Wow. I had something similar, happen when was traveling a round the us once in a suburban. I was on a long treeless road, no hills, nothing. Just straight going. No cars In Sight or so I thought. I dunno how I missed seeing the car on the side of the road before i got to it, but I did.
my dog got into a box of paper towels in the back, and was just ripping them to shreds, and pieces were flying everywhere because the windows were open. I finally noticed it, and looked up in the mirror to see the dog going crazy with the box, and I looked back over my shoulder, quickly, to see the mess, and when I looked back around again, I was maybe 1/2 foot or so from smashing into a car on the side of the road.
God certainly watched over me too. A 1/2 foot or so more to the right (I think I steered right a bit when I looked over my shoulder), and it woild have been curtains no doubt. It shook me up that I didn’t see the car in the first place. I dunno if I saw it and it didn’t register, or I just didn’t see it at all. But I mean this was truly out in the middle of nowhere, no other cars around for miles.
Damned it !! That’s too close.
One if My Thank You God close ones. Broad daylight, perfect weather and I’d been up for 36+ hours. Driving though Austin, TX on the upper level of IH-35N which is 2 lanes elevated probably 60-80’ and I was bone tired doing 75mph in the left lane and dozed off for a second and when I snapped awake I was about 6” from the LR corner of a car and getting closer. Well that adrenaline rush kept Me awake the next 12 miles to home.
I no longer even let Myself get close to drowsy after that rodeo.