Last Wednesday, I was in the garage building a workbench, which required pulling my dad's car out onto the street, and parking it, which is very common in this small town we live in. Basically, if you can't parallel park when you take your drivers test, you fail, since it is almost a daily thing to do.

At about 10:15pm, I had just put the finishing touches on the bench, and was standing in the open garage door, drinking a beer, and whizzing by comes a maroon Ford Escort... He side-swipes my dad's car and keeps on going. Me, who is never without cell phone on side, immediately calls the police, giving the description of the car, and direction of travel. I then turn on my scanner, and about 3minutes later, hear that the cops have caught the vehicle and occupants about 6 blocks away. The driver, who was DUI (.22 bac) (legal Indiana limit is .08 bac), had no license, no insurance, and no plates on the car which didn't belong to him, was carted off to jail.

The female passenger in the car was returned to her residence by the police and her car was impounded. Apparently these two had met at a party some time earlier in the evening, and were out to do whatever... While the guy's wife and kids waited for him at home. So... A little gossip for the town, and only minor damage to my dad's car ($1200)... And that's that.

Now, for the big and better story... Can you imagine lightning striking twice?

This morning (Monday) I had just rolled over in bed as the alarm clock was ringing... I hit snooze for about the 6th time, as I usually do... And I hear the loud squeal of tires, and then a huge crash... I look out my bedroom window, which faces the street where my truck is normally parked (which happens to be the same spot my dad's car was parked in, in the above story). What do I see? A grey Monte Carlo smashed into the front of my car and sitting mostly underneath it. I immediately pick up the phone and call the cops.

They arrive a few minutes later. In the mean time I throw on a pair of shorts and whatever shirt I could find laying around my room, and shoes and run downstairs.

By this time, the police arrive and are doing their usual gathering of information. I get in my truck to get my registration and insurance and happen upon my digital camera. (Pictures attached below) After the cop (my neighbor and good friend) is done gathering his information, we realize that the kid bounced off of a van parked across the street from me and smashed into my truck... More paperwork for the cop. So, from all of the great investigating, we come to learn that the kid is 16 years old, only holds a learners permit, has no insurance and is on his way to work.

We later come to find out that he had a friend of his, go to the insurance agency and purchase insurance for the vehicle with false information.

While the kid is sitting in the back of the squad car, a car rolls by the scene slowly... And then backs up. The lady in the car says "That looks like my son's car!" "Do you know who's car that is?" I say, from what I overheard the cop saying on the radio, that the kids last name is Furto... I relay this info to the lady. She immediately lets out a scream, jumps out of her car and runs to the back door of the squad car... It was her son.

So... What's the final outcome, you ask? I'm not really sure. The "Good Neighbor" people at State Farm Insurance set the ball in motion, and 2 hours after the accident happened, the car is already in the body shop getting estimated and parts ordered for it. First glance by the body shop guy... $8-$12,000 damage. WOW!!!

As for the kid... He got 3 tickets. Driving without a license, Driving with no insurance, and unsafe start. The unsafe start will be evident to you when you look at the pictures. Just keep in mind that my truck was parked 20 feet from an intersection with a 4-way stop.

So, as for him, he'll have to go to court and answer to the judge. Minimum automatic sentence for him by Indiana law: Get caught driving without a license before you are 21, and you have to wait UNTIL YOU ARE 21 TO GET YOUR LICENSE!!! THAT SUCKS FOR HIM!!! But, I'm sure he'll be right back out on the street next week... What does he have to lose?

So, this is the story of lighting striking twice... Can you imagine that? I think from now on, I'm gonna park my truck somewhere else!!!

Anyway... Hope everyone is doing well... Thanks for listening to me vent!

Dave... I'm sure this will end up on your site somewhere!! :-)

Take care everyone!

Adam