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Fiction. © Copyright 2000, Jim Loy
Marvin Stanley died when his car hit the rear of a parked car. The speed of the car has been estimated to have been between 35 and 40 miles per hour. Mr. Stanley was not wearing a seat belt. He went part way through the wind shield. The steering wheel was bent; and at least two of Mr. Stanley's ribs were broken. He may have suffered some internal damage. But the main cause of death was obvious, so no autopsy was performed.
Mr. Stanley's car had an automatic transmission. It was in drive. The engine stopped and suffered considerable damage. The left window was rolled down. Fingerprints on the door and roof showed that he was in the habit of driving with his arm out the window. The radio was not turned on.
On the floor in front of the passenger seat were a current edition newspaper, a Frisbee with teeth marks of a medium sized dog on it, and a pen. Any of these items may have flown from the passenger seat during the collision. Under the driver's seat were two quarters, a penny, and an unidentified object which later turned out to be half a cookie.
Mr. Stanley's blood contained no alcohol or common drugs. He did not need corrective lenses. He had no known diseases.
There were no witnesses. The police questioned over fifty people in the neighborhood. Three people heard the collision; one of these called 911. No one saw the accident.
There did not seem to be any good reason for the accident. He just hit the parked car. That kind of thing happens, of course.
I wondered about Marvin Stanley. Who was he? What was he like? Who did he leave behind? I interviewed his friends and family. He left behind a wife and child. And he had no dog. Do you realize what that means? A Frisbee was found in his car. The Frisbee had the teeth marks of a medium sized dog. He owned no dog. He apparently owned no Frisbee.
I visualized Marvin Stanley driving along, with his arm out the window. Suddenly a Frisbee flew through the window and into the car. Startled, Mr. Stanley swerved into the parked car. And he died. Further inquiries led to a little boy who owned a medium sized dog. He and two of his friends were throwing the Frisbee, and the Frisbee had caused the crash. They had been afraid to tell the police.