Please, be careful driving on leaves.

[Daddy-O]

24 years ago today. Small town west of Chicago. Bears just defeated the 49ers and were unstoppable. My 25 year old friend and I were a month from graduating med school. 2 AM I received a phone call.

He and his brother were heading home from the game a few hours before. Honda Accord. Took a right bend in a road at about 25mph. Legal speed. Good weather.

What he didn't know was the village had been flushing hydrants that day. With heavy leaf fall covering the water, it was slick as ice.

Car slid to the left, driver's side front and back wheels stopped by a curb, tipped left, and the only contact was his window frame and roof got creased by a utility pole, snapping his neck. Brother was fine. Belts were used. Freak accident.

24 times I've remembered to be careful on wet leaves. I thought you gentlemen could hear it once.

Please have a safe and enjoyable Fall driving season.

[mn12]

Good warning for something a lot of people never consider.
I have a rather steep driveway and my wife slid backwardst just after a heavy rain that had blown a lot of leaves off the trees. Once she started sliding backwards there was no stopping it until she hit a tree behind her. Ended up having to replace the entire rear hatch on her Explorer.

[Someday I Suppose]

Amazing how slick wet leaves can be. Sad and tragic story for sure, thank you for sharing!

[NAGA]

Thanks for the warning Jonathan. So very sorry about your friend.

We used to use hay bales to line our temporary sports car courses back in the '50's and '60's before we discovered water barrels and tire walls. The hay would end up on the track after getting hit, and it was incredible how slick it was.

d