Island Man Bravely Attempts Left Turn Out of Starbucks Onto William Hilton Parkway, Family Describes Him As “Hero”

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC — Traffic along William Hilton Parkway came to a standstill Friday afternoon after longtime resident George Lawton attempted what witnesses are calling “an unthinkable maneuver”: turning left out of the Starbucks parking lot at 416 William Hilton Parkway.

“He said, ‘Hold on to your seatbelts, we’re going for it,’ and then he just… went,” recounted wife Margaret, still shaken. “I closed my eyes and started praying. When I opened them, we were somehow across all four lanes.”

According to family members, Lawton waited nearly ten minutes for an opening before accelerating into what observers describe as “a blur of brake lights, hand gestures, and at least one rental Jeep swerving onto the shoulder.”

“I’ve seen grown men back down from less,” said neighbor Randy Peterson. “Most of us just turn right and circle back at the next light. That left turn is for people with nothing left to lose.”

Local officials confirmed that Lawton survived the attempt unharmed, though his Kia’s blinker remains permanently stuck on.

At press time, Lawton’s grandchildren were already telling friends their grandpa was “basically Evel Knievel, but with a Publix rewards card.”