Driving home on the highway (435 west for those familiar with KS/MO, a 4 laner), fiance in passenger seat, friend in the backseat passenger side, we were just about 10 mins away from our exit.

It's about 2 am, we were feeling good after a solid night of bowling with friends - listening to music, talking about nothing.

All of a sudden - I see headlights coming right at me - in my lane nonetheless. At first, I didn't believe it, but I realized something big was about to happen.

What I did next I still don't believe I had the capability to do. I swerved hard right, the oncoming vehicle blasted past us, and my car deflected off the right side wall then flew across the highway, before crashing hard into the left side wall.

Air bags deployed - burning smell of the battery seeped into the air - my fiance (of all people) did no screaming, but asked if we were all okay. We hesitated getting out of the car, the front of the car was sticking out - so we decided to get out quick in case of oncoming traffic.

When I got out of the car, and calling 911 - I saw the rear was completely smashed in, as was the front sides of the car - parts all over the highway. It was a horrific site.

The dispatcher confirmed that there had been reports of a phantom car on the highway. I was relieved to hear this (as best as I could be) because to this day I still do not believe what happened, and initially felt that I had only imagined the oncoming car. I still can't believe it.

Police/firetruck/ambulance all arrived on scene within 5 minutes. we were mostly shaken up - I had laceration burns from the steering wheel on my left arm, my fiance had seatbelt burn on her neck area - and my friend in the backseat was just emotinoally shook up - especially because later on I learned she did not have her seatbelt on.

What's incredible is that if I had pondered just a second later - we wouldn't have gotten out of the way in time - and it scares me to think what the results would be.

I figured I'd share - count your blessings, I'm doing it. It's simply amazing what happened, and it's truly changed my approach to this life. It happened so quickly, one minute we're talking about nothing - next second we're flying across the highway.

Btw - a bit of a tribute to my lovely lady, she was so calm during the whole thing. Even when I swerved initially she just kept saying "Hold on, hold on" and was so calm about it. Once we crashed, she just asked if everyone was okay. Incredible to me because she's just this tiny little thing - but was so positive at what was a horrific moment.

Oh, car is totaled and yes the idiot was caught, he kept on driving during the whole thing and was not caught by police until he was in Missouri (about 10 mins from where we were), we are awaiting the official police reoprt.

Wow Indo you're one lucky bastard my friend. Of course i know 435 west lol. I'm glad they caught that idiot. Jesus that sounds bad. Sorry your car is totaled, but really glad everyone's fine!

Scary. You learn alot of surprising things about people at times like that, pity it takes something like that to see it most times.

♥

Damn.......thats nuts

Glad to hear your OK. Gratz on the steering CHETS =)

Dude i was on that same stretch of road goin the same direction just past state line at night and almost nailed a vehicle stopped directly in the middle lane without its flashers on.

So it was like a ghost car?

Good thing you're safe anyway ♥

Glad your ok! So was the idiot in the other car drunk or something? Let us know if you find out.

damn glad youre okay. stupid people need to get off the road >_>

Awesome to hear you were okay and you're getting married to one helluva woman. Women who keep their cool in situations like that are hard to come by and worth every penny.

Any pics of the car?

glad to still have you with us bro, you have someone or something outside yourself to thank for that if you ask me... like the maker of that F*CKIN car lol. seriously glad you made it man.

and on the subject of your wife to be, That is the kind of woman you want to mother your children. The kind that can look a really fucked up situation in the face and keep her composure. You smell what im steppin in nigga?

Glad nothing real horrible came from this.

They should take that driver of the phantom car out in a field and shoot him in the head.

Glad you're ok, and most of all... glad they caught the F*CKER. When you get a copy of the police report, I'm curious to know if he was drunk or just suicidal.

Probably someone on drugs/had too much to drink...selfish bastards. If they want to die so badly why the hell do they have to get others involved? It's great that you and your companions are ok. It could have gone really bad (as in as bad as it gets). The exact same thing happened to a couple of people from my college, but unfortunately they didn't make it.

Your girl seems like a gem :) Don't let go of her.

damn indo really on 435 west? lol wow wtf was that guy doing i wanna know lol specially to get on urside of the lane... (i kno it quite well drived it for 11 years now) just glad ur safe id prob wanna kill the asshole

wow amazing instictive reaction man. what kind of car did you have? we should all consider buying one after how well yours saved your asses, especially the no-seatbelt lady (is she single by the way? (and attractive?)).

Props for the amazing feat. I would've shut down maybe...

Man, I wanna see pics

Well where he is at i do believe he had 2 other lanes he could of went into...instead of running into the barrier but also i wasnt there so cant say for sure because it does go from 3 lane to 2 lane (KS to MO, and vise versa MO to KS 2 lane to 3) so yeah i guess it made sense that he would of done what he did, but im sure he could of just jumped lanes and probably rode the shoulder. But i do give him props tho for his quick thinking :)

glad you diddnt die. should of told police to hire scooby and the gang to track down the "phantom car"