CAVE CREEK, Ariz. — You're driving down the freeway, enjoying the desert landscape and the warm spring weather the Valley is famous for.
Then, all of a sudden, you see something outside your windshield. Is it a leaf? A branch? Your windshield wipers?
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Una pareja de Cave Creek se encontró con una gran sorpresa mientras viajaban en su automóvil
Nope, it's a snake.
That's the situation Lauren Waldvogel and her husband found themselves in while they were driving to a friend's movie premiere in Mesa. The Cave Creek couple is used to seeing snakes — they live on a horse property surrounded by dirt roads.
But seeing one on the windshield while they cruised down the freeway was the most Arizona thing that's ever happened to them, Waldvogel said.
"Definitely the most Arizona thing that's ever happened to me is a snake popping up on my windshield to the hood of my car while I'm driving on the freeway," Waldvogel said. "It was a surprise for sure."
The couple luckily were headed to their exit and left the snake to slither off their car while they went to the premiere.
"I took actually one video, like, as we were walking away from the car, and it was still chilling on the car," Waldvogel said.
The snake appeared to be a gopher snake, a variety Waldvogel said she has seen in her area.
"We do have a lot of those around our property, which I don't hate because they do a lot of pest control, so I never kill them when I see them or anything," Waldvogel said. "I'm just kind of like, 'Alright, you just stay on your side of the area and I will stay over here.'"
Waldvogel said for anyone who finds themselves in a "sssimilar" situation, she recommends pulling over and letting the snake slither away on its own. And don't kill the snake!
"It's a harmless gopher snake, so you don't really need to try to kill it or anything," Waldvogel said.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.