This pickup driver did the right thing, pulling over for emergency services, but almost caused their own emergency in the process.
Cowlitz County-area driver and Redditor /u/Elliot1337 shared headshaking dashcam footage from earlier last year (Oct 10, 2026) to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit showing a semi-distracted driver doing the right thing, pulling over for emergency services, but not seeing an entire vehicle right next to them while doing it.
Check out how it played out on dashcam below with the original Reddit thread linked here.
The incident happened in the 1000 block of Allen St before the intersection with 5th Ave N (Exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As the dashcam shows, OP is headed westbound down Allen St at around 6 at night when they, and other drivers, notice the reds and blues of emergency services coming from the other direction.
To facilitate their urgency, drivers begin pulling over; however, one driver, in a Chevrolet Silverado, does so without checking their mirrors or over their shoulder.
They almost slam into the side of OP.
Thankfully, OP was able to dodge the Silverado, avoiding their own accident in the process.
“Just to be clear, the truck did NOT hit me. I gradually slowed and swerved when I noticed the truck moving toward me. The bump you see/hear is me hitting and driving up on the curb/sidewalk,” OP clarified in the comments.
‘Newsflash for those who need it: if your vehicle allows an unobstructed 360° view of your surroundings by simply turning your head, there’s no such thing as a “blind spot”….aka this pickup,” /u/NitroGuy2 pointed out.
“Wow, the blind spot apologists really came out for this one,” /u/appa-ate-momo added.
In Washington, drivers must yield to approaching emergency vehicles using lights and sirens by moving as close as possible to the right edge of the roadway, clearing intersections, and stopping until the vehicle passes. On multilane roads, drivers should safely move over and create a path instead of blocking lanes or trying to “beat” the emergency vehicle through traffic.
All of the above, of course, presumes drivers will do so safely, which means signaling, checking mirrors and blind spots, and gradually moving to the side.
In Washington, making an unsafe lane change that results in a collision can lead to a traffic citation, fines typically starting around $136 or more depending on the circumstances, and potential liability for the crash. Washington does not use a traditional DMV point system, but the violation can still appear on your driving record and raise insurance rates. If the crash causes injuries or major damage, additional penalties may apply.
