I once almost crashed my car driving down Mowbray Road in Sydney‘s lower north shore, because a little black-and-orange spider appeared from behind the rearview mirror and started descending into my lap.
I bring this up because over the weekend a young woman crashed her car into Rowland Reserve in Sydney’s northern beaches after a spider dropped into her lap, and I realise none of us who have faced a car spider are alone. Through our suffering, we are one.
The 18-year-old had just pulled up at the Bayview boat ramp about 7am on Saturday when she leapt out of the car and “started doing a spider dance,” according to witness Stuart Cooper.
Her car – which didn’t have the brake on, because why would you – began rolling towards the water.
By the time police divers arrived, the vehicle was flipped over, 25 metres away, and sunk.
“Her mum arrived about 15 minutes later and was freaking out because she thought her daughter was in the car,” said Cooper to the Daily Telegraph. “She was relived when she saw her daughter sitting on the side of the boat ramp in tears. She went up and gave her a huge hug.”
According to 7 News, the spider was a “hand-sized” huntsman that “leapt” onto her lap. The fact that there wasn’t more damage from this horrific and traumatic event is something of a miracle, tbh.
In the name of journalism, 7 News also interviewed a Road Safety Expert by the name of Professor Raphael Grzebieta, who said that if a spider should happen to leap onto YOU while driving, “try not to panic”. Okay, Satan.
Photo: 7 News.
