The Accident

A few months after Scooter got her license, I had just dropped her little brother off at home when I got the call every parent of a teenager dreads.  "Daddy, I just got in a car accident and the policeman wants you to come here!"  I could hear the tears in her voice as she took gasping breaths between the words.  I asked her if she was injured or if anyone else was hurt.  She replied "No Dad, I'm fine.  I looked down for a second and ran into the guy in front of me.  We're both OK, but could you hurry?"  She was on the street in front of her school and when I arrived I saw her car behind another car with a policeman standing between them.

I saw another father standing next to the driver of the other car.  The driver was a boy who was as skinny as he was scared.  He looked about 12, but I found out later had just turned 16.  When I identified myself to the police officer he thanked me for coming and then motioned for the four of us to gather round. 

He cleared his throat and began speaking what sounded like a speech he has given before.  "OK, here's how this works.  We have here an accident involving two brand new teenage drivers.  If I report this accident, there will be auto insurance rates skyrocketing all over the place.  There were no injuries and there are only a few scratches on both cars.  If both fathers are willing to walk away from this without reporting it to anyone, I'll close my notepad and drive away."  He had already talked to the other father (who nodded his assent) and then looked at me.  I quickly agreed.

"Alright, y'all have a nice day." And he got in his squadcar and drove away.

As a friend told me later, it was a great way to have your first accident.  Thank God for mercy over judgment!!  And Scooter's been accident free ever since.