"Skywise" wrote

Actually, I think what it is, is that 99% of people would just shrug
their shoulders at such stuff and never think another thought about
it. I just happen to give a $&!^ about what goes on in my world
more than most (or so it seems at times). Perhaps I have an overly
developed sense of right & wrong & justice?

It sounds all normal {I think g} to me. I would likely react the same
way...

A few years ago, I had a strange encounter, that had me playing the citizen
cop.

I was on a 140 mile bike cross-country, on a 4 lane highway with cross
roads. I came upon a terrible head-on, with a lady laying out on the
ground, and a passer-by trying to help her. I stopped and asked if help was
on the way, and they said, "yes, but did I see a smashed up car going past
me, the other way?"

I said, "yes, there was a car laying out a big smoke-steam cloud," and
described the car. They said "yes, that was the one." I pulled a quick
U-turn, and went after the car. It had maybe a 2 mile head start, but I
could still smell the lingering smoke in the air.

I went weaving in and out of the traffic, at a very high rate of speed. The
smell was getting stronger, but suddenly, at a crossroads, I lost the smell.
I guessed right turn, but could not pick up the scent. I doubled back, and
turned the other way, but no luck.

There happened to be a state highway patrol station between the place of
losing the smell and the scene of the accident. I pulled in there and
reported what I had done, and where I lost the smell. I went on my way,
having done all that I could do.

At the end of the weekend, I stopped by the same station, and asked how it
had all turned out. They said, "Oh, you are the guy that tracked him down.
Yes, we found his car in the parking lot on that corner where you lost the
smell. We waited about an hour, and he came out of the store, and we
arrested him for drunk driving and hit-and-run. Thanks for your help. The
lady that got hit is doing fine, also."

It felt good, helping to fix a wrong. It was also fun, doing a high speed
pursuit, perhaps a bad idea, but I felt justified.

If I "HAD" gotten caught, would I have been arrested, and the book thrown at
me? I always have wondered. g
--
Jim in NC