An Onslaught of Asshats

[naomikritzer]

I was returning from some errands today along 38th Street, west of Hiawatha. Ahead of me, an idiot decided to try to turn right in front of a (temporarily) stopped bus. He started his turn just as the bus signaled and then started to pull out. You're supposed to yield to buses as they're leaving stops anyway, so I stopped to give them plenty of space to fight it out.

And was hit from behind.

By a guy who then proceeded to flee the scene.

I got only the last three digits of his license plate (which were, I think, 271). It was a white car -- a newer sedan with one of those trunks that's kind of higher up and looks a little goofy. I don't know cars, so I have no idea what the make or model was. The cop was very honest about the fact that with only a partial, there's no way they'll find him, but if any Minneapolis residents see a white sedan with blue-green paint on the front bumper and a license plate that ends in 271, get the rest of the plate for me, would you? I would totally stalk him to try to figure out if it was the guy who hit me, because I'm still furious. (And furious at myself, for not having the presence of mind to do a better job of getting his number. For trusting him to do what civilized people do, and pull over to examine the damage.)

The damage isn't horrible, at least, merely noticeable. No one was hurt, unless you count my backache, and my seriously pissed-off state. I may walk down to Reidy's in a little while and buy myself a Powerball ticket (yes, I'm one of those people they mock in the commercials who only bothers with a lottery ticket when the jackpot is really, REALLY big) and a pint of ice cream. I'd actually prefer a baked treat of some kind, but I'm still shaken up and don't want to drive to a bakery.

And yes, I'm grateful no one was hurt (especially since both Molly and Kiera were in the car) but mostly I'm still pissed off.

Edited to add: Reidy's does not sell lottery tickets, alas. I am finding the Ben and Jerry's Phish Food ice cream to be very therapeudic, however.

Comments

[lilisonna.livejournal.com]

Asshat indeed! Glad you're more angry than hurt.

My threshold for lottery tickets has always been $100million. I figure at that point it's worth the $1.00 donation to the Georgia public school system.

[springbok1.livejournal.com]

I'm glad none of you were hurt, but that still sucks. Let me know if you need help stalking an asshat.

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

Glad none of you were hurt.

Sorry that driver wasn't hurt.

[pixelfish.livejournal.com]

When I lived in NC, I saw two hit-and-runs of the type you mention, plus one happened to me a WEEK after I bought my car. I'd stopped for a pedestrian and somebody hit me from behind. Fortunately there was no damage though.

Shortly after moving to California, I swiped somebody's car while parking, and was in the process of leaving a note, when the owner's girlfriend came up and started yelling at me. She got EXTREMELY nice once I showed her that the note was already mostly written and I was just placing it on the car.

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

Some doofus ran into my car while I was at the library, recently. The very nice people who witnessed it didn't get any plate at all.

I hope they find your person. Even if it's improbable.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear of the idiocy and I hope karma rear-ends this guy's fancy new trunk.

Glad that everyone was okay, and hope that the phish food ice cream helped.

You know, of course, that the fish are smiling? I've been known to do random checks on my helpings just to ensure that this continues to hold true.

[naomikritzer]

I had no idea. I checked a fish and didn't see a smile, but maybe that one was a fluke.

Ouch

[dtm]

That's unsettling, and the annoying insurance things over the next few days will just make things more annoying.

I'm glad that you're all okay and that your car is still driveable.

We weren't so lucky last Friday; everyone's okay, but our car is most likely totaled.

Re: Ouch

[naomikritzer]

Egads. That sounds like a much nastier accident than I had. I got broadsided (in an accident that was my fault) back in 1998. The moment where you know the car is going to hit you and there's nothing you can do about it is quite honestly one of the worst feelings in the world, even when you don't have children in your car. I can't imagine the horror if you did.

I kiss my children on the foreheads every time I buckle them in. It's both a love ritual and a superstitious warding act. Molly now insists on reciprocating, and hugs and kisses my hand after I check her seatbelt (she buckles herself into her booster seat) and kiss her.

[cnoocy]

I had Jason help me figure out the math for big lottery jackpots once. There is a magical break-even point, but it's probably obliterated by the larger number of people who buy when it gets big.

[naomikritzer]

Apparently a ton of people bought this particular set of numbers that appeared in the show Lost. Which in the show are cursed. Figure that one out: first, you've got this number that is supposed to bring you bad luck, and second, if you do win, you're going to be splitting the jackpot several thousand ways. I think it would have been hilarious if those had been the numbers that hit, but alas, they weren't.

[cnoocy]

Huh. If enough people do that (or something similar), a random number becomes more likely to win a larger amount of money. Or at least I think so.

[waterfall8484]

What a coward! Running away like that... I'm really glad you're ok, though. But please, please be careful with your neck for the next couple of days - if you've got a whiplash you might not notice it until later. (Speaking from family experience) The chance of it isn't that big, I think, but be careful just in case.

[naomikritzer]

My back has slowly recovered. It's still a little stiff but I don't think any permanent damage was done, fortunately.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

Echoing the 'glad no one was hurt' sentiment. It seems weird that anyone would bother to run when it doesn't sound like there was any enough damage to even involve insurance companies over.

It makes me wonder if he might have had an outstanding warrant or something else going that would make him reluctant to meet a cop.

[naomikritzer]

I came up with all sorts of theories later that night, from fugitive to drug dealer to illegal alien. Someone popped in today with a fugitive who meets this guy's basic description. I called the cop in that case to give him the information I've got. It will certainly make a better story later if I was slammed into by a wanted felon, rather than just some random asshole.

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. What a fuckwad. I will keep my eyes peeled, because as you know I'm in the area all the damn time.

I am so glad none of you were hurt, but I'm worried about your backache. Hope it clears up.

[naomikritzer]

It's feeling better.

[perimyndith.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. That really sucks. Asshat indeed! But I'm glad no one was hurt.

The last asshat who rearended us actually stopped to give over information, but it later turned out to be all lies. Still makes me mad.

[naomikritzer]

Oh. Oh! My blood pressure is going up just thinking about that.

[allochthon.livejournal.com]

I'm very sorry, and very glad everyone is OK.

a lead?

[fehler.livejournal.com]

Ok, this may be nothing, but I noticed the date, the description of the car, and the tendancy of people on the run not to stop and give out insurance information.

From: SAFE Precinct 3, Sector 2 [SAFE3.2@pandh.com]; on behalf of; Skrivseth, Karen [Karen.Skrivseth@ci.minneapolis.mn.us]

Subject: SAFE 3.2: Dangerous felon wanted
Date: October 20, 2005

The Minneapolis Police Department is seeking the assistance from the public in apprehending an armed and dangerous criminal.

On October 18, 2005 at 5:45 a.m., a 62-year-old woman was walking to a bus stop when she was forced into a white, 4-door vehicle by (2) black males, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The victim was driven to a nearby garage, where she was sexually assaulted. She was then forced to lead the suspects to her apartment, where they removed several items. The suspects then fled.

Later that morning in the area of 25th/ Clinton Av. S., a woman was robbed and fondled by a black male armed with a handgun. This party fled into an awaiting white, 4-door vehicle with a license that came back as a stolen auto from the city of Richfield.

Officers located the suspect vehicle, but lost it during a short pursuit. Officers found the vehicle unoccupied behind an address in the 2500-block of Clinton Av. S. Officers learned from the public that the suspects had fled into a nearby apartment. Entry was made and three suspects were arrested, but a fourth had escaped out a window. This party was identified as LAMONT TARRANCE MCGEE, 6/15/71. McGee is a black male, 5-feet, 11-inches tall, 220#, dark complexion with a goatee.

On October 19, 2005, McGee was seen by Minneapolis and Richfield police outside an address in Richfield. McGee led officers on a high-speed pursuit which resulted in his escape.

McGee is also linked to another robbery/sexual assault which occurred on October 16, 2005 in the area of 31st/ Pleasant Av. S.

McGee has a previous conviction for attempted murder and has spent time in prison in the state of Illinois. McGee is considered armed and dangerous and is a threat to the public.

Please call Sgt. Jim Spencer or Sgt. Jeff Harvey at 612-673-2748

Re: a lead?

[naomikritzer]

Huh. Well, it sounds like the white car was found in the morning and it doesn't say what kind of car he was seen in next. But who knows? I called and left a message.

Re: a lead?

[naomikritzer]

Also, if it turns out the guy was armed and dangerous, I'll feel much less bad over the fact that it didn't occur to me to leap out of the car and run to the corner to try for a better look at his number.