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2004 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Backing into Traffic

2004 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

(December 16th, 2004) Steve Miller of Ohio Township was found dead in a fatal auto accident. Mr. Miller had been driving along Route 109 when he came to an intersection filled with traffic. According to his wife, who was also injured, they had decided to bet on whether he could gun the engine and roar across the heavily filled intersection without getting hit! Mrs. Patricia Miller bet that he could not, correctly. Halfway through the intersection, Mr. Miller decided that it was a foolhardy venture, threw the car in reverse, and proceeded to back into the traffic. At least two cars hit him, while others swerved past him. Mr. Miller was thrown from his car, while Patricia Miller smashed her head on the side window. Miller's offically cause of death was severe brain damage, though I'm quite sure that was actually pre-mortem.

Submitted on 12/23/2004

Submitted by: Tom
Reference: Citizen's Gazetteer

Copyright © 2004 DarwinAwards.com

Great? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Awful?
Love it! Hate it!
>> Moderator Scores <<

Daniel said:
Definitely Toss: Bystanders Hurt
If she'd made the bet over a cell phone, or gotten out first, I'd go for it, but her staying in the car disqualifies this otherwise excellent submission.

Jack said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
From the story, it sounds as if both Mr. Miller and his wife were willing participants in this stunt so I don't regard Mrs. Miller as being an innocent bystander, per se.

Charles said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I have to agree with Jack. Mrs. Miller acted stupidly by not getting out of the car... and so is not an innocent bystander. A rare DA / HM contender...

Jason said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I agree the brain damage was pre-mordem. Mr. Miller was an idiot to believe that he could do it. Mrs Miller was foolish not to get out before the idiocy occurred. DA for him Honorable Mention for her. This is trully Darwin-grade "A" Stupidity.

Jorge said:
Definitely Toss: Bystanders Hurt

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