I believe it was 1994 when I was traveling from Concord, NC to Mebane, NC from 3am to 5am; that is when I fell asleep behind the wheel.  Yes, in case you were wondering, I had a few beers the night before at Coyote Joe’s in Charlotte.  That is the most dangerous thing about drinking and driving: falling asleep behind the wheel because I can assure you nothing good will come from it.

So, at this point in my life, things were looking up!  I was spending a lot of my time in Concord, NC with some friends from Texas.  I was trying to get into bull riding because bull riding was popular in the Charlotte area at that time.  I had already purchased a bull rope, and I could not help but feel excited about what the future held for me.  The prospect of riding bulls gave me a sense of worth for the first time in a long time.

My friends and I went to Coyote Joe’s and I had a few beers, but I was not drunk.  By the time we got back to my friends house in Concord, I was just plain tired and ready for some sleep.  However, I called a girl I had met a few weeks before while everyone else was sleeping, and we talked for hours.  Toward the end of the conversation, I told her I wanted to go home to Mebane; she told me to wait and go in the morning, but I had a need and desire to be in my own bed.  I told her goodbye, and I got in my truck and proceeded to drive the approximate two hour drive.

Every thing started out fine; as I mentioned before I was not drunk; at least I did not feel drunk.  The more I drove and stared at the blurry white lines and red tail lights, the more sleepy I became.  By the time I made it past Greensboro I was starting to nod off; not good.  I thought if I could just make it to the next exit, I would stop and walk around a little to wake back up, but that did not happen.  I did not make the next exit.

I opened my eyes and I was driving off the interstate on the right side, so simultaneously I let off the gas and swerved left to avoid the guard rail that was fast approaching, but it was not in time, and my right rear wheel caught the end of the guard rail.  So, as a result of hitting the end of the guard rail, my truck rolled over and my back axle was lying in the middle of the interstate.

I remember coming to after the accident and trying to get my bearings; that is when I looked and saw my back axle sitting in the middle of the interstate with a little blue flame that lead to my truck.  So, I try to open the driver-side door and it is jarred, then I try to open the passenger-side door and it is jarred; at that point I saw flames that were starting to roll up on the driver-side.  Luckily, Ford had installed a sliding back glass in the 1993 Ford Rangers, and that was how I escaped because back then, I was skinny enough to fit through the back window.

Once I got through the back window and jumped out of the truck bed, I ran across the interstate because there was not much traffic at 5am, and I did not know whether the gas tank would blow, but it never did.  The truck was burning well at this point, and I stood there staring at it happy and lucky to be alive.  I saw four or five guys standing on the opposite side of the interstate, so I ran back over to where they were.  When I got to them they were talking and asking each other questions, and I heard one of them ask if anyone saw the driver get out, and I said I was driving, and they all looked at me as if I were a ghost.

Well, to shorten the story a little, I was arrested for careless and reckless driving, and as the trooper drove me away I said, “I always wanted to be in NASCAR; I guess that is the closest I will come.”  The trooper laughed as we drove away, and I watched as the firemen put out the inferno on I-85 North, and that is the end of my story.

The reason for this story is simple: do not drink and drive because you could fall asleep and kill yourself or someone else.  Do not drive if you are sleepy, and if you get sleepy driving, stop immediately!  I hope every one has a safe and Happy New Year!

Take care and God bless!

Chris