‘The hero we needed.’ People react to Chicago TV reporter’s rant on snow-covered cars
People who drive with snow-covered cars also drive Chicago TV reporter Erik Runge “nuts.”
He’s so passionate about the topic that he went on a rant about it while live on air with WGN — and he has since received “hero” status from some of his viewers.
“You know those people that come out and they just do that little tiny square by the driver’s seat,” he described. “Don’t be that guy. That’s so dangerous. I don’t understand that at all. And it just really aggravates me. And it’s just stupid. It just drives me nuts.”
His rant took place on a snowy Chicago sidewalk after he says he saw a handful of vehicles on the cleared road while still covered in snow.
“There’s another one, right there,” Runge said as he pointed to an SUV pulling into a gas station across the street. The front driver and passenger windows were cleared, along with the front windshield. But the back windshield was still partially covered in snow, and the back windows were not visible.
“As soon as I get off the air, I’m gonna head over there and ask them why they did that,” he said. “Either that or I’m just gonna go give them my snow brush.”
And that’s exactly what he did — well, sort of.
“I went off on a little bit of a rant in my last live report,” Runge said when back on air. “I’ve composed myself.”
The video then cut to what happened when the TV reporter went to check in with the driver of the SUV.
“I’m in a hurry,” the driver told Runge.
“I’ll do it real quick,” Runge replied. “I want you to be safe.”
The WGN reporter used his snow brush to speedily wipe the snow from the remaining windows before giving the driver a thumbs up, signaling he was safe to get back on the road.
“That took me about 10 seconds to do, so there’s no excuse to not go out there and brush your car off,” he said. “Don’t be that guy.”
The video shared by the Chicago news station to Facebook and Twitter garnered lots of enthusiastic support.
“Erik is my new hero,” one person replied.
“Erik Runge: Not the hero we deserved, the hero we needed,” said another.
“I have chosen ‘Runge’ as my first Wordle word in Erik’s honor today,” another commented. “Unfortunately, there was not one correct letter, but man, that felt good.”
“I agree 100% with him,” another person replied. “The worst is when all that snow flips on your car since you are behind ‘that person.’”
It’s important to note there was still snow covering the roof of the SUV.
And while some consider Runge a hero, not all thought his actions were necessary.
“That man had both side windows cleaned,” one viewer replied. “No need to do rest of the car. Good way to get beat up. Many trucks and vans with just 2 windows. That’s why we have mirrors.”
Illinois state law says “no person shall drive a motor vehicle with snow, ice, moisture or other material on any of the windows or mirrors, which materially obstructs the driver’s clear view of the highway.”
Snow continues to fall in the Chicago area, weather officials say, and blowing and drifting snow is likely.
This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 10:33 AM with the headline "‘The hero we needed.’ People react to Chicago TV reporter’s rant on snow-covered cars."