Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Paying to Die

I drove past a crash on the 407 today. Must have been about five or ten minutes after it happened. At least two vehicles were involved – a minivan and an oil tanker truck, not an 18-wheeler, but a smaller one. There were quite a few vehicles stopped along the side of the road both ways as well.

The tanker truck was on its side in the median, smashed up pretty bad. Very bad. The driver’s compartment was flattened. I saw the driver of the minivan sitting in his vehicle, someone talking to him. He seemed all right.

But as I  drove up alongside where the tanker lay, I saw a man and a woman on their knees, obviously tending to the driver of the truck. I had a rather sick feeling when I saw that. It wasn’t good, judging by the condition of the truck.

A minute later an ambulance came roaring along the shoulder from the other direction. But I heard later on the radio that an air ambulance had been dispatched.

I also heard later that the driver of the truck died. He hadn’t been wearing his seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle. I don’t think it would have mattered. Break every bone in your body being thrown out, or get squashed in the cab of your truck.

The 407 is a toll road. Imagine paying to die.

I spend so much time on the road. See quite a few crashes. Sometimes, driving, I get flashes of me in one of them. Hope I’m not psychic.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Its probably good to see yourself in crashes. That way, maybe you will drive more safely. Remember, its not you who causes the accidents, its the other drivers. Expect that everyone around you is on drugs or drunk, or just not paying attention. Buckle up, and pay attention. Give us many more years of Lunchbucket Larry.

Anonymous said...

Thanks again for the opportunity to share.So long, Sherell air ambulance seattle

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