After hearing about this incident on the radio this morning I was alarmed that 2 fatalities have occured in two weeks within a kilometre radius of my daily commute to work.
Only after reading on SAU I thought to myself, "If the police are looking for a silver skyline, my drive home from work will be interesting". Suddenly, upon reading the location details and cause of the crash, I was instantly convinced that I was responsible. (After much emotion and reading this thread over about 20 times, I confirmed to myself the crash scene was not part of my travel.)
The feeling in my heart was something I had never felt before, and don't ever want to feel again. I was jumping to conclusions but I was convincing myself that my actions on the road may have been the cause of this.
During my travel this morning, I enjoyed a friendly wave from a truck driver whom I politely changed lanes temporarily for upon his entry to the main road.
I can say that I am completely innocent of this, but given the strangely cohesive circumstances, that I was driving within a kilometre of where the crash was stated to have taken place, my car matched the (very brief) description, at the relevant time, today I thought I had caused a death on our roads.
I had to deal with the onset emotions involved whilst operating a crane lifting objects weighing up to 13 ton, which requires much more skill, concentration and common sense that driving a car.
If anyone actually reads this the whole way through, please excuse how irrational it may seem, but this should just never happen and my feelings on the subject pale in comparison to those known to the victim, and the absolute dread of the driver at fault. On my travel home from Cross Keys to Flinders Park, I performed 3 lane changes and did not exceed 55 km/h. I genuinely did not feel safe on the road.
To add insult to injury, a friend of mine knew and rode with the deceased. I can honestly say to myself that today's tragedy has changed me as a driver.
I give my condolences to all friends and family of Josh and hope that everyone can learn something from his death. I did.