So some guy attempts to bash in my window...

[moribundman]

I and the girlfriend are coming back from a mini vacation and we're on our way to San Francisco. We're passing through Redwood City, a bit South of SF, and I'm on the main street, El Camino Real, stopped at a red light. It's 7 in the evening, dark and raining. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a beefy medium-tall guy approach the passenger side with pretty good speed. I figure he'll just cross the street behind my car, but when I make out his facial expression I know he's headed for us. First he slams his hand with a lot of force against the front side window, then he qickly wipes the rain of the window and starts yelling "You leave him alone" repeatedly, making a really angry face. He slams his fist into the window real hard. It sounds like he pops a knuckle, which enrages him off even more -- judging by his screams which turn into wails. Next thing, he plants his fist with seemingly full-force against the window, and while I know that Sekurit safety glass is almost impossible to break with bare fists, I don't feel too compfortable, especially because my girlfried seems to get worried, I can tell by the look on her face. After all, the guy is only inches from her. I decide to run the red light if I have to. I'm also getting worried the loon may start kicking my door or procure a nifty rock or something worse. There isn't much traffic and the view is clear, so the risk is minimal, but just when I decide to floor it the light turns green.

I wish I could have at least run over his foot with my rear tire, but the weasel jumped out of the way once I got moving. I wonder if he attacked someone else. What sparked this anyway? My best guess is insanity. He seemed to mistake my girfriend for someone else. Going bare-fisted at a car window isn't a sane thing to do. The guy's facial expression wasn't sane either. His face was contorted with hate and when he yelled spit was flying -- which brings me to the evidence he left behind:

- a smeared window
- possibly a couple fingerprints
- saliva
- some blood from broken skin

Unfortunately it was raining and I don't know what's left of all that. The window looks just a bit smeared now.

The lessons learned or confirmed?

1. Psychos are out there.
2. Keep your doors locked.
3. Quality glass is worth the money.
4. Hope to be lucky. The mofo might dent your roof and doors.

And how was your Saturday?

 

[Vilan]

Maybe he was high. It's Saturday night, people get up to crazy stuff.

My Saturday was good, thanks.

 

[sprintman]

You live in the U.S this is the sh1t you expect. Build and a bridge and and get over over it. You want to have a better lifestyle, move to Australia. Otherwise just get over it!

 

[Shaman]

I'm with Sprintman. People in America make movies of themselves beating up people in Philadelphia, and of themselves breaking stuff.

Here, all I really here about is street porn movies.

But yeah, I will be in AU as soon as someone can get me a job there. Make room sprintman.

 

[RTexasF]

What a frightening experience! He obviously misread the MMO application and drank some?!

 

[JHZR2]

There have always been crazy loons... Even if they dont come charging, the "window washer" guys will break your mirror off if you tell them to not clean your windshield and not give them $$$.

This guy sounds insane, though he might not have actually been able to resolve the faces inside the car... all the same, it was an insane thing to do.

Hopefully there is a little bit of evidence left (fingerprints may not wash off - finger oils often need rubbing to remove), so you can get more info.

Keep us posted!

JMH

 

[wavinwayne]

He needed more lead in his diet, that's all.

 

[Pablo]

Why does the aussie guy always say that kind of stuff doesn't happen in his land but only happens in the US? Seems to me some pretty crazy stuff happens in Australia. The whole beach thing was bizzare.

Let's face it - that guy was whacked, glad mori and friend are OK!! Could have happened anywhere, but you don't expect it in the US.

 

[rjundi]

Random acts of violence, sadly these occur in every part of the planet. Thankfully they are rare, glad all is fine on your end.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Constipation would be my best guess. Oh yeah, I would have driven away much sooner, but that's just me.

 

[Hirev]

You probally ran into a tweeker. They can be very unpredicatable. Best to get away ASAP.

 

[Cutehumor]

probably a homeless mentally ill person who needs to be on antipsychotic medication.

 

[Audi Junkie]

You could have popped it into reverse and cut the wheel...to the left. quattro, baby.

 

[1sttruck]

"You want to have a better lifestyle, move to Australia."

I remember a poster at the US consulate office in Barcelona, trying to point out the difference in crime in Spain vs the US. In Spain you were much more likely to get pick pocketed, women to have their purse snatched, and if you left something visible in the car were almost guaranteed to have the windows smashed, but you were still safer in Spain as violent crime was stil much, much higher in the US. Yes, even accounting for a bomb here there due to ETA or whoever.

Australia has it's share of violence, but at lower levels than in the US.

 

[Audi Junkie]

"I paniced"

 

[moribundman]

Cutehumor, a psychotic was my first thought. He didn't look like a homeless guy.

quote:

---

You could have popped it into reverse and cut the wheel...to the left. quattro, baby.

---

There was a car right behind me. There was also another one stopped to the left of me. It was raining, and as you know, the A4 (B5 sedan) doesn't have a rear wiper. I can see little more than lights behind me when the rear window is wet. I could have easily run over a bicyclist.

By the way, I was also looking to the left, because I kinda figured the guy to the right was providing a distraction while another attack was coming from the left a moment later.

quote:

---

Constipation would be my best guess. Oh yeah, I would have driven away much sooner, but that's just me. [I dont know]

---

He mistook my car for a Porta-Potty?

A lot can happen in just a few seconds and the whole incident, beginning with him laying hand on the window, lasted maybe 5 seconds. While scouting the intersection, I was keeping an eye on my window, and unfortunately my eyes aren't individually articulated, so I wasted some time. If something like that happens again I'll probably take off a little earlier.

quote:

---

There have always been crazy loons... Even if they dont come charging, the "window washer" guys will break your mirror off if you tell them to not clean your windshield and not give them $$$.

---

Not once in 15 years has anyone attempted to wash my windshield -- except while waiting at the US/Mexico border. In SF I don't see any "selfemployed window washers" at all, and even when I spent in time in NYC, it didn't happen to me.

 

[simple_gifts]

See what happens when you smell the green?

 

[Drew99GT]

I'm with Wayne. If it was in Colorado, I would have made use of the CO "Make My Day" law.

 

[Al]

You did the right thing..just getting out of Dodge. If you would have injured him, you would have had to stop and at least call 911. Now you are open for a lawsuit. This ended as good as was possible.

 

[moribundman]

Yeah, firing my SOCOM straight next to my girlfriend's head would have been awesome. Blowing up my window and the ******* tweeker's head would have been even more awesome. Jeez, guys...