My Best Halloween taxi driver story

It was Halloween, I can't remember what year, maybe 2004.  I rolled down Main Street in Huntington Beach, California, in my taxi about 10:00 pm.  A guy dressed as a pimp, who looked a lot like the guy in the clip above, flagged me down.  He'd had enough partying, and was heading home to Costa Mesa to chill out.  I zig-zagged out of downtown HB, and headed up Adams Street.  The pimp and I were talking, and I was almost to Brookhurst when a small, jacked up, pick-up truck shot out of the parking lot across the intersection.  The truck hit the median awkwardly, bounced over it, and swerved into the lanes about 100 yards in front of us.  It hit the opposite curb, tilted, then rolled over onto its roof on the sidewalk.  It wobbled, then rolled back onto its right side.  I hit the brakes as we approached.  I glanced back at the pimp, both of us freaked out by what we just saw.  "I gotta stop man," I said, "this is serious."  The pimp just nodded.  I pulled over to the curb right by the wrecked truck, hit my flashers, and got out and walked towards the truck.  The pimp got out and walked slowly behind me. 

The accident was so brutal, I seriously thought there might be body parts hanging out of the truck.  Nobody was visible.  I stopped a few feet from it, and heard something rattle inside.  Suddenly a skinny young guy slipped out the partially squashed passenger's side window, right by the ground.  My jaw dropped in amazement.  The guy jumped to his feet, and said, "Help me roll my truck back over, I gotta get out of here.  I'm under age and there's a 12 pack in the cab."  I looked over to the pimp, who'd walked up beside me.  Befuddled is the word that comes to mind.  We looked at each other, wondering if all that had really just happened.  I was sober, and I couldn't believe it.  I can't imagine what the drunk pimp was thinking.

I looked at the kid who'd slipped out of the truck.  "Uh...dude... you're not driving away from this one."  A lady walking across the street was already on her phone.  The pimp just stood there bewildered.  I talked to the driver of the truck for the few minutes, but I don't remember what was said. 

The police showed up in  a few minutes, and the pimp and I walked silently to the cab, got in, I turned the meter back on, and I took the pimp home.  Neither of us could really believe that crazy scenario just happened right in front of us.  It happened on Halloween night, which is already a crazy and fun night to be a taxi driver. 

Halloween is a fun holiday to dress up, party, and let loose.  Have fun tonight, whether you're taking the kids out trick or treating, or partying with friends.  If you're drinking, take a taxi or hit up Uber for a safe ride home.  Be the smart pimp, not the stupid young drunk in the pick-up truck. 




We've had a terrible tragedy in New York City today, where bike riders, like me and most of you reading this, were targeted.  My deepest thoughts, prayers, and best wishes to the families of those killed, and to the injured and everyone involved.