I’ll be the first to admit—I cut corners sometimes. I’ve pushed my gas gauge past “E” more times than I’d care to admit. And more than once, I’ve “fixed” a friend’s bumper with a roll of duct tape and a prayer. In fact, I once found a bike at a yard sale I had to have while driving my two-seat convertible. Did I go home to grab my truck? Nope. I just jammed the bike behind the seats and securely ratchet-strapped it to the roll bar. Not my proudest moment, but it worked. And it was safe.

But there’s a limit to cutting corners, and this viral video of a Texan attempting to haul lumber with a midsize sedan? That’s light-years beyond where I draw the line.

Here’s the scene: some ambitious Texan heads out to the local home improvement store to load up on lumber for their weekend project. Sounds like a productive afternoon, right? Well, they load up the longest boards they can find, then face a dilemma: how do you haul 20-foot-long boards with a sedan?

Now, anyone with a shred of common sense might’ve rented a pickup truck—home improvement stores offer them for exactly this reason. Heck, you can get one for less than 20 bucks from U-Haul! Option two? Call a friend or neighbor with a truck; it’s Texas after all, where owning a pickup is practically a state pastime. Heck, Texas is the state that buys the most pickup trucks.

There’s even a third option for the true DIYers out there: buy some roof rack crossbars and ratchet straps. Sure, it might cost $100, but you’re investing in future projects. Plus, you’re less likely to end up the laughingstock of Twitter.

But our star of the show had a different plan—roll down the rear windows and laid the lumber on the door sills. Yup, leaving their sedan with a wingspan that could challenge a small plane. And yup, they found out just how terrible an idea that was.

The viral video, which appears to have been captured from Texas State Loop 363 near Temple, shows the sedan trying to merge onto the highway. The driver, clearly in a rush, zips past a line of stopped traffic waiting for the exit for highways 53 and 36 toward Temple/Gatesville. But as soon as they get moving, one of those precariously balanced boards clips a highway sign, bending the post and shattering wood like a lumberyard explosion.

Then comes the real chaos. As the car jerks in the opposite direction, its load of boards smashes into a minivan, leaving a trail of destruction behind. If that wasn’t enough, the sedan appears to ricochet again, slamming into a guardrail and sending more wood flying in every direction.

What happens next? The driver, having turned half their load into kindling, just keeps on driving. No attempt to stop, no checking the damage—just fleeing the scene as if nothing happened.

Not only are they in trouble for the damage to the minivan and the signpost, but they’re also likely looking at a fine for transporting a wide load without a permit. Ever seen those “wide load” signs with pilot cars leading the way for oversized hauls? That’s why they’re required.

You can watch the chaos unfold in the video below. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it:

? what are you doing?pic.twitter.com/rvdA0RDux7

— Real Untold Story (@RealUntoldStory) September 10, 2024

Next time you’re tempted to cut corners, just think of this sedan-turned-lumber-launcher. Maybe that roof rack or rental truck doesn’t seem so expensive after all.