We interrupt our normal, light chatter about our “Ole Southwest Tour” to give you a first person report of the traffic incident involving two Model A’s and an 18-wheeler.  (It’s OK – thankfully, our members and their cars are safe and uninjured.)

Janet Christensen reports:

She and Mack were coming down the north side of Poncha Pass, Colorado, after the summit, at about 40-45 mph.  There was one lane for northbound traffic and two lanes for southbound traffic.  They were approaching a curve to the right and then to the left. 

Janet noticed a semi traveling very fast coming uphill.  A truck and RV were in the right lane southbound uphill and a black jeep and a semi were trying to pass him in the inside lane..  Janet said, “Look at the semi coming up the hill too fast.”  

Just as they were getting closer to the second curve to the left, they noticed the truck driver was having a hard time controlling his rig and was in our lane and his trailer started tipping over toward us.   Mack hurriedly accelerated and moved to the right as far as possible.  There was a guard rail just ahead.  They both were afraid the semi would either tip over in front of them or fall on top of our car.   They are certain it just barely missed them by inches.  If they had been one second slower, they probably would have been hit.  

After they made it through ok, they were immediately worried about Larry and Judy Cottom who were traveling just behind them.  They pulled up a little further on the shoulder of the road  and got out to see if Larry had been able to miss the semi that had rolled on to its side against the side of the mountain.  

Larry had seen what was happening and quickly applied his brakes.  He measured his tire marks and figured he had skidded about 72 ft.  The semi came to a stop just in front of Larry and Judy.  Rocks and debris were flying everywhere but Larry was able to go around the semi and stop right in front of the crashed semi.  

Because the trailer was tipping over, it pulled the tractor over with it.  Larry, with his knowledge and career as a firefighter, quickly ran back to see if the driver was hurt.   The driver was able to climb out and was ok.  

They were all definitely protected by angels.  

Back to our normal tour news next time!