Urban Legend: Be sure to check your backseat – it could save your life!

When you leave work late at night, remember that urban legend. Always check the backseat of your car. You never know who might be lurking in the shadows.

“Anytime I get in the car, I check the backseat for murderers.” – Unknown

It Pays to Be Cautious

Life has a way of coming at you that can make you forget to do the simplest things. Case in point, a young woman was ending an extremely long and frustrating day at her place of employment. Eager to get home as quickly as possible, the minute she left her shift, she was ready to run to her car.

Walking in the parking lot with her friends, lost in conversation about plans for the weekend, she clearly wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings. Opening her door, she smiled and said goodbye to her colleagues.

Finally, she thought, peace at last! It had been a twelve hour plus day and she was ready to eat something and crawl into bed. Turning on her radio to keep herself awake, she put the keys in the ignition and started her car.

Unfortunately, she was playing the events of the day over in her brain. So many projects and not enough time. She would still be working if her supervisor hadn’t had a sudden family emergency. Actually, she didn’t mind driving at home at a later hour of the night. Less traffic.

She happened to look at her gas gauge. The E light came on. Sighing, at the next exit she pulled off to get gas. The convenience store parking lot was empty. Feeling a little hungry, she made the decision to go inside and get a snack.

Parking her car next to the pump, she got out and headed toward the doors. After making small talk with the clerk, she headed outside with her candy bar and a Coke. She put the soda inside her vehicle.

Stranger Danger!

The task of pumping gas complete, she returned to the driver’s seat to take charge. Leaving the parking lot, she ripped open the paper of her candy bar and began to eat.

Humming along to her favorite song, she saw a car merge onto the highway behind her. Not thinking anything of it, she continued singing. All at once, the car sped up and was directly behind her flashing it’s lights.

“What in the hell?” she said aloud. Grabbing her Coke and removing the top, she took a sip. Checking her rearview mirror, she couldn’t even see the person behind the wheel over the glare of the headlights. “I hope this asshole turns his high beams off.”

As if by magic, the headlights went dim. She continued down the highway for a few exits and then the car started flashing her again. “Okay, buddy. Why don’t you go around me?”

The anonymous person kept this pattern up throughout the ride to her house. Thoroughly annoyed, she noticed that the car was following her into her neighborhood. She started getting scared because maybe this person was unstable and could potentially harm her.

Wishing she had a hands-free phone, she pulled into her driveway. Her heart pounding, she saw her pursuer park his car. She locked her doors but knew that wouldn’t save her.

A Hero in Disguise

The driver got out of the car. She could see he was a young guy. Since he wasn’t brandishing a weapon, she got out of her vehicle to give him a piece of her mind. Before she could say anything, he put his finger to his lips to quiet her and pointed to her backseat.

“Look, I have had a very bad day. I am not interested in any crazy pick up lines or anything like that.”

“There is someone in your car.”

“Are you insane?”

The young guy was already dialing 911. After what seemed like an eternity, the police showed up. Walking toward the car with their guns drawn, they shined their flashlights into the backseat.

“Get out of the car! Get out of the car now!”

Slowly but surely, a disheveled man with an ax exited the vehicle. Surrendering because he could clearly see he was outnumbered, the would be killer laid down his weapon and was immediately cuffed.

According to the young man that followed her home, every time the murderer was ready to strike, he flashed his lights to distract him.

So, the takeaway from this urban legend? Sometimes there is a good Samaritan lurking in the dark to keep people from being a statistic.

Next: Urban legend: Who is watching you while you sleep?

What do you think about this urban legend? Fact or fiction? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below. We want to hear from you.