Drivers on the 120 Bypass passing the Main Street overcrossing mid-afternoon Sunday got to see what was likely a first.

Apparently in order to avoid rear ending a car in the slow lane of the eastbound 120 Bypass, a driver ended up taking their sedan three quarters of the way up the sloped concrete retaining wall under the southside of the overpass.

The accident underscores the foolish folly of those homeless who  have set up illegal encampments on the northside of the Bypass between fencing that separates the Manteca Industrial Park and adjoining almond orchard from the freeway.

There are no less than a half dozen in the area where vehicles, if they have to make a sudden move to the right to avoid a rear-end collision, could end up on top of them.

The elevated portion of the 120 Bypass once you pass Main Street going east has been the scene of several accidents over the years where vehicles in order to avoid ramming a stopped or slowing vehicle in front of them, opted to steer to the right and ended up doing down the embankment.

The area prone to that on the south side behind the Paseo Villas apartments was secured earlier this year by Caltrans with the installation of wrought iron fencing to prevent the homeless from getting into the area to set up housekeeping.

The worst such accident involved a semi-truck trailer that years ago went over the edge at the Van Ryn Avenue crossing.

Caltrans is doing its best to secure right-of-way along freeway that attracts homeless starting with the ones that are the most dangerous locations.

Of course, it takes money and resources to do so.

Still, you’ve got to wonder about the homeless that pitched the tent on the northwest quadrant of the Main Street interchange Sunday literally 10 to 15 feet from  the edge of the freeway when there was plenty of other spots farther away  from traffic zooming by at 65 mph.

It was nearly two years ago that a homeless person walking across the freeway near that location that was struck and killed by a garbage truck.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com