Almost died today

Brian (Tankless)

give him two kisses on the forehead, one from me.

He has a good Dad.

Brian.

I'm looking forward to waking up tomorrow, so I can talk to Abbie, and make sure she's OK.

Brian (Tankless)

Head-on wrecks @ 70mph

aren't always fatal, thank God.

Going west (68mph) on I-10 toward Lake Charles/Houston, car on my left, truck right on my arse. 30 yds ahead in a Toyota, the Lady's head drop's to the left, then snaps up as car heads for the median. She had passed out for a second, yanked the wheel too much to the right, then too much to the left. Cut right again too hard, the front end dug in and was overtaken by the rear end. She is now facing me, in my lane, but going backwards at about 65 mph.

I couldn't brake harder (truck behind) couldn't go left (car there), couldn't go right (big ditch & trees) hit her with my front left on her front right.

5 mph differential impact, it couldn't have been more perfect...my truck hit her & spun her around two or three times off into the grass, where she stopped one (1") inch short of a tree, in a ditch.

The main stuff all happened as we were sliding off the Interstate to the right in slow-motion at 65mph, so all the other traffic just kept on going.

An 18 wheeler driver behind us, saw it all coming, and overtook the whole mess by passing us on the GRASS (median), and getting back on the highway further down the road...amazing driving, eat your heart out Tony Stewart.

I ground to a stop in the grass on the right, jumped out to get the Lady out of the car in case it caught fire. She wasn't hurt in the least, neither was I. She looked up at me, kinda dazed, and said "I know you, you bought a "Stihl" blower from me just before Rita, at the Western Auto" in the Village.

She (Abbie) is a lovely young Lady who hadn't eaten today, and thinks she's pregnant, hence a fainting spell, and all that followed.

Funny thing is, I woke up this morning feeling I had nothing to live for, then this happens. God has a plan for me (and Abbie), I just wish I knew what it was sometimes

She's OK, I'm OK, Her car is OK, my truck has more damage than it's worth to fix. But what the hell, it's just steel & rubber, I'll get another.

These things don't happen to us, do they ? until they do.

God bless you all, and please don't take anything for granted. Tell your children & freinds you love them.

Brian.

P.S. The entire accident lasted about five or six seconds, from start to finish. Think about it.

Garret

Wow... that's a terrifying ordeal. I'm so glad no one was hurt. Sounds like everyone involved was lucky and good... especially that trucker behind you. Seems like every few weeks there's another sad story about a multicar accident on an interstate where a truck couldn't avoid crushing someone, and I always think about the poor trucker who usually survived, who has to think forever about what happened. Those guys have a terrible responsibility we all ignore most of the time.. that's a serious load of weight you just can't stop quickly.

You probably owe your life to that trucker, to your own driving skill, and of course to whatever started this whole world spinning.

Ya got me thinking. I'm going to go sneak into my baby boy's room and give him a kiss on the forehead. If he wakes up, all the better.

-G

DanHolohan

Hug your kids.

Gordy_2

You never know

Thats what its all about Dan! Its amazing how a near death experience, changes your whole perception on life. Glad everyone is okay, and you now believe you have a purpose Tankless. Remember someone always has it worse than you, even though it would seem most have it better.

Most everything in life is adjustable, except for death.

Gordy

Constantin

I'm glad you're OK!

I've seen my lovely wife careen in her car across a highway before and to say that your heart stops when you see stuff like that is not an understatement! I'm happy to hear that you all made it out alive and with nary a scratch... like you said, cars can be replaced.

As admirable as it is for the trucker to have swerved around you, he/she was directly responsible for preventing you from taking evasive action in the first place. I wish truckers were given more respect & space and that they, in turn, would show more respect also and account for the much longer stopping distances that their mass/momentum entails.

Again, glad to hear that you're OK, and as always optimistic that you will not only find a great source of employ but life happiness as well. Cheers!

Wayco Wayne_2

Wow!

Good description. I was there with you while reading it. Glad it turned out OK. Everyone was lucky. Some days I look in the mirror and try to tell myself, "nothing is guaranteed, not even today." But there's a part of me that denies it, or can't conceive of it. Live like there's no tomorrow, because, well you know. WW

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Jeff Lawrence_25

Brian

You better give Autumn a hug as soon as you can. Youboth'll need it.

The other Southern Wethead.

Brad White_9

Guardian Angels work OT Sometimes

Brian-
Thank God for Best Outcomes! Hate to lose a new friend. Mother and baby I hope will be fine. And as Jeff said, give Autumn a hug too. She has an awesome daddy.

You said you woke up that AM with not a whole lot to live for (been there). Amazing what it takes to take stock of what is important.

So glad you are OK my friend.

Brad

Mad Dog_2

Every day is a gift.............................................

Even the bad ones. Glad you are ok. Your job now is to NEVER EVER take another day for granted. The LORD was with you and her. Greater force usually helps us come out on the better side of collisions. I learned that early on in sports and never got hurt that way. Thank God you are ok. Mad Dog

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hr

Yikes

what a wake up call. Glad it turned out as it did.

hot rod

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Brian (Tankless)

Thanks to all you guys, and God.

For the genuinely supportive words and freindship, it really does mean a lot, really.

Abbie is doing well. The EMT's took her to hospital anyway just as a precaution, and will be home today.

Three other folk stopped to help , one was an off-duty fireman/EMT, one was a hazmat/environmental tech with EMT & CPR training, the other, was the driver to my left during all this, and she was a wonderful, wonderful, gracious black lady who just happened to be an R.N. on the way to work at the same hospital where Abbie was taken. I've also had my share of emergency first-aid training. We couldn't have been in better hands if it were planned. I know now who's hands we were in, thank you, God.

All in all, in the circumstances, it worked out perfectly. If I hadn't been behind her at the time to give her that nudge off the road, the big truck behind me would have hit her square-on and she would surely be dead, and possibly more people hurt.

I got about five hr's sleep last night, and dreamt the whole time. Mainly a recurring dream about the good women I hurt and left behind, a long time ago. Maybe my thinking too much about the past is sabotaging me now.

Sorry to go on so, but I've done a lot of thinking since 2.30 Pm yesterday. Maybe it's time to grow up and re-discover the "responsibility gene" that I haven't been using for a while now.

Thanks for listening guys, it's time to start putting one foot in front of the other.

Hug your little Angels and freinds..

Brian.

jackchips_2

I felt your

emotions as I read your words.

Many years ago (1968 or so), during a driving rain storm, a woman on my left was flying as she went from the passing lane, to facing me head-on in the middle lane, to facing forward again in the right lane.

We both stopped in the break down lane as everyone else continued on their way.

My recollection is that the time frame and the "slow motion" were similar to your situation.

Thanks for the memory but more important, thank God you and the young lady are OK.

Jack

Kevin O. Pulver

It's coming for all of us...

We don't know when or how, but as ol' drunken Hank Williams sang, "I'll never get out of this world alive."
Forgiveness is available for all who first of all recognize they need it and don't deserve it, and then ask the only One who can give it. (limited time offer-conditions apply)
Kevin

DanHolohan

Kevin,

let's remember what we talked about last week.

John R. Hall

Wow

Great story -- and ALWAYS hug your kids. It's a joy to wake up every morning and say "I'm alive."

I am a big fan of "24" and on the episode this week there was a scene where a security guard knew he was going to die momentarily from nerve gas exposure, so he called his little girl on the phone. I can't even finish what I started to say...

Weezbo

Maybe there is something to to what you were saying.....

I am knowing a lot of people in this place...so i am considering that you send me an e-mail with a pinner outline with what you would call succinct and i run it to my buddy or two and you and yours take a quick summer working sabbatical to Alaska.

The days are long in summer, i will get my Tom Terrific Hat out and bingo!

The Tom Terrific hat is real pointy unlike my mind reader hat,so....it stays on focus. and Thank God You were focused as well as the truck driver...and you are all safe....

Brian (Tankless)

Thanks Dan,

but in this case, I agree with, and thank Kevin, he read between my lines, and voiced what I have been thinking about, struggling with, but afraid to look at or acknowledge for so long. I needed it.

To get any kind of peace in my life, I must confess my wrongful past and deeds to another person & my God. Then REALLY accept forgiveness, and get on with living, not just existing.

While I am not "religious" strictly-speaking, I envy Catholics their devout belief in confession & forgiveness.

Thank you, Dan, for what you do on & off this board, and giving us less energetic folk a place to make freinds we've never met, and say things we might not otherwise get the chance to say.

Thanks, Kevin, but I agree with Dan too.

Today's another day. I'm not going to tempt fate by saying "it can't be worse than yesterday"

Work to do, must go.

Thanks, Brian.