What was commissioner thinking?

I don't know about you, but if I cause a fender bender on a major roadway, I'm not leaving the scene.

Even if the damage is slight.

Especially for a haircut appointment.

Which is tantamount to the little mis-adventure Commissioner Donna Hayes got herself caught up in Wednesday.

The 69-year-old East Manatee resident and prominent Manatee County Republican rear-ended another driver on State Road 70, gave the other motorist her contact information and told her she had to leave because she was late for an appointment.

At the hairdresser.

Well, excuse us.

Evidently, the Florida Highway Patrol was neither impressed nor sympathetic, even after Hayes reportedly took ill at the hairdresser and an ambulance was summoned, taking her to Blake Medical Center.

She was charged with careless driving and failure to immediately report a vehicle crash.

Hayes deserves ridicule for that stunt.

Now, I understand it's common for drivers involved in a minor fender bender to exchange the pertinent information and take care of business without involving law enforcement.

It happened to me and a neighbor years ago, we settled up no problem and no police were necessary.

But that was our quiet neighborhood street, not S.R. 70.

If it had happened there, I'm staying until everything is squared away -- and that includes the FHP.

Bug out for a haircut appointment?

Yeah, right.