearing the driver say, No hablo Ingles, (I don't speak English).

Right then my blood pressure shot up. What the hell is this guy doing driving if he cannot understand English? How can he understand road signs if he can't read them. So here we have an immigrant, legal or illegal, who cares at this point, that was driving in a manner that showed total disregard for public safety, and he does not speak English.

To top it all off, they loaded this scumbag onto a backboard and into the ambulance to take him to the hospital. How much do you want to bet he has no health insurance?

I may never know if the driver of that van was an illegal alien or if he was here legally, it doesn't really matter. What matters is that he is guilty of violating numerous traffic laws, and then trying to evade capture after doing so.

The United States does not need people like that coming into our country. I don't care if this s.o.b. is doing a job no American will do. He showed he has no regard for the public safety by his reckless driving.

It could very easily have been me that was rear ended, and that sharpened my focus on this issue. I have seen, firsthand now, how immigrants, whether they be legal or illegal, must be expected to obey our laws. This is still the United States of America and anyone who wishes to come here must respect those laws or get the hell out!

It will be interesting to see if the newspaper makes mention of this accident and whether or not he was a legal or illegal alien. It will also be interesting if I am called to be a witness in a trial if mention is made of that as well.

The thing that struck me as I was driving the rest of the way home is that it could have been me. That van could just have easily have been in my lane instead. The next time something like this happens it might be you, or someone you care about. It is time for every American who cares about our country, or just for their own personal safety, to get off their butts and demand that our government begin representing us, and not the immigrants who have no regard for the laws of our country. Otherwise it may be you or someone you care about that is hurt next time. I have been given a wake up call, don't wait until you get yours. Act now....