A man's gesture of love has shut down one of Houston's busiest freeways. As residents waited along the lane of traffic on Dec. 13, they assumed it was probably a wreck or a stalled car. Apparently, a man decided to propose to his girlfriend in the middle of the highway.
"I just wanted to do something different," Vidal Valladares Navas, 24 years old, said.
The lucky girl, Michelle Wycoff of Houston, Texas, was surprised. She was told they had to take Interstate 45 (I-45) to get to a party, which Navas made up as an excuse. Tracing back to their second date, it was a favorite spot of the lovers as they went there on a motorcycle.
For about 35 seconds, Vidal's friends helped stop the traffic while he asked Michelle to get out of the car, knelt on one knee and popped the question.
For some, this gesture might be sweet and flattering, but for people who saw the video online, it was not a wise thing to do.
Internet users bashed Vidal, saying his action was dangerous. Media news cited the proposal as an "outrageous pomposity perpetrated by people who have no regard for the safety of others." Meanwhile, a YouTube video was uploaded where users state their opinion about his gesture of love.
"Why, of all places, here???" said a user named Roku Jones said in a comment.
"This is a perfect example of narcissism. What if there was a groom HEADING to his wedding. Or an emergency and someone had to get to a hospital, Nope he could care less as long as HE gets his way," another user named Eduardo Torres commented.
The Houston Police Department was not aware about the traffic stop. However, the forgiving officers wished the couple well.
"It appears we were not called to the scene and it more than likely happened quickly before our officers saw it on patrol," HPD spokesman Victor Senties said.
