I am driving alone at night in Newberg, on the north side of Springbrook road approaching 99W. I forget that I am supposed to turn right (for whatever reason) and I'm in the center lane. Suddenly I remember, and sort of veer over to the right. I can't make the right turn because a car or barrier blocks my way, and in the confusion I don't stop at the red light, but there are no cars in the intersection, so I make a totally illegal left turn and proceed toward Portland on 99W.

Immediately cars are getting in my way, drifting into my lane, and I keep having to swerve around them. The first two or three I manage to miss, but trying to get around the third, I hear a distinctive crunch in the left rear of my car. I pull over onto a side road and stop.

The other driver also pulls over, and parks sidewys in the road as if blocking my escape. He is foreign, and very agitated and angry. "Where is your jacket?" he demands. My jacket is on the passenger seat, but I just ask him what he's talking about. He shows me his shoulder, where his thin nylon jacket is torn. He wants mine in exchange.

"Look," I tell him, "it was my fault, but cut me some slack! Did you see what I was going through back there? I'll give you my insurance information, and they can straighten this all out, but no way you can have my jacket."