This document is part of a series about Randall "Duke" Cunningham's attempted murder / suicide on November 25th, 2005

Home page for "Cunningham's Last Battle" web site / Contact the author / victim / witness Russell 'Ace' Hoffman

To: California Department of Motor Vehicles
Subject: Additional note for the people of the California DMV

December 5th, 2005

To Whom It May Concern,

Enclosed is form SR1 and a longer description of the "accident" which occurred on November 25th, 2005 in San Marcos.

I thought, when I wrote the description attached herein last Monday, and faxed it to the San Marcos Sheriff's Department the same day, that I would want to write this description specifically FOR the Department of Motor Vehicle's use, to help the DMV make any possible modifications to the California Driver's Manual it might suggest.

Although I have attached that description, on careful reflection for several days, I believe the driver's manual already covers exactly what to do in instances like this, and I believe I did exactly what it says to do as best could be done under the circumstances, and although suggestions one, two, and three might not have worked, suggestion four (or maybe it was five, or six) DID work.

[Note: This is wrong. A description of how to avoid a suicidal driver intent on having a head-on collision is NOT in the CDM! -- ACE]

So, although it was a terrifying and life-altering experience for my wife and I (and, presumably, for the other driver), I realize even suicidal head-ons have been avoided in the past, presumably thanks to other drivers having studied their driver's manual carefully, before me (because you sure don't get to practice this beforehand!).

In any event, I would personally like to thank the people at the California Department of Motor Vehicles for putting out such an excellent driver's manual.  I believe your instructions, which I have read several times since moving to this great state more than a decade ago (the last full read-though being just last August in time for a possible license renewal test at the DMV), were a vital factor in surviving the accident described herein.  Your clear information saved my life, my wife's life, and -- not to be ignored -- also the life of the person who was approaching us in a suicidal fashion as described in the attached information included herein.

The event unfolded over a period of 5 to 7 seconds -- surely a VERY long time for a "simple" (if horrific) accidental cross-over.  The other driver really was quick as lightening in his response to every move I made to yield him any right-of-way he wanted (see attached for a possible explanation of why he seemed so skilled).

But the one thing he could not do anything about (since his speed was so fast by the time he got to me) was me staying slow, as directed in the driver's manual, and using that slowness to maneuver out of his way at the last moment.  By the time I moved away, his inertia and speed insured a collision with my previous location -- he no longer had the "luxury" of collision avoidance precisely because of his speed, while I did, because of our large relative differences in speed.

Thank you again,

Russell Hoffman