Driving is dangerous enough as it is (especially on places like the New Jersey Turnpike), but add in poor weather conditions and a little black ice, and you've got the makings of a potential tragedy waiting to happen.
Earlier this week, the northeast was hit by frigid temperatures and a steady dose of freezing rain. With rain pounding down all night and early morning temperatures not rising fast enough to melt the ice that had already accumulated on roadways, Monday morning's commute was absolutely treacherous here in New Jersey.
Black ice everywhere, and drivers that weren't prepared for it, made for one of the scariest days in recent memory to be on the road.
In this video, one driver was being blocked by two trucks on the southbound side of the NJ Turnpike (I-95) at the New Brunswick (home to Rutgers University) exit. The trucks had slipped on some ice and created a fairly minor accident at the exit, causing the driver to stop. While waiting for the accident to clear, he pulled out his phone to take a picture, but had to spin around when he suddenly heard a noise behind him.
What happens next has to be one of the most terrifying things we've ever seen (and he's probably ever experienced).
When the driver turns around, with the camera still rolling, he sees an enormous truck, pulling two trailers behind it, start to spin out on the turnpike. The truck is barreling toward him when it just barely swerves out of the way, hits the median guardrail, and drives right over it onto the other side of the split highway.
The driver pulls forward as the truck spins and slows to a stop, resting against the guardrail. The driver continues to pull forward, as he's worried about more trucks behind him, and cuts off the video feed. Absolutely terrifying!
Lest you think the driver was simply gawking and not being a responsible human being, he added the following details to the YouTube video description:
"Once I turned off camera, I called in 911 and reported the accident. After that, I came to the truck driver and the rest of the cars to verify they were alright. After arrival of NJ State Trooper and his dismissal confirming that he does not require my presence, I left the scene." [sic]
Talk about a close call. We're glad to hear the people in this video were OK, but it was a horrible day on the New Jersey Turnpike where numerous accidents due to black ice caused delays for hours.
Be careful out there, folks!
Please SHARE with all your friends and family!
