ON 1/2/2017 I POSSIBLY TOTALED A 2015 CHEVY EQUINOX AND I WASN'T EVEN IN IT. I AM THE FIRE CHIEF IN MY TOWN AND RESPONDED TO A NON-RESPONSIVE INDIVIDUAL CALL. WHEN I ARRIVED I WAS APPARENTLY DISTRACTED BY THE CALL TYPE AND WHAT WE WERE GOING TO BE DOING NEXT AND LEFT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS COLD SO I LEFT MY VEHICLE RUNNING. THE CAR SAT THERE FOR ABOUT 10 - 15 MINUTES IN DRIVE BUT NOT MOVING. I CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE TO MAKE A PHONE CALL, ONLY TO SEE MY VEHICLE START TO ROLL FORWARD AND THEN GAIN MOMENTUM AND TRAVEL INTO THE WOODS AND DOWN A RAVINE. WHAT IF THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANYTHING TO STOP IT. HOW FAR WOULD IT HAVE GONE? WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA? WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN A MOTHER WHO GOT OUT FOR SOMETHING BUT LEFT HER KIDS IN THE CAR. THE TECHNOLOGY EXISTS TODAY ON MY RIDING LAWN MOWER THAT IF I AM NOT IN THE SEAT IT SHUTS OFF. SHOULD VEHICLES NOT HAVE THE SAME TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP THIS KIND OF ACCIDENT FROM HAPPENING? YES, I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE EXTRA SECOND TO MAKE SURE IT WAS IN PARK, YES I COULD HAVE SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE (WHICH I DEFINITELY WILL IN THE FUTURE FOR ANY VEHICLE I LEAVE RUNNING). BUT HUMANS ARE NOT INFALLIBLE AS I FOUND OUT. IT WAS A SICKENING FEELING TO WATCH AND NOW I AM JUST HOPING IT DOES NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT RAMIFICATIONS FOR MY EMPLOYMENT. MY INCIDENT IS PAST, BUT IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE THEN I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM PART OF IT. *