So I currently live in Tennessee near where the incident took place (the vehicle owner is a relatively well-known spinal surgeon in Nashville) and I can tell you that the interstates in this part of the country are relatively desolate and do not present an attractive option for pulling over. Outside of the cities, there are miles between exits and the area is heavily wooded with little amenities nearby. After having driven on I-24 for a time, I can relate with the author when he states "I just wanted to make it home". If his car seemed "driveable" at the time, I too would've chalked it up to bad luck and tried to survey the damage at home rather than getting stranded on a interstate shoulder. Just a hypothesis offering some context for the basis of his decisions.
