Close call on the highway yesterday

[pat]

I was heading home on the highway the other day when it started pouring down rain like no other. I was doing about 50 in the left lane in my 93 GMC. It felt like my truck was missing really bad, b/c it has been running like crap lately, or, well, for a long time, but just recently getting worse. So, when it started 'missing', I gave it some more gas like I usually do to get it to stop. Turns out it wasnt missing, but hydroplaning. Soon as I pushed on the gas my rear end went out from under me and I did a 180 and went from the left lane to the right and slowly slid into the ditch. Thank God no one was near me. I slid into the ditch beside the road and stopped with my bed about a foot away from a sign. It was funny b/c an ambulance had its lights on beside me on the access road and was there about 15 seconds after it happened. So then a cop showed up and a fire dept suburban with a winch. Cop asks me if Im fine, what happened, yada yada. Then he says "So if we pull you out, you will be fine?" I told him yes. So the cop car, ambulance, and firetruck sit there for about 25 minutes doing something in their cars.
Then they leave without saying anything. Luckily some really nice guy pulls up and asks if I need some help. He goes back around and gets on the highway and gives me the little pull I need to get out of the ditch.
Scared the piss out of me.

A few things, Im going to be going slower in rain like that, Im going to try to fix the engine problem (or sell that truck like Ive been wanting to do for years), and Im going to make more of a point to pull over and check with people on the side of the road. Several people stopped and made sure everything was OK, which was nice.

[Palf70Step]

Glad your OK. Situations like that definitely open your eyes to things.

[ND_guy]

There isn't anything scarier than spinning around on the highway. Glad your ok.

[rambler]

this happened to me last week, my daughter was driving, (learners permit) and a decent day, just had her permit for a few weeks and getting some experience, suddenly a downpour hit, and she was in a 55 MPH lane,, I was looking for some place for her to pull in to switch drivers, and she was only doing @45, as that was fast enough, she wasnt scared just a little nervouis,, suddenly I felt the same thing you felt, and seemed like she put in the clutch and hit the gas, (but its a utomatic) well, we felt the slidding around, I told her what to do, and we had just finished a discussion during the very light misty rain about how most wrecks are from panic (most, not yours ) , and she got it slowed w/o hitting the brakes,, she did so well, I let her drive, much slower as it was coming down hard, the rest of the way, at least she know knows how hydorplaining feels and she did a good job recovering, and she didnt face it alone. I am glad your OK!

[blaserman]

Blue Light Special on underware. No just kidding, I have that happen to me before and it is no fun. Just glade you are O.K.

Art

[pat]

Thanks guys
Kind of eery coincidence, my roommate just got back from work and said he had lost it in the same kind of all of a sudden downpour rain like me, only he spun a full 360 and a half on the way to Dallas. Then saw three more wrecks before getting to work..

[GREASEMONKEY72]

alot of people dont know how to drive in the rain or just panic when it rains and things happen, its nice to hear that you didnt panic and keep your head on straight and made it out ok and was able to drive it home and you can look back and go "that was kinda fun" i say that because i know from personal expierience

[GREASEMONKEY72]

did i mention that i love driving in the rain