OMG
may your friend rest in peace; my condolences and thoughts are with you, and his family.
This is something I have in the back of my mind too when doing some of what I do. This must be the reason why the exotic cars/owners I know don't drive on salty roads... even dry salty roads. Thankfully you are ok. I lost a friend just after HS to cancer; so I know some of the same feelings... It is good you are keeping as positive as you can.
Hopefully this will never happen again to you, nor to any of our other brothers here at JW.