29. Children of the Corn
This next story exemplifies how disastrous it may be to drink and drive.
I volunteered as a firefighter. Two good old boys decide to drink a few (dozen) beers and go off-roading in a nearby field one summer after a long time of no rain. Well, two ft. long, bone-dry corn stalks wound up wedged into the undercarriage, which, on a 90+ degree day, turns out to be hot enough to start a fire. From their home, the field owner observes the scene unfolding and calls for fire and police. Because of my proximity to the scene, I rush over after hearing the page and see these two idiots attempting to drive.
“Eventually, the engine dies, but they refuse to get out of the automobile. I had to manually reach in and pull them out, scorching my arms in the process (since I didn't go to the station beforehand to get my turnout gear). They somehow reasoned that staying in the automobile would slow the flames down. We now have a big brush fire and have to summon mutual aid from another county to help douse the fire because they felt it was a good idea to keep driving a flaming vehicle around a dry field. The state police are called in. I had a pleasant visit to the hospital. And those jerks lose their Jeep as well as the rest of their liquor."
