I got a call at work on that July day from Ellyn and she said she had been in an accident with her car. My first thought was that she loved that little car and now it had some big dent in it. I also thought she was calling me from at work, although I had not seen her yet that day. It must have been before lunch since she and I usually ate with a bunch of people from both departments, several of which were transferees from Rochester.
Slowly it came to light that it was more than just a fender bender; that she was not at work, but at home with a badly damaged knee, and that her car was not merely damaged but burned beyond recognition. I actually got to see it later. She found out where it had been taken to and I was curious. At the time I had considered taking photos but I thought they would upset Ellyn too much, so I did not. Now, it would be interesting to be able to look back at them.
As Ellyn mentioned in her post, and I had forgotten, Laura was staying with her that week, so I really did not have to get involved. I am not sure why I did, although we had become friends, and I guess I felt I was able to help out, so I would, as much as she wanted me to. And I did feel bad about her poor car. So it was the beginning, that fork in the road, and I took it.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Fiery Smashup Changes Course of Our Lives
Thirty years ago, today, I was driving to work in my 6wk old red Honda Civic. It was about 6:30am. The sun was just coming over the hills as the southbound I-280 freeway took a turn toward the east less than two miles from my house. The sun was just coming over the eastern hill and, In the next instant, the sun flashed in my eyes.
Boom! Impact.
I realize that the front of my car has crashed into the rear of a car and that both our cars are on fire. I jump out of my car without even considering that I could be stepping into traffic. I go to the elderly couple from other car and ask if they are okay. The man says "The sun was in my eyes. I couldn't see anything so I stopped." As soon as I realize they are okay, I move away from them. By this time, others have gathered to help and they point out that the right knee of my slacks are bloody and tell me to lie down. One is an EMT on his way to work. He pulls up my pant leg and when the injury is revealed, the other bystanders gasp. I never did look at it, myself.
Now the two cars are totally engulfed in flames and people keep asking me over and over whether anybody else was in the car with me. They ask me so many times that I start to worry that I've forgotten somebody in there. Then the trooper asks me what happened and I tell him that I was in the 2nd lane from the right and next thing I know I'm in the back of a car. Then he goes to talk to the other couple and then he returns to me and he says "We have a problem - they say that they were in the right hand lane and you say the 2nd lane." If it was 2007, I probably would have responded "Whatever." but instead I said "well, I guess I was wrong".
The woman in the other car and I were transported to the hospital a couple miles away. At the hospital, x-rays were taken - no CAT scans or MRI's back then. No breaks. My knee was washed and stitched. For those who don't recall the scar on my knee, it's "Y" shaped with each branch about 2-3 inches long and is still quite visible. I also had a small puncture cut on the top of the knee.
Summary of the injuries - my knee hit the dashboard and the puncture wound probably was caused by a key on my key ring. In the next hours/days, a vivid bruise made it clear that the abdominal pain was a severe bruise from the seatbelt. I also had a scrape on my shoulder from the shoulder harness. It's was pretty obvious that more serious or maybe even fatal injuries were prevented by my seatbelt - aided by the Honda's transverse engine which was fairly unique at that time.
So I get stitched up. I call my sister, Laura, who was staying at my house that week, so she can come pick me up and then I'm laid up at home for the next week or so. My theory on how the accident happened and also how this event changed our lives will be coming up in future entries. A link to the newspaper article about the accident is on the left.
Boom! Impact.
I realize that the front of my car has crashed into the rear of a car and that both our cars are on fire. I jump out of my car without even considering that I could be stepping into traffic. I go to the elderly couple from other car and ask if they are okay. The man says "The sun was in my eyes. I couldn't see anything so I stopped." As soon as I realize they are okay, I move away from them. By this time, others have gathered to help and they point out that the right knee of my slacks are bloody and tell me to lie down. One is an EMT on his way to work. He pulls up my pant leg and when the injury is revealed, the other bystanders gasp. I never did look at it, myself.
Now the two cars are totally engulfed in flames and people keep asking me over and over whether anybody else was in the car with me. They ask me so many times that I start to worry that I've forgotten somebody in there. Then the trooper asks me what happened and I tell him that I was in the 2nd lane from the right and next thing I know I'm in the back of a car. Then he goes to talk to the other couple and then he returns to me and he says "We have a problem - they say that they were in the right hand lane and you say the 2nd lane." If it was 2007, I probably would have responded "Whatever." but instead I said "well, I guess I was wrong".
The woman in the other car and I were transported to the hospital a couple miles away. At the hospital, x-rays were taken - no CAT scans or MRI's back then. No breaks. My knee was washed and stitched. For those who don't recall the scar on my knee, it's "Y" shaped with each branch about 2-3 inches long and is still quite visible. I also had a small puncture cut on the top of the knee.
Summary of the injuries - my knee hit the dashboard and the puncture wound probably was caused by a key on my key ring. In the next hours/days, a vivid bruise made it clear that the abdominal pain was a severe bruise from the seatbelt. I also had a scrape on my shoulder from the shoulder harness. It's was pretty obvious that more serious or maybe even fatal injuries were prevented by my seatbelt - aided by the Honda's transverse engine which was fairly unique at that time.
So I get stitched up. I call my sister, Laura, who was staying at my house that week, so she can come pick me up and then I'm laid up at home for the next week or so. My theory on how the accident happened and also how this event changed our lives will be coming up in future entries. A link to the newspaper article about the accident is on the left.
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