I was at TMS when he flipped in his busch car many a year ago.
dirtguru
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Lost His Senses
If he was dazed, I guess in his incoherent state all he could think about was going home to take a shower. At least that's where he said he was when the trooper came by. Maybe he would have returned to the scene after he got the gravel out of his drawers.
If he was dazed, I guess in his incoherent state all he could think about was going home to take a shower. At least that's where he said he was when the trooper came by. Maybe he would have returned to the scene after he got the gravel out of his drawers.
Michael Waltrip Charged After Vehicle Accident Saturday: UPDATE: Statement from Waltrip: #55-Michael Waltrip is charged with reckless driving and failure to report an accident after a crash on Molly's Backbone Road in Catawba County. The Highway Patrol says Waltrip was driving about 70 miles per hour in the 55 mile-per-hour zone when he went off the right side of the road in a curve around 1:50 a.m. Saturday. His car then traveled back across the pavement and off the left side of the roadway, sliding sideways and striking a utility pole as it overturned. The car then rolled over and came to a rest on its side. Troopers said a witness saw Waltrip crawl out of the vehicle and leave the scene. When a trooper went to his home around 2:30 a.m. no one was there, but when he went back at 8 p.m. he found Waltrip, who admitted he'd fallen asleep at the wheel. Waltrip, with scratches on his face and some deep cuts on his finger, spoke with Eyewitness News about the crash. He said he was on his way home to Sherill's Ford from Charlotte. "I was almost home. I relaxed a little bit and ran off the road," he explained. "I woke up with gravel hitting the car and I tried to correct but it was too late. The seasoned driver says he instinctively got out of his car, and then decided to walk home because he often runs the route and was only a mile away. Waltrip will be in court in Newton on May 14.(WSOCTV.com)(4-10-2007) UPDATE: Michael Waltrip was uninjured in a single car accident Friday night near his home in Sherrills Ford, N.C. The 43-year old was returning from Charlotte, N.C. when he fell asleep at the wheel within a mile of his home and ran off the road, striking a telephone pole. "I am really embarrassed about the accident, but I feel fortunate that I wasn't hurt," said Waltrip. "For 25 years I have had a great driving record. I consider myself to be a courteous and safe driver on public roads. I never expected to fall asleep behind the wheel of a car." The North Carolina Highway Patrol ticketed Waltrip for reckless driving (admitting to falling asleep at the wheel) and failure to notify authorities of an accident in a timely manner.(MWR PR)
Yippy skippy. Serves him right.
Waltrip says he feels like 'an idiot'
Waltrip says he feels like 'an idiot'
Witness to wreck says driver walked home in his socks
By Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press
April 12, 2007
03:42 PM EDT
type size: + -CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The witness who discovered Michael Waltrip's overturned car initially thought no one survived the accident until the NASCAR driver wiggled out the back window.
The witness, an 18-year-old college student at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, requested anonymity during a phone interview Wednesday with The Associated Press for fear of reprisal from Waltrip's fan base.
But she said she lives near the two-time Daytona 500 winner in Sherrill's Ford, and stumbled upon the accident when she was returning home around 2 a.m. Saturday. She saw an overturned Toyota Land Cruiser in a ditch and rushed over to check on the occupants. She didn't see anyone in the car and no one answered her shouts, so she called 911 for help.
"I didn't go home to avoid anything. I just went there trying to figure out what to do."
Michael Waltrip"After I got off the phone I was walking around the car again and somebody stuck their foot out the back driver side of the window," she said. "That's when Michael Waltrip got out. He wiggled out the back window. I knew immediately it was him. He just got out the back driver side window and stood up."
The witness said she asked Waltrip how long he'd been in the car and he told her about 10 minutes.
"He was bleeding from his forehead and had some cuts on his fingers and arms," she said. "I told him 'You are really lucky you are alive. I didn't think anybody was alive in there.' We sort of talked for a minute or two, and I told him 911 was on the way, and he just turned around and started walking home.
"I didn't know what to say or what to do. He had a T-shirt and sweat pants and socks on, he might have taken his shoes off in the car, but I wasn't sure. And he just turned around and started walking home in his socks."
Waltrip was charged Saturday evening with reckless driving and failing to report an accident, both misdemeanors. He told police he fell asleep the wheel and woke up to find his car overturned in the gravel.
Waltrip has a May 14 court date in Newton on the charges.
NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said NASCAR would talk with Waltrip on Friday in Texas.
Waltrip had a scheduled interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, but a representative, Brooke Hondros, canceled it, saying Waltrip wasn't feeling well.
But in an interview with The Charlotte Observer, he said he was embarrassed for leaving the scene.
"I just feel stupid," he told the newspaper. "I feel like an idiot because this one is all me."
State trooper B.L. Buchanan said he arrived on the scene to find the wrecked SUV -- which had also hit a telephone pole -- but no Waltrip. He said he went to Waltrip's home to speak to him around 3 a.m., but was unsuccessful in locating the driver.
Hondros said Waltrip was showering in his pool house and didn't hear the police when they arrived.
Buchanan said his shift ended at 5 a.m., and he finally made contact with Waltrip at 8 p.m. Saturday when he returned to duty and Waltrip called him. The officer met him at Waltrip's home and issued the citation.
Waltrip told The Observer alcohol did not contribute to the accident.
"I didn't go home to avoid anything," he said. "I just went there trying to figure out what to do."
Waltrip is having a rough first year as a car owner.
He was caught cheating during Daytona 500 preparations when NASCAR found a fuel additive in his engine, and was docked a record 100 driver points. His crew chief was fined a record $100,000 and suspended indefinitely, as was his competition director.
Meanwhile, he has failed to qualify for the five races since the 500.
Dale Jarrett, who drives one of Waltrip's cars, has needed a provisional to make five of the six races this year and is currently 37th in the points. David Reutimann, his other driver, has failed to make two races and is 43rd in points.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Waltrip says he feels like 'an idiot'
Witness to wreck says driver walked home in his socks
By Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press
April 12, 2007
03:42 PM EDT
type size: + -CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The witness who discovered Michael Waltrip's overturned car initially thought no one survived the accident until the NASCAR driver wiggled out the back window.
The witness, an 18-year-old college student at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, requested anonymity during a phone interview Wednesday with The Associated Press for fear of reprisal from Waltrip's fan base.
But she said she lives near the two-time Daytona 500 winner in Sherrill's Ford, and stumbled upon the accident when she was returning home around 2 a.m. Saturday. She saw an overturned Toyota Land Cruiser in a ditch and rushed over to check on the occupants. She didn't see anyone in the car and no one answered her shouts, so she called 911 for help.
"I didn't go home to avoid anything. I just went there trying to figure out what to do."
Michael Waltrip"After I got off the phone I was walking around the car again and somebody stuck their foot out the back driver side of the window," she said. "That's when Michael Waltrip got out. He wiggled out the back window. I knew immediately it was him. He just got out the back driver side window and stood up."
The witness said she asked Waltrip how long he'd been in the car and he told her about 10 minutes.
"He was bleeding from his forehead and had some cuts on his fingers and arms," she said. "I told him 'You are really lucky you are alive. I didn't think anybody was alive in there.' We sort of talked for a minute or two, and I told him 911 was on the way, and he just turned around and started walking home.
"I didn't know what to say or what to do. He had a T-shirt and sweat pants and socks on, he might have taken his shoes off in the car, but I wasn't sure. And he just turned around and started walking home in his socks."
Waltrip was charged Saturday evening with reckless driving and failing to report an accident, both misdemeanors. He told police he fell asleep the wheel and woke up to find his car overturned in the gravel.
Waltrip has a May 14 court date in Newton on the charges.
NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said NASCAR would talk with Waltrip on Friday in Texas.
Waltrip had a scheduled interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, but a representative, Brooke Hondros, canceled it, saying Waltrip wasn't feeling well.
But in an interview with The Charlotte Observer, he said he was embarrassed for leaving the scene.
"I just feel stupid," he told the newspaper. "I feel like an idiot because this one is all me."
State trooper B.L. Buchanan said he arrived on the scene to find the wrecked SUV -- which had also hit a telephone pole -- but no Waltrip. He said he went to Waltrip's home to speak to him around 3 a.m., but was unsuccessful in locating the driver.
Hondros said Waltrip was showering in his pool house and didn't hear the police when they arrived.
Buchanan said his shift ended at 5 a.m., and he finally made contact with Waltrip at 8 p.m. Saturday when he returned to duty and Waltrip called him. The officer met him at Waltrip's home and issued the citation.
Waltrip told The Observer alcohol did not contribute to the accident.
"I didn't go home to avoid anything," he said. "I just went there trying to figure out what to do."
Waltrip is having a rough first year as a car owner.
He was caught cheating during Daytona 500 preparations when NASCAR found a fuel additive in his engine, and was docked a record 100 driver points. His crew chief was fined a record $100,000 and suspended indefinitely, as was his competition director.
Meanwhile, he has failed to qualify for the five races since the 500.
Dale Jarrett, who drives one of Waltrip's cars, has needed a provisional to make five of the six races this year and is currently 37th in the points. David Reutimann, his other driver, has failed to make two races and is 43rd in points.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Well, DUH!
barelypure
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You're in an accident. You're hurt. A witness tells you they have called 911 to report the accident. And, you decide to leave. Why didn't he ask her to drive him home? Rather than walking the mile in his condition. Something still doesn't add up to me.
Betsy
Team Owner
It adds up to me!
The penalty for what he did is not as great as the penalty might have been if he had stayed there.. Clear as a bell to me. He left and walked home to avoid the police seeing his condition.. Then he hid from them when they came to his home looking for him..
Betsy
The penalty for what he did is not as great as the penalty might have been if he had stayed there.. Clear as a bell to me. He left and walked home to avoid the police seeing his condition.. Then he hid from them when they came to his home looking for him..
Betsy
Yeh betsy, like Saddam in his hidey hole!
barelypure
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So I'm reading some articles on this and this quote made me loller...
· Michael Waltrip on his one-car accident this past week near his North Carolina home: "I just feel stupid. I feel like an idiot because this one is all me."
Chances are, he initially tried to blame Robby Gordon, but the replays told him otherwise.
· Michael Waltrip on his one-car accident this past week near his North Carolina home: "I just feel stupid. I feel like an idiot because this one is all me."
Chances are, he initially tried to blame Robby Gordon, but the replays told him otherwise.
kelloggs5TLfan
Team Owner
So I'm reading some articles on this and this quote made me loller...
· Michael Waltrip on his one-car accident this past week near his North Carolina home: "I just feel stupid. I feel like an idiot because this one is all me."
Chances are, he initially tried to blame Robby Gordon, but the replays told him otherwise.
Oh my gosh.
LMAOROTF
V
Vern Demerest
Guest
No, but I was watching it on the couch when it happened. I thought for sure he died. That was the scariest wreck I've ever seen.
Whizzer
Gig'em
You know Michael that well ?? Really ???
Let's look at the story as reported:
(a) Michael left the scene of an accident
(b) walked home in his stocking feet
(c) continued home knowing 911 was called
(d) failed to respond when law enforcement officers tried to contact him at his residence within minutes of the accident
(e) failed to respond to law enforcement officials for an additional eighteen hours
(f) discussed his situation with the first witness and showing no signs of confusion or disorientation
For what it is worth, my uneducated guess is, Michael was under the influence of something, whether legal or otherwise and fully consider most evidence concerning events surrounding this accident would be circumstantial in a court of law.
Some will gather Michael was under the influence but unless there is solid proof, which now is too late to obtain unless the blood from the accident can be tested for alcohol (or other content), none of us will know for sure.
Responsible people act responsibly.
Michael failed to act responsibly.
One thing I find interesting is, Michael has won races at speeds of 190 m.p.h., reacted to situations requiring nano-second reaction time at those speeds, yet is incapable of controlling (over correcting is Waltrip's explanation ) a Toyota at 70 m.p.h. Waltrip's wreck at Bristol many years ago was one of the most terrifying ever witnessed, yet shortly after escaping that horrendous crash, Michael was interviewed and acting with full recognition of the incident.
Falling asleep at the wheel would offer partial explanation for the above observation, and "falling asleep" is the official version, but evidence, although some is circumstantial, says otherwise.
If nothing else, it should make people suspicious that Michael Waltrip just might not be "Mr. I'll Win Them Over With My Personality".
IMHO, those who try to slip away from their responsibilities are immature and /or cowards and should not be forgiven with meager excuses.
Hard opinion ?? You betcha !!! But, there are too many inconsistencies in this situation to over look the what many consider, the obvious.
Betsy
Team Owner
those who try to slip away from their responsibilities are immature and /or cowards a
those who try to slip away from their responsibilities are immature and /or cowards and should not be forgiven with meager excuses
I must disagree. Given the same circumstances I would have run too! After all he didn't hurt anyone but himself and now doesn't have to put up with the DUI procedures.. Maybe he learned something from his wreck...maybe not. But I think his reaction to his immanent problem was a normal one. I might have run all night to get away from the law.
Don't get me wrong...I am a teatotaler! I simply see myself in his situation. I cannot cast blame because I would have done zackly the same.
It is funny as hell though, to write and read about.
Betsy
those who try to slip away from their responsibilities are immature and /or cowards and should not be forgiven with meager excuses
I must disagree. Given the same circumstances I would have run too! After all he didn't hurt anyone but himself and now doesn't have to put up with the DUI procedures.. Maybe he learned something from his wreck...maybe not. But I think his reaction to his immanent problem was a normal one. I might have run all night to get away from the law.
Don't get me wrong...I am a teatotaler! I simply see myself in his situation. I cannot cast blame because I would have done zackly the same.
It is funny as hell though, to write and read about.
Betsy
I'm with Da Whizz on this one. Mikey is not a teen (far from it) and if that wreck had happened in GA he would have been charged with a FELONY just for leaving the scene.
muggle not
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Someone tell Whizzer that my post was a "play" on the post by kelloggs5TLfan who fully understood my response.
Whizzer
Gig'em
Someone tell Whizzer that my post was a "play" on the post by kelloggs5TLfan who fully understood my response.
There ya go, "muggle not", ya told me yourself.
And yes, I was confused as I thought "muggle not" was actually quoting DW from a media article as a response to kellogg5TLfan's post.
I shoulda known better !!!! HOWEVER, being confused does not mean the opinion posted by the Whizzer, has changed.
muggle not
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Heck whizzer, you don't know what confused is until you step in my shoes.