New Yorkers are usually known for being tough and resilient. There are very few things that can shake their unflappable nature. Still, we're all human. Everyone has their fears. If you're lucky, you won't have to encounter them too often. If you're afraid of something common, you might find it better to face that fear head-on.
One upstate New York woman couldn't quite channel her unbothered energy when facing her fears. The woman was driving her car through Cairo, New York, when an unexpected passenger reared his head… and eight legs. The woman spotted a spider in her car and instantly began to panic. As you can imagine, panicking and driving isn't the safest of combinations. What happened next resulted in an injured leg and a totaled car. The Cairo Police Department took the story to Facebook, using it as a cautionary tale to other drivers. A surprising number of people were sympathetic to the woman's situation.
Everyone has something they're afraid of. Fears are a natural part of life.
Sometimes the thing you're afraid of can pop up at an unexpected time. How you handle the situation can help you break through your fear.
One place you probably don't expect to have to face your fears is behind the wheel. A car is a bit of a sanctuary for most people.
An upstate New York woman found she had to face her fears while driving — and it didn't exactly go so well.
The woman was driving in Cairo, New York, when she discovered a spider was in her car. She began to panic.
The spider was in the driver's area, which caused her to panic even more. She crashed the car as a result.
The Town of Cairo Police Department posted an update on the incident on Facebook. The post showed a picture of the crashed car.
"After investigating today's crash on Silver Spur Road we feel it necessary to bring up a contributing factor that is not covered too often," the post explained. "It is believed that the operator of the vehicle noticed a SPIDER in the driver's area with her as she was driving."
The post went on to explain that the driver was injured in the crash.
"The operator panicked and crashed suffering a leg injury from the crash," the post continued. "We know that it is easier for some drivers than others but PLEASE, try to teach new drivers and yourselves to overcome the fear and pull over to a safe place. Lives depend on it."
This is surprisingly not the first time an accident of this nature has happened. A 35-year-old mother from Indiana jumped out of her car after seeing a spider on her shoulder, according to WANE.
The car crashed into a school bus after her 9-year-old son, who was still in the car, crawled into the front seat to hit the brakes but hit the wrong pedal instead, accelerating the car. He sustained minor head injuries.
Many people could sympathize with the spider-caused crash. Some even had stories of their own.
Seeing a spider or other insect in your car can be terrifying, but it's important to keep your cool.
The moral of this story has nothing to do with spiders. It's about being safe behind the wheel and remembering that when you panic, you're not just putting yourself at risk.
