On top of that, a misunderstanding right after almost caused a separate T-bone collision.
Washingtonian and Redditor /u/SteamyRayVaun posted up frustrating dashcam footage from Camas, WA from earlier this week (June 6, 2024) to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit showing the harebrained moment when this driver in a Ford Escape darted out while turning left across cross traffic, almost causing a multi-car collision.
Check out the video below.
[OC] Two Idiots Shoot The Gap
byu/SteamyRayVaun inIdiotsInCars
The incident happened in Camas at the T-intersection of NW Lake Rd. and NW Sierra St. (Exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As OP’s video shows, he’s approaching the particularly busy T-intersection with NW Sierra St at around 2:30 P.M., just before local schools let out for the day.
All of a sudden, a driver in a Ford Escape turning left onto NW Lake Rd. turns at the last second as OP approaches.
Thankfully, OP had a great reaction time, slams on his brakes, and narrowly avoids T-boning the Escape.
A Ford Bronco can be seen and heard honking at the Ford Escape driver, the Bronco not as close to hitting the Escape as OP, but frustratingly close enough that warranted a hearty horn application.
If that wasn’t bad enough, a miscommunication with a driver in a red Toyota Camry waiting to turn left on NW Sierra St. causes that driver to turn left in front of OP.
“The second guy (Toyota Camry) just figured you stopped for him,” /u/fr4nkyou2 replied to a comment on the matter.
“That was pretty s****y. Second guy just dug the knife in a little deeper,” /u/Walla_Walla_26 replied.
“Good job on stopping so fast,” /u/EarlieInTheMorning complimented OP.
This is why it’s important to stay on your toes driving defensively, scanning the road ahead of you, especially when it gets a tad more complicated up ahead.
And, for turners like that Ford Escape driver, that’s just plain bad driving.
Turning left onto a T-intersection means you have to make sure there’s a big enough gap in cross traffic from both directions.
This could’ve ended up a lot worse.
Thankfully, it didn’t.
