Knock-on effect in action
An unusual accident occurred outside a post office in Kingmont, West Virginia, reminiscent of a Rube Goldberg contraption. An 87-year-old woman was backing out of her parking spot when she accidentally hit the accelerator. This caused her car to spin 180 degrees and hit a van. The van was knocked to the side and hit a jeep. The jeep started to roll forward and hit a concrete barrier. The poles holding the concrete barrier in place snapped, and the barrier fell over, landing on the foot of 75-year-old Patricia Piercy. Piercy was subsequently taken to the hospital for her foot injury. She was the only one hurt. (Source: wdtv.com)
Enough to drive a man to drink
"I sympathise with Jason [from yesterday's Sideswipe]," writes a reader. "Having finished our weekly shop, which included wine, we were at the checkout when our son and his girlfriend appeared and asked for a lift home. The checkout operator, who had been very chatty until then, demanded to know who they were. Somewhat startled we told her, and assured her that the wine was for us, not them. She demanded to see my son's girlfriend's ID, given she was in school uniform and said she was underage. I thought this was a little over the top, but was frostily informed it was 'company policy'. Her student ID was duly produced (which merely proved that yes, she was underage), and after a lengthy discussion on what our intentions were when we left the supermarket, we were grudgingly allowed to keep the wine. I understand the need to ensure that alcohol is not purchased for minors, but honestly, a little common sense, not to mention manners, goes a long way."
