Did I really squish an Indian child with my truck the other day?

@TheHorse (226669)
Walnut Creek, California
May 22, 2025 12:22pm CST
The poor kid. He was only about four. He had his dinosaur helmet on, but that could not help him if his body was run over. I was driving at about 3 mph, anticipating the angle I would use to get into my smallish parking space. He came from my left, on his little bicycle, with no training wheels, going much faster than I was. In an instant, he was directly in front of me. I was able to slam on my brakes. I did not hit him. He circled back and headed toward his family's apartment. I wonder if he realized that he almost got himself killed, and that the situational awareness and quick reflexes of an aging baseball player may have saved his life. Have you ever saved someone's life?
10 people like this
9 responses
celticeagle
@celticeagle (174832)
• Boise, Idaho
21h
Why was his parents letting him ride it in the parking area? That's not smart. Family rules time.
2 people like this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (174832)
• Boise, Idaho
20h
@TheHorse .......I am glad to hear that. Around here they run wild until around midnight.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (226669)
• Walnut Creek, California
21h
Kids always play in the parking lot here. But their parents usually watch them. And set rules for them.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (226669)
• Walnut Creek, California
19h
@celticeagle Well dang! Are they Indian kids?
1 person likes this
Arunima Singh
@arunima25 (90227)
• Bangalore, India
22 May
That sounds scary. Glad that your reflexes helped to slam on the brakes in time. I have saved myself from dangerous road accidents by being alert and cautious driver. I have saved my car from serious collision a few times due to some other rash and irresponsible driver.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (226669)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 May
We have many bad drivers around here. I do not EVER look at my cell phone while driving, and have good situational awareness.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (226669)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 May
@arunima25 I see people texting at stoplights here all the time. And I have had to take evasive action when texting drivers RAN stoplights several times. .
1 person likes this
Arunima Singh
@arunima25 (90227)
• Bangalore, India
22 May
@TheHorse Same here. Though I have Bluetooth, I don't take calls when driving. I can't risk my life and other's lives with any distraction, especially on Indian roads with chaotic traffic and some really irresponsible drivers.
1 person likes this
Kareng
@kareng (74347)
• United States
22 May
I hope that it scared him and he will now be more aware of his surroundings and be more careful. Glad you didn't hit him!
2 people like this
Kareng
@kareng (74347)
• United States
20h
@TheHorse Oh well!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (226669)
• Walnut Creek, California
20h
I will probably never know.
2 people like this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (116356)
• Marion, Ohio
22 May
Glad you seen him. I stopped instead of hitting someone who was playing with his phone. Did honk when he got right in front of me
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (116356)
• Marion, Ohio
8h
@TheHorse He jumped good but then back to the phone
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (226669)
• Walnut Creek, California
8h
@wolfgirl569 No wave of thanks?
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (226669)
• Walnut Creek, California
20h
Did he look up briefly and go back to his phone?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353844)
• Rockingham, Australia
20h
These things happen so quickly. He/You were so lucky to avoid a really nasty accident.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (226669)
• Walnut Creek, California
20h
Not lucky. Skillful.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (226669)
• Walnut Creek, California
8h
@JudyEv Precisely.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353844)
• Rockingham, Australia
13h
@TheHorse Well, he was lucky he went out in front of a skillful driver.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (189116)
• United States
13h
Where were his parents? No, I've never saved anyone's life.
2 people like this
vanny
@vandana7 (101804)
• India
4h
He should have asked, how many have you murdered...all those who are silent or in denials would be deemed guilty.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (226669)
• Walnut Creek, California
4h
I am not sure. I did not see any adults. Maybe they gave the child incomplete instructions about how to cycle safely in the parking lot.
1 person likes this
vanny
@vandana7 (101804)
• India
6h
I have saved yours...I did not travel to the US to kill ya....does that count?
DE
@DaddyEvil (148715)
• United States
22 May
I'm glad you were able to slam on your brakes in time to keep from hitting him.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (226669)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 May
Me too. If I recall correctly, you lost a son to a car because of a child not being watched closely enough.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (148715)
• United States
22 May
@TheHorse Yes, I did.
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (85188)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 May
So glad you did not run into that child, I hope he learned something about being careful,
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (226669)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 May
I did not see any parents to my left, to warn him. I do not know if he realized he almost got himself hurt.
1 person likes this