August 5, 2009

• A Wild Ride… Oops!!

       So I was going about my average week, and I got into a car accident on my way home from work last night…
        I was coming from Coralville to Cedar Rapids and I was north bound on I-380. I was driving around the speed limit, give or take 70 mph. I was 1 mile from the Swisher exit. I was in the left hand lane and some asshole in an SUV cut me off really close without even using a signal. This SUV was driving a lot below the speed limit and they would not move over into the right lane. I was starting to get very angry and road rage so I decided to get away from them and pass around them in the right hand lane. I’m not sure why, unless it was from all the anger but when I went to switch lanes I must have moved my wheel a little too sharp. It threw my car out of control, and then I over corrected. As quick as that the next thing I new my car was sifting into the grass median on I-380 between the north and south bound lanes. I thought the median would stop my car, but instead it threw my car back out onto I-380 (still going north bound) Thankfully the traffic behind me saw what was going on and was able to slow down so that noone hit me. My car was doing some doughnuts and spun right over the other side of the road into about a 30 foot ditch. I thought for sure that would stop my car, but my car just kept going, all the way to the bottom. I then thought for sure I was going to hit a large tree head on, and there was nothing I could do about it. Just inches before hitting the tree my car miraculous veered to the left, and then started creeping back up the hill where it stopped on it’s own. My exact words the whole time were, “Shit! No, oh shit! Shit! Jesus help me! SHHHHHHIIIIT!!!!” I had my seatbelt on and my air bags never deployed.
       I collected myself and the first thing I did was shut off my car and put it in park. Then I found my cell phone that had went flying and I called Chuck. As I was telling Chuck to come get me I looked up and realized some people who had witnessed the accident had pulled over to make sure I was ok. I got out of my car to let them know I was fine, but I was really still in shock. They said they had called 911 and help was on the way. So some random guy who saw it all happen was super nice. He stayed with me until the police arrived and helped me calm down. Police arrived with paramedics and the paramedics kept asking if I needed to go the hospital. I kept telling them no I was fine and they kept questioning me. Finally I pointed to the hill and I said “I was able to walk up that hill fine.” They laughed and said ok and left. It felt like FOREVER as I waited for Chuck to come. That calmed me down a lot. The police worked on the accident report and the tow truck came. The tow truck took one look at my car and said “We can never get it out from that angle.” They asked Chuck if he would be able to move it. Chuck got in and my car started up just fine. He backed it up and started changing the angle my car was going up the hill. It took him several running starts but Chuck actually 4 wheeled my little Chevy caviler up that hill!! Everyone was in shock, including the police. The tow truck driver was able to leave we did not even need him at all. All Chuck could keep saying repeatedly was, “Un-fucking-believeable.” I really proud of myself because I never cried once. I’m not sure if I was too much in shock or if things don’t shake me up anymore the way they used to? Maybe a little bit of both.
       When every thing was assessed everyone was speechless. There was not a single scratch or bruise on my body, and I could have been killed when my car crossed back over onto I-380. Any larger vehicle and it would have rolled for sure. My little chevy caviler that everyone gives me crap about because it’s so tiny, did not have a mark on it! I can’t believe the bottom was not shredded by the ditch. I did not hit anything else, I was given no traffic violations and the officer said since there was no damage she did not even need to make a report so it won’t go on my insurance! Lucky doesn’t even begin to cover it. There is no logical reason why I am not hurt and my car is not totaled. Apparently, God is still looking out for me. I’m so thankful. I’m thankful I’m ok. I’m thankful I was sober when it happened. I’m thankful my car is fine. And I’m so very thankful for Chuck. I honestly don’t know who I could have called if Chuck wasn’t in my life. My brothers would have been drunk by then, Grandma Dee would have never found the Swisher exit, Grandpa and Grandma might or might not have been home, and my best friend now lives in Georgia. I would have been totally alone. Chuck gave me a huge hug and kiss. he held me for a long time and told me never to scare him like that again. Then he added, “The next time you decide to go 4 wheeling in your car, at least let me go with you for the ride.” Chuck can always make me laugh!
       I called my boss last night and told him I would not be into work today because I needed to have the bottom of my car looked at to make 100% sure that nothing vital was damaged. He was really a jerk about it and asked, “Can’t you wait until Friday?” Um, hello – I’m putting a minimum of 60 miles a day on my car, so in two more days I would have added over 120 miles to my car when something could have been really wrong with it. No! Not only that but I have been with my job a year in September and in that year I have only missed 2 and a half days. He had no right to give me shit. Chuck was actually the one to look my car over, but the boss doesn’t have to know that. The brake lines are fine, the alignment is fine, nothing is cracked, nothing is leaking. Unbelievable. I don’t even have any whip lash or sore or stiff muscles today. My muscles do feel really fatigued though, like after you run a marathon. I can only assume that is from the wreck. So I have been popping Midol because that is basically a muscle relaxer. The rest of my day off today Chuck and I hung out at my brother Byron’s house drinking beers. Back into work tomorrow and I’m ready to get back to business.

   

  After my car went into the median and crossed over I-380, this is the top of the ditch I started to go down.

  

  I went all the way to the bottom and came with in inches of hitting that tree head on.

  

  And finally my car came to a stop.

  

  

  

  • 11:21 pm
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