Ditched on the toll road

It couldn't have been later than nine o'clock at night when it all happened. A dramatic episode it was, one I'm not likely to forget anytime soon.

Here's what happened.

There I was, minding my own business, cruising contentedly along a section of Highway 2000. It had been raining all day and in fact, there was still a slight drizzle, enough to warrant me activating the intermittent setting on my windshield wipers. There wasn't much traffic. I was driving slower than normal because of the wet roads but ever so often, some imbecile would come speeding by, causing a huge splash. The wave of water would land with a thud on the side of my car. The curses I yelled were futile, since my windows were all up and the splasher was always well out of sight by the time I realised what had happened.

Anyway, on I went. A flash of lightning provided a few seconds of brightness on an otherwise dark roadway. I noticed, some distance away, a huge truck. A long, white trailer was attached to it. Across the road, two motorbikes sped by. I wondered if the riders weren't getting soaked in the rain.

It was at that very moment that it happened. The lights of the truck seemed to jump, spin, swerve and flicker. Then, nothing. The truck just seemed to disappear. It was still some distance ahead of me so I couldn't tell what had happened, but I knew it was nothing good. I slowed down but continued along the road until I got to the spot where the lights of the truck had gone out. It was near the exit to the Spanish Town toll plaza. A black van was parked by the side of the road and a chubby woman was standing next to it, holding her head. I realised then, that the truck and it's long, white trailer had gone off the road and was now on its side in something of a ditch. It was really more of a grassy area but it was lower than the roadway.

Screech! The shock of seeing the truck in that position caused me to stomp heavily on my brakes. The woman who was holding her head ran across the road, closer to the truck.

Now, let me just mention here, that I believe in a nation where people help each other out of tough situations. A nation where we do all we can to assist our fellow man when the situation warrants. This kind of noble behaviour should be encouraged, I think. Do-gooders should he praised, not ridiculed even if, say, their well-intentioned deeds turn out to have been a bit miscalculated.

Anyway, when my car came to that sudden halt, I flung the door open and jumped out.

The rain, the dark night, the smell of burning rubber and the look on the face of the woman made a dramatic scene. One glance at the truck and my mind immediately went to the driver. 'What of the driver?' I thought. 'Surely he is in harm's way and in desperate need of my rescuing.'

The next few moments moved in slow motion. I heard the MacGyver theme song in my head as I abandoned thoughts of my own well-being, jumped over the barrier and onto the grassy area. All I was thinking was that the driver was inside the truck, bleeding profusely. I would perhaps have to lift him out. Could I manage? What if there was more than one inside? As I ran down to the truck, I wondered why nobody else was down here with me, helping to save lives.

'Selfish swines,' I thought.

Shocking discovery

I got to the driver's side door and to my horror, it was open. The driver must have been flung from the vehicle and perhaps run over in the ensuing chaos. I was about to let out a loud shout for help to the crowd that had by now converged at the side of the road. But just as the words were about to leave my mouth, someone up there on higher ground said, quite calmly:

"Hey bredda, him come out aready, yuh nuh."

It was a crashing comment. Now, while I insist I was in no way wishing for the driver's demise, I found myself feeling somewhat deflated, what with all the preceding melodramatics.

It appeared the driver was the only one in the vehicle when it went off the road and he had walked away without harm. Sheepishly, I climbed slowly back up to the road, by now soaking wet. I can't be sure, but I believe I saw a snicker or two. I spent the next couple of minutes trying to come to terms with what had just taken place. After all that, nobody had the decency to be in need of my assistance. The nerve of some people.

Where should Robert go next? Let him know at robert.lalah@gleanerjm.com

Feedback

The following are feedback to last week's Roving with Lalah.

Mmm. We should take full notice!

This story is coming out of Christiana - in the heart of Jamaica!

More to come!

- Glenn Smith

Great story, Robert. A lot of people don't seem to believe stories like that, but many people just don't realise that there is a wide range of dimensions to life here on earth in addition to the one we can see, touch, and taste. I have heard many such stories from my mother and grandmother, especially the classic story about the 'rolling calf.' Keep up the good work.

- Waboops

Hi Robert. I live in Detroit, Michigan. I am American but have visited Jamaica many, many times. I really like reading your articles because they make me feel as if I am in Jamaica - backa yaad - I look forward to Tuesdays because I know it's trip time with you.

- C.S

The insect is supposedly 'blue-stone' and Jerky shoulda know betta dan fi step pan it. Everbaddy a country know dat.

Saw one recently in the hills of St Elizabeth (Munro) and showed it to my children (townie dem) and warned them as I had been warned by my granny an madda.

- Lalah Fanatic