ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 6, 1997 TAG: 9703060027
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BEN MARTIN
RECENTLY, motorists near Interstate 581 and Peters Creek Road were spared a potentially fatal accident.
As I was traveling home on 581, a black truck in the left lane passed me. My speed was 60 mph; this truck passed me in what seemed a flash. I slowed when I noticed that the driver abruptly changed lanes a few cars down the road. This erratic behavior, I feared, could create a nightmare.
On the Peters Creek South entrance ramp, which is the second Peters Creek exit, this driver passed a white car, almost sending it off the road. My first thought was that the driver of the car had angered the other motorist, sparking an insane rage.
When the white car finally entered Peters Creek Road, the driver dashed immediately for the entrance ramp back onto I-581 in an attempt to escape the truck. It did not work. The driver of the truck managed narrowly to pass and intercept the car on the ramp. He slammed on this breaks, turning the truck around in the opposite direction.
I was in the left lane. I passed the driver of the white car, who had been forced back onto Peters Creek Road. The driver of this vehicle was a female. A very frightened female.
At this point, I was convinced the man in the truck was angry enough to kill someone.
As I continued home in front of the two vehicles, I noticed through the rearview mirror that both cars had turned onto Northside High School Road. If she was picking up a child at school, I reasoned, there could be trouble. I turned around and followed them.
Fortunately, the driver of the car pulled into the parking lot of the Roanoke County Public Safety Center, and the truck followed. I was not far behind. An officer, who had pulled out into Northside High School Road moments before, saw me motioning for him and came back to the lot. I went over to his car and told him what had happened.
Meanwhile, several uniformed and plainclothes officers came outside and went over to the truck. Obviously, the police knew these two people.
I made it clear that I was willing to stay on the scene as long as needed and would be a witness in court.
Minutes later, I was thanked politely and told that I could go home.
"This is one of those domestic situations," the officer said.
Obviously, his hands were tied.
But this "domestic" situation had gone too far. When it spilled out onto the streets of Roanoke and endangered innocent motorists, it needed to be resolved.
The lady in the white car, who had been terrorized moments before, drove away.
As her car left the lot, I wondered why she did not press charges.
Were her hands tied, too?
What will this foolish man in her life do the next time he cannot control his temper?
Perhaps she was afraid of the man. After what had just happened, no one could blame her.
Perhaps she still loves him and is considering giving him another chance. Hopefully, she will never burn his dinner.
Perhaps her concern was for the child in the back seat. Hopefully, she will never forget that his disregard for human life placed the child's life in jeopardy.
Although she was not to blame for this incident, she now shares responsibility for this madness. A few more inches and a few seconds later, several people could have been injured, or worse.
At the very least, this man's driver's license should be suspended for a while, at least until he receives proper, court-mandated psychiatric counseling. It just might save him a prison term later, and keep some innocent Roanokers alive and healthy.
Normal people do not react to life's difficulties in this manner. Usually, anger does not lead to such life-threatening circumstances. When it does, it cannot be ignored.
I will never wear a ribbon in my lapel that signifies my stand on violence against women. I do not ride bandwagons; I prefer to do something about the problem.
So, if the lady that I tried to help reads this, I want her to know that my original offer still stands. Also, I want to express my hope that she has now given her friend his very last chance at redemption.
After seeing him behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, I feel he has had enough lucky breaks.
BEN MARTIN is director of the Virginia Tech Radio Reading Service at WVTF Public Radio..
LENGTH: Medium: 87 linesby CNB