EUGENE, OR — Local resident Kevin Dawson is reportedly still in a state of disbelief after witnessing what experts are calling a “statistical anomaly” on I-5: a California driver properly using a turn signal.
“I almost drove off the road,” said Dawson, still visibly shaken. “At first, I thought maybe their hazard lights had accidentally flicked on. But no—it was a real, intentional lane change with an actual blinker.”
The incident occurred Thursday afternoon when Dawson, a lifelong Oregonian, was driving northbound near the Franklin Blvd exit. That’s when he noticed a white Tesla with California plates preparing to change lanes. Expecting the usual sudden, erratic maneuver, Dawson instinctively braced himself, only to be met with something he never thought he’d see in his lifetime.
“There it was… blinking… in perfect rhythm,” Dawson recalled. “I mean, I had heard rumors that California cars technically come with turn signals, but I always thought that was just some urban legend.”
Other drivers on the road were reportedly just as stunned.
“I almost pulled over,” said witness Linda Reynolds, who was driving in the adjacent lane. “I had to blink a few times myself to make sure I wasn’t imagining it.”
Authorities have yet to confirm whether the event was an intentional act or simply a freak accident caused by an unknown external factor—such as a stray elbow bumping the turn signal lever.
Experts, however, remain skeptical.
“There is no recorded evidence of a California driver using a turn signal on purpose in Oregon,” said Dr. Martin Langley, a traffic behavior analyst at Oregon State University. “This could be an isolated event, or we may be dealing with something far more concerning—like a former Oregonian who moved to California and still remembers their roots.”
Dawson, still recovering from the ordeal, has decided to take a short break from driving.
“I just need some time,” he admitted. “It’s like seeing Bigfoot, but somehow less believable.”
At press time, the California driver was last seen merging onto I-105, this time without signaling, restoring balance to the universe.
