‘Something always happens’

My wife bought a new car in late January. It’s a nice ride. So nice, in fact, that while we were taking a test drive, I asked the salesman to find me one, too.

So it happened that three days later, I picked up the keys to a brand-new 2023 Kia Sportage. It was identical to my wife’s car in every way — even though I hadn’t wanted the same color; apparently that was the only one available.

As we signed the paperwork, I told the salesman I appreciated the fair deal and would see him again in a few years.

He chuckled, then told me that every time he sells two vehicles to a couple “something always happens.”

Unfortunately, he was right. Just three weeks later, I was visiting my son and his family in North Little Rock. They recently bought their first house, and I’d only been there a couple of times. The street sign is difficult to see at night. I was focused on finding the right street and on making sure that the car that was speeding toward a stop sign on that street did indeed come to a stop. Unfortunately, I was not focused on yielding to oncoming traffic.

As I turned left, I collided almost head-on with a small sedan.

No one was seriously injured, although I do still have an ugly bruise from the seatbelt.

My chest and back were sore immediately after the accident, but I knew that was from the seatbelt, too. An EMT checked my blood pressure at the scene and it was textbook perfect.

The other car was clearly totaled. As it turns out, mine may be as well. I’m waiting on word from my insurance company right now.

I was issued a citation, which comes with a hefty fine and a mandatory court appearance 170 miles from home on a Tuesday morning.

Whether my car is repaired or not, I’ll have to pay a deductible. I’m driving a rental car now, and although my insurance is covering most of the cost, most is not all.

To top things off, as I headed back toward Carroll County the next day in the rental car, I began to experience excruciating pain in my lower back. It hurt so bad that I called my wife, who had stayed home because of her work schedule, and told her that we probably needed to go to an emergency room. I began feeling better, however, after I made a pit stop to find a bathroom. After a second such stop, I felt much, much better. As it turned out, the pain I’d been feeling was the result of a kidney stone. The perfect ending to a rotten weekend.

Still it could have been so much worse. I’m grateful that I was alone in the car. Who knows what might have happened to a passenger? I’m grateful that I have good insurance. I’m grateful that no one was seriously injured.

A car can be replaced, even if it means seeing the very nice salesman again much sooner than I had anticipated.

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Scott Loftis is editor and publisher of the Carroll County News.