Posted on 10/22/2010 9:12:20 AM PDT by justlurking
Driving to a Mariners game, Duane Innes saw a pickup ahead of him drift across lanes of traffic, sideswipe a concrete barrier and continue forward on the inside shoulder at about 40 mph.
A manager of Boeing's F22 fighter-jet program, Innes dodged the truck, then looked back to see that the driver was slumped over the wheel. He knew a busy intersection was just ahead, and he had to act fast. Without consulting the passengers in his minivan — "there was no time to take a vote" — Innes kicked into engineer mode.
"Basic physics: If I could get in front of him and let him hit me, the delta difference in speed would just be a few miles an hour, and we could slow down together," Innes explained.
So he pulled in front of the pickup, allowed it to rear-end his minivan and brought both vehicles safely to a stop in the pull-off lane.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
I'm glad everything worked out, but I might question whether he had the right to risk other people's lives to make a hero of himself.
That took major stones to pull off.
Great story, great post! Thanks. Another teaching moment for all of us.
this is like Democrats thanking Obama for Obamacare
They were his kids, they don’t always get a vote.
Right Stuff ping!
Innes did a good job and may have prevented many deaths and injuries. And good job for State Farm agreeing to pay the bill instead of fighting it.
Given the known physics of what he was doing there really wasn't a risk.
Basic physics. If the other vehicle was doing 40 mph and he was doing 35, the relative velocity is 5 mph. The relative velocity doesn't provide enough energy or momentum to kill; it's not even going to scratch his kids. After that, he's braking for both of them, and again it isn't going to kill anyone, since there is no further significant impact. He thought fast, he thought accurately, and he saved the lives of strangers without risking his own kids, just involving them with an up close view of doing the right thing. Personally, I think that's the best thing a parent can do for his kids.
Valid point, but unrealistic under those circumstances. I doubt many who risk their lives like this consider a cost benefit analysis before reacting. Probably a good thing, too.
I doubt if he even considered anything other than trying to end the situation with minimal damage and loss of life. I also would be willing to bet a cup of overpriced Seattle coffee the thought of being a “hero” never once crossed the gentleman’s mind. The way I see it, the situation and how a human reacts is what determines a hero, not the other way around.
I’m certainly glad this came to a good end.
Boeing’s F-22 program? Funny, my friend worked for Lockheed Martin’s F-22 program in Texas...Boeing makes the wings - I’m really just picking nits here...
Damn! That is the epitome of quick thinking. He could have just gone on and called 911, risking a multi-car wreck at the intersection the vehicle was approaching.
Sounds like his quick thinking was the right decision to avoid certain tragedy given the intersection coming up. Not sure why you accused him of trying to be a hero.
Most people would have simply rubbernecked while being paralyzed at the same time, thinking about a liability backlash.
Some do, and others think about it. gotta love professionals in whatever craft they deal in.
I’m glad everything worked out, but I might question whether he had the right to risk other people’s lives to make a hero of himself.
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“there was no time to take a vote”
Oh for the love of Christ!
Get a life, FRiend!
Exactly, nobody was at risk. He knew what he was doing. He did the right thing.
“He thought fast, he thought accurately, and he saved the lives of strangers without risking his own kids, just involving them with an up close view of doing the right thing. Personally, I think that’s the best thing a parent can do for his kids.”
Absolutely.
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