A driver heading through uptown Robbins swerved to go around a pickup as it backed out of an angled parking space. The two collided. Her car flipped, and she ended upside down in the middle of Middleton Street.

People rushed from shops to help, but there appeared to be no serious injuries. The driver of the inverted car had been wearing her seatbelt. Officer Travis Bowman was on the scene quickly; the accident happened just up from the police station. Other emergency personnel responded.

Marcae Stone came out of the Northern Moore Family Resource Center to photograph the unusual sight right out front with her phone. Others took pictures of the unusual sight from different angles. Across Middleton Street, from Southern Variety & Collectibles on the other side of the topsy-turvy car, David Cheek said he’d seen it happen.

“He was backing out, and she was coming up fast,” he said. “I think they gave the ticket to him, though.”

Bowman closed the street, routing traffic around the downtown area while he had the matter under investigation. After an hour or so, by 5 p.m., things were back to normal and the streets of Robbins were again open.

“Only in Robbins!” said Janet Chriscoe, who’d also photographed the strange scene.

Bowman completed his report, and Lt. Rob Tew of the Robbins Police Department released the results early Friday afternoon.

“The people involved were Herman Wesley Garren driving a 2001 Ford pickup and Penny Frazier Gordon driving a 1997 Honda,” Tew said. “He was backing out into Middleton Street. She was traveling up the street and collided with the rear end of his pickup. Her vehicle overturned in the roadway as a result.”

Charges are pending against both drivers.