Mystery on Van Horn

Late last week, Miss Judy asked that I come outside and look at the driveway. She had just returned from getting the morning paper. Once at the end of the driveway, I noticed debris scattered in the gravel. The mail box and newspaper box had also been moved.

As I walked closer to the driveway, I soon realized the debris was flower pots that had been pulverized.

It did not take long to see that a car heading from the far end of the street had entered the yard by the satellite dish. It somehow went between the small white ash tree and the mailbox and paper box, scraping the boxes as it went. The tracks told the story.











The vehicle hit the first flower pot, continued across the driveway, took out the second flower pot on the other side of the drive, bumped through a ditch, and manuvered back onto the road.

We thought that a driver impeded by the evil spirits of alcohol was likely to blame.

Because we are concerned that there are too many speeders disregarding the 25 mile-per-hour zone on our street or, in this case, possibly a drunk driver on the way to more trouble, Judy called Mickey Metz, Gilmer County Sheriff, and he and his deputy, Larry Gerwig, came to see the damage. Larry bent over and picked up a piece of plastic and turned it over to reveal a shiny red color, then said:

"And there is the car that did the damage!" Now is that not fast service from our local county law enforcement folks?

Into the ditch along the road pulled a red van. A young woman got out and said, "I am the one who did the damage. I am sooooo sorry," and continued saying that over and over. She was obviously shaken and emotional while holding tight to a napkin on which she had written her name and an explanation of the accident. She said that she would pay for all damages. Judy and I told her she did not owe us anything after we heard her explanantion.

It seems that she encountered the Meads/Chisler deer crossing where one of the herd had jumped out in front of her on Van Horn Drive, and she swerved! She then lost control and took a tour through our yard. We were glad she wasn't hurt and also relieved that there was not an early-morning drunk driver on the loose.

Judy asked if it would make her feel better to help clean up the debris and she readily said it would. Neighbor Don brought over his garden rake which made quick work of the mess, and we gathered the pieces in a garbage bag. She was so contrite and shaken that we hugged her and said all was well. Even the sheriff hugged the shaken woman and told her she acted responsibly by coming back to own up to the damage. Sheriff Metz advised her not to ever swerve when a deer jumps in front of the car. He said he knew the consequences all too well because he had helped remove too many seriously injured from accidents caused by swerving to miss deer.

Thanks to Sheriff Metz and to Deputy Gerwig.

If you are motoring on Van Horn Drive, please note the speed limit is 25. There is a school zone at the end of the street, retired folks who like to take walks, and pets out for their walks as well.

Case closed!