I recently saw a new pintle hitch on the side of the interstate.....had to go six miles and turned around and thank god it was still there.
One time I was at a light coming off the highway and the pickup in front of me had the tailgate down with tools etc.....
he floors it out of the light and takes the left and a craftsman plastic 300piece or something socket set falls out opens up and sockets all over the road. I pulled up, put my hazards on and caused a slight traffic jam as I retrieved all the sockets, wrenches etc... It was pretty funny. A cop pulls up when I was almost done and asked whats up.... I told him and he says nice score...ha ha then he looks over and tells me I missed one..... ha ha ha
there was some nice SK ratchets in there also.
Another time I was driving the interstate and there is a brand new 8' fiberglass ladder in the center lane.... I pull over, back up,just about to jump out and get it and here comes a wave of cars.... a guy in a bimmer talking in the phone hits it and goes right over it , crushes it, no flat tire, and kept going. Well i called the cops and got the **** out of there before there was a pileup.
I see stuff all the time but sometimes its just too dangerous to pick it up. Thats a horrible story about your friend w/the kids.