Road rage. It’s that universal feeling of frustration, sometimes outright fury, when someone pulls an infuriating move on the road. But while most of us settle for an angry honk or maybe a muttered insult, two drivers in Poland took things to a whole new level—going from words to fists, right in the middle of the highway. It didn’t end well. Their highway showdown was cut tragically short when, mid-scuffle, they toppled straight into the travel lane and were both struck by a passing truck.

Yes, this really happened.

It all began with a fender-bender just outside Stary Krzew, Poland. For most of us, a low-speed bump would lead to exchanging insurance info, maybe some grouchy small talk. But these two couldn’t let it go. They hopped out of their vehicles and launched right into an argument that quickly turned into a full-blown fight. And where did they decide to duke it out? Not safely on the shoulder. Nope—these two titans of the road decided to brawl on the pavement.

Maybe it’s just me, but when tempers flare on the road, most people know to keep their distance—and, ideally, to stay out of the travel lane. Yet, for these two, the shoulder clearly wasn’t close enough. They took their grievances right to the asphalt, a place reserved for speeding cars and very much not for impromptu fistfights. And as they squared off, they might have felt invincible, oblivious to the fact that incoming traffic doesn’t just wait for brawlers. In the end, their anger had catastrophic consequences, proving that when it comes to road rage, a bit of caution might be the better part of valor.

It’s easy to laugh at the absurdity, but this tale from Poland is a somber reminder of just how badly road rage can end. And if you’re thinking, “Surely this can’t be that common,” consider another incident right here in California. Two drivers hopped out of their cars on I-80 to argue after an accident. No points for guessing how that turned out—they too were struck by a passing car.

So, what’s the moral of these stories? For one, take a deep breath and resist the urge to confront another driver on the highway. If you absolutely must engage, do it somewhere other than a lane of moving traffic. Your life isn’t worth proving who was in the wrong—or the right. And if you’re too mad to think straight, just let it go and drive on. Because when it comes to road rage, the real winner stays calm enough to stay alive.