There was another crash near my house on Montauk Highway, a head-on collision. It didn’t look good for the victims. This was at the same spot where someone died three weeks ago.
Drive anywhere on Long Island and you’ll see crosses and monuments to people who have been killed violently, horribly. Drivers see these and still behave like maniacs. They’re in a big hurry, and it never dawns on them that despite their recklessness, we’re all going to end up at the traffic light at the same time.
Everyone I know tells the story of the moron in the pickup truck. No matter what lane you’re in, he’s gotta crawl up your butt, and if you’re not going fast enough to suit him, he weaves past you 10 feet from your bumper. This is at speeds up to 100 mph. It’s no wonder more people aren’t killed.
I’m particularly sensitive to idiots behind the wheel, having lived near “Dead Man’s Curve” between East Moriches and Center Moriches for most of my life. The wrecks I’ve seen would curl your hair. These go back to my childhood, and they still keep me up at night.
In the wee hours one morning when I was seven, I was awakened by my brother on the phone. He dialed O because there was an accident in front of the house. We went outside and saw a van smashed into a tree. Everything in the back of the van—tools, lumber—was crushed up against the driver. He lifted up a bloody hand and said, “Help me,” and then the hand dropped.
My brother yelled, “Look,” and pointed down the street. There lay the passenger, lifeless, leaving a lifelong impression on our young minds. This is one of many reasons I drive nice and slow.
A year or so later, a sports car didn’t make it around the curve and hit a tree next to the one the van hit. Flashing lights lit up the scene, and the ambulance carted off two victims. An hour later, the commotion came back. It turns out there was a third passenger who was thrown from the wreck. They found him in the woods about 100 feet away.
I don’t know what it will take for people to take it easy out there. I hope they’ll wake up to how deadly their driving can be to the rest of us.