Woman totals her car after seeing spider on front seat

Arachnophobia is a serious problem for many. When faced with a spider in the shower, some people would rather skip bathing than deal with the eight-legged intruder. For one woman in Cairo, New York, her fear of spiders nearly cost her everything.

In 2020, the Town of Cairo New York Police Department shared on Facebook a photo of a crash caused by a spider. They reported that after the unidentified woman saw a spider on her front passenger seat, she "panicked and crashed."

The department wrote on Facebook:

"After investigating today's crash on Silver Spur Road we feel it necessary to bring up a contributing factor that is not covered too often. It is believed that the operator of the vehicle noticed a SPIDER in the drivers area with her as she was driving."

"The operator panicked and crashed suffering a leg injury from the crash. We know that it is easier for some drivers than others but PLEASE, try to teach new drivers and yourselves to overcome the fear and pull over to a safe place. Lives depend on it."

Cairo Fire, Cairo Ambulance, and Greene County Medics attended the scene along with the police. It might seem like a lot of attention for one little spider, but safety comes first.

Unsurprisingly, the post attracted a fair number of comments. Many seemed to relate to the unnamed woman.

"For safety measures should probably burn the car too," one user wrote. "Just to make sure it’s really dead."

Another added: "My sister did this as a teenager. Ran into the back of a parked car at a low speed. The policeman laughed and laughed. My parents thought she was joking at first."

Others were less receptive, with one user writing:

"Sorry... no disrespect to anyone suffering from this phobia, but I just never understood (still don't) the irrational fear of spiders that many [people] have."

This incident highlights the importance of staying calm and pulling over safely when faced with unexpected situations while driving.

This article was originally published on July 7, 2020. It has since been updated.