Unfortunate circumstances

This is NOT an April Fools joke

~ Warning, some readers may find the content of this post disturbing. The account I write here is to the best I can recollect. During the process I found something’s remained clear and something’s were perceptions of what I thought was going on around me, my memory being what it is in the best of times. ~

Wednesday began with a wintery mix for the drive into work that morning. What began as a normal day with cautious driving conditions turned tragic when an oncoming car out of control crossed the centerline hitting the front of my truck then careened around and behind me before each of us came to a stop. In less than the moment it took to realize it was going to happen our vehicles slammed together and came to rest. Myself a short distance from the point of impact still in my lane, the car had spun around and come to rest off the side of and perpendicular to the road with its front end on the shoulder. Feeling shaken up, I was upright, no damage within the cab, engine hood crumpled upward, with the seatbelt holding me against the seatback the airbag had deployed but barely grazed my face, smoke swirling from it and the back of my neck hurt some. At that point I knew I shouldn’t move though I swung my eyes to the passenger side mirror and saw the car’s final location. No other vehicle I could tell had yet come upon us so I slid my hand into the thigh pocket of my pants for my cell, brought it to my face and dialed 911. The answering dispatcher asked the nature of the call and the other standard quick questions, including my condition whereas she told me not to move and she proceeded to connect my call to a local dispatcher.

Meanwhile after several vehicles had passed the accident scene without stopping someone finally pulled in behind us. He checked the driver of the car and as another driver brought forward a blanket for the other driver he came my way. Seeing I had a cellphone out asked whether I had called 911. I asked how the other driver was doing, the reply was not good, blood coming from the nose and an ear and she was unconscious.

Soon the blue lights of police vehicles began to arrive and moments later the first responders arrived. After checking the woman in the other vehicle a sheriff’s deputy followed by an EMT came to my window and in due process with other personnel my neck was braced I was eased out of the truck’s cab, strapped to a board lowered to a stretcher and loaded into the ambulance. The trip to the hospital seemed to take forever, with the neck brace rubbing my Adams apple and strapped down on a horizontal board the EMT wired me up to a 3D heart imager while taking my blood pressure. I was asked for various health factors which were fresh in my mind as I recently had had my annual physical where all results were normal or better. The EMT had contacted Carol and she arrived at my room at the hospital soon after a nurse and doctor came by with questions and gave a quick checkup telling me I’d have a CT scan to check for any damage to my neck and shoulder.

Shortly after the scan a county sheriff's detective came in, not a good sign. After an introduction and a couple of questions about how I was doing I brought up how the other driver was doing. He said she didn’t make it. I was afraid that was what I’d hear. Since a fatality was involved then a police investigation is required. We talked about what I saw during the accident, what I had been doing since arriving home from work the evening before and everything right up to the accident. This included activities, foods, drinks and what time I went to bed and what time I got up that morning. Also, would I be willing to provide a blood sample as part of the investigation which I acceded to. The nurse and doctor came back and said the scan results showed no injures, told me I’d be sore for up to a week and to load up on ibuprofen and Tylenol, drink plenty of fluids and get extra rest. I finally had the collar removed and the back of the bed raised – what a relief that was. Then I was able to A. get to the restroom (whew) and B. fill out an accident report. The detective was very cordial and informative about the process and he, Carol and I kept up a general conversation while waiting for county sheriff’s technician to arrive to take the blood samples. When walking to the restroom I felt fine other than a little stiffness in my neck so once I was released from the hospital I had Carol drop me off at work.

The tragedy of the women in the car resides with me. She was a young woman, single, on her way to work in the direction I was coming from. I feel sorry for her family, friends and co-workers and hope they find peace. From what I hear she was a very happy, well liked/loved person. Aside from the weather the details of how she came to the point losing control of her car is not known to me. The accident investigation will not be released until about 8 weeks from now. As I write this I’m waiting for the determination of the insurance company whether my recently purchased truck will be declared totaled or not. I am still amazed by the protection my truck provided me in this type of accident.

I am moving forward from this with an ever increasing appreciation of life and how precious it is, how important it is to live in the moment because in the blink of an eye everything can change. I’m also thankful to Carol and her love and support, my son Ian, family, friends and co-workers who checked in on me to see how I was doing. And I thank God for all that I have.