Another Death in the Community: This One Was Avoidable

Michael D. "Mike" Willhite's is one of three funerals this week in Sauk Centre's Catholic parishes.

According to a St. Cloud Times article (January 6, 2010)

"The driver of a roadside service truck was seriously injured Tuesday night after a pickup struck his vehicle.

"Michael D. Willhite, 49, of Sauk Centre was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital after the crash was reported at 9:27 p.m. on Interstate Highway 94, two miles east of Melrose.

"The service truck was traveling west when it was struck from behind, according to the State Patrol. The truck was slowing down in the right lane arriving at a service call that was on the right shoulder. The patrol said a semitrailer had stalled...."

The article says the pickup driver "was not able to react in time to avoid striking the service truck, according to the patrol."

And, that as of Wednesday last week, the patrol was still investigating the accident.

Why Write About This?

First, my condolences to relatives and friends of Mr. Willhite.

Second, without making any assumptions about how this accident happened: something to think about.

I haven't heard the term, "highway hypnosis" for a long, long time. And it's been a while since I read anything about driver fatigue or other safety concerns in the news. Not that I was looking for that sort of thing.

I do, however, drive fairly often, on and off the Interstate. And once in a while I notice a driver whose front bumper is awfully close to the back of the next vehicle. The word was "tailgating" in my youth. Tailgate parties: no problem. Tailgating on the road? It was a bad idea then, and it's a bad idea now.

I've gotten to close to a leading vehicle myself - it can happen. But it's one of the things on my 'don't do this' list.

Back Off: You Can Live With Three Seconds

At the risk of sounding like a killjoy, I suggest backing off.

If you're in a hurry, particularly on the Interstate, you've got the option of passing the vehicle in front of you. That's what the "left" lane is for. Obviously, on two-way roads, some extra care should be taken to make sure you don't run into someone coming the other way.

If you can't pass, or don't feel like it: be far enough back so that you can count off three seconds between the time the lead vehicle passes an object, and you do. Not my idea: It's from MinnDot. They suggest saying "one Minnesota, two Minnesota, three Minnesota" - but just about any three-or-four-syllable word between the numbers will do.

You can have lightning reflexes and all that - but at some point physics and biology make it simply impossible to stop in time. The fellow behind Mike Willhite may have had a fast reaction time, too, you know.

More:

• "BE SAFE - BACK OFF"
  Highway 55 Tailgating Safety Project, Minnesota Department of Transportation (December 2006)

Catching up: Sunday, March 2, 2008

I noticed a poem that my father wrote down, and taped to the computer cabinet:

Autumn Yard Work (II)
Life passing
Leaves falling
Birds flying
Clouds floating
I'm waiting
Rejoicing

We (#2 daughter) packed the van. It took about an hour and a half. The two of us went into town, and visited with my father. #2 daughter played the violin: she's getting pretty good at that.

Next stop, Moorhead, where #2 daughter changed for church, then Mass at St. Mary's in Fargo, back to college to drop #2 daughter off, and so onto the Interstate, headed back to Sauk Centre.

I got to Fergus Falls about 5:15. By then, I'd seen about a half-dozen vehicles off the road: on its roof, another, by the Fergus Falls exit I used, on its side. The road was slick in spots, with a strong crosswind and blowing snow.

I just about had my own accident, by the Fergus Falls exit. The driver in front of me decided to use the exit too, and slowed down to well under 35 mph. On the Interstate. That's when I discovered that the road was slick. It's never a good sign, when the speedometer shows zero mph, and the landscape is still going by.

That was exciting.

I took a meal break in Fergus: Debbie's Home Style Kitchen (really nice place to eat). My nerves needed a rest. It had been white-knuckle driving to that point. Someone at Debbie's told me that she'd gotten a call from her husband, who was traveling in the Red River Valley. He'd been out of breath, from helping someone with a car. Between Fargo and Grand Forks, he'd counted about 35 vehicles off the road.

And so, at last, back to Sauk Centre and home. I was glad to be back.

Tuesday: Due to Lack of Interest, Monday was Cancelled this Week

My wife took daughter #3 and our son to the clinic Monday, and found out what's been making them feel miserable. They've got strep. Strep throat, to be a little more formal. Streptococcal sore throat, if one is going to be downright stuffy.

That kept my boy out of school yesterday: and meant that he won't be Comet in the show. He took it quite well. Being distracted by strep helped, I think.

The kids are taking antibiotics now. Most bugs don't warrant that sort of response, but strep does, in my opinion. My wife had me pick up medication for her at Wal-Mart today. Looks like she's hopping on the strep bandwagon.

I suppose my turn's next. That might explain why I've been feeling the way I do.

I didn't repeat Sunday's experience at the end of the driveway again, but I came close. It took two tries to get out, on my way to Wal-Mart. Coming back, I came within an ace of blocking the driveway again.

So, when I get inside, my son asks me if I picked up his book at the library.

I'd forgotten.

So, back into the van, out the driveway, and to the library. Ash street is plowed, but slick. Winter driving rules definitely apply. At the library, I learned that my boy's book was in - at St. Cloud. That's about 45 miles away. We've got a regional library system, and somehow his book had been flagged for delivery at the central location.

Back to the van. With about a half-foot of snowfall and stuff from the street near the curb, I had to be extra-careful at that point of my walk. Which meant that I was bent over for a good view of the ground, carefully planting each foot and my cane to ensure solid footing, and taking it slowly.

I'm really glad to live in a place like this. I was about half-way through the curb crossing process when a young woman asked if I needed assistance.

Snow in the driveway failed to stop me, for the fourth time today. Snowplows have been going up and down Ash street, a mixed blessing:

• The street is relatively free of snow
• Thanks to repeated shaving of the snow, it's a trifle slippery in spots
• Each time a plow goes by, those ramparts in driveways get refreshed.

I'm glad those plows are out, just the same: four inches or so of snow on an arterial street, would be a major headache, at best.

We got an automated call from Sauk Centre Schools this afternoon: School was closing at the normal time, but all after-school activities were canceled. Smart move.

I hope to have some photos on "Sauk Centre Journal," later on.

Sunday: Snow, Advent, Grilling, and Family

Our #1 daughter got a ride to Sauk Centre again today, so we saw her in church. Technically, I saw her in church. My boy and #3 daughter aren't feeling too well, and my wife decided to stay with them. Good idea, I'd say.

I know better than this: city plows were out last night, clearing the streets, and putting up a rampart at the end of each driveway. Including ours. It wasn't much of a barrier, but this morning it was enough.

There was enough traffic on Ash street for me to be slow and careful, backing out the driveway. Too slow, as it turns out. I got the van's front wheels into the gutter, and there they stayed. Frustrating. I had a limited number of minutes left before Mass started, and - rather more urgently - the family van's rear end was sticking a couple of yards out into the street.

As if to add to the pathos, the garage door had decided that it would close, and then open again. I remember when people lifted and lowered their own garage doors: but we get used to these mechanical servants operating flawlessly.

I was considering my (limited) options, when a family we know showed up. Two of them were trying to push the van out while I steered.

Around that time, a young man I don't know showed up and helped push. Also, a young woman parked across the street, walked over and suggested that it might be better if she drove.

By that time, floor mats had been removed from the van and were in use as traction surfaces.

The young lady got behind the wheel, the three neighbors pushed, and the van was free. I finally caught on: that young woman weighs about half what I do, maybe less. That likely made the difference.

The rest of the trip to and from church was uneventful, happily.

#1 daughter and I came home together, she shoveled a square yard or so in front of the grill, and stayed inside to warm up while I went out to grill the burgers.

#1 daughter's ride showed up after lunch, the rest of the day went quietly, apart from some snowmobiles whizzing by. I hope that our son is feeling better tomorrow.

I'll have a few photos of this winter's first serious snow at my Sauk Centre Journal: by about 5:00 Monday afternoon - Central time, USA."