How to begin?
First I ask for your thoughts and prayers. I have definitely witnessed a miracle in the last 10 hours(by the time I finish these words it will likely be 11 hours).
Second, to those of you who approach a terrible wreck, and continue to push through, despite first responders efforts to stop traffic: I have words to express, but in light of the miracle I witnessed will refrain in respect of The Almighty. I pray that you will never have to stand beside a highway and have your bloodied child scream and beg for you to get her out, cause she can't move, and at the same time...you can't run to her because of some @#$%^& that thinks he is the most important son-of...Lord forgive me. May God forgive you.
I did not get to attend range day at Woody's Saturday due to my daughter's BDay, nephews BDay, no loads tested, firewood to haul, blah blah. At this point a person starts playing the what ifs. "What if I had gone to Holly Springs?" "What if I had told my wife she should stay at her mother's rather than drive up the mountain." The what ifs always go on and on in these situations. Things always happen for a reason I suppose.
My wife and I had left the In-laws at the same time, she in the truck with a small load of wood(it was a Ranger so it had to be a small load), and me in my car. I had to stop and get gas which put me 5 minutes behind her. I figured I would catch up to her before she got to Old Fort because I knew she would be driving less than the speed limit with a load and a new transmission, since we are a 2 car household...correction...one car. When I got to the long straight(what I call it) before you get to old fort, just past Parker Padgett exit, I saw brake lights in the distance, and began to slow. When I was 100yds out I could begin to realize the worst...that is my WIFE and DAUGHTER...I I don't see them, it had literally just happened.I put on my flashers and pulled up even and cut to the side of the road and ran out of the car, somewhere in the process I lost my keys. I will not retell my daughter screaming Daddy. Until Sarah called out I didn't think anyone could be alive in the passenger seat. The truck looked almost broke in half. I couldn't see what in the world she had hit. Every time I relived the moment on the way to the hospital I would break down in tears. I have never felt so utterly helpless in my life. I could have ran across that road and ripped what was left of the mangled door right off the hinges. I played a thousand scenarios through my brain as Sarah screamed for me. Me getting runn over by one of the many @55...fine people with very important business on a Saturday evening. I was screaming at a few of the first responders asking if I could move her. One told me don't...we gotta get this traffic stopped. My wife was scaqred to get out...though she could because another car had already clipped her seconds after she hit that dumptruck, that dumptruck that was pulling a cement mixer completely obscuring his rear lights, leaving 2 tiny weak running lights at the top right and left corners of the dump bed. He was also merging back out into traffic from the shoulder, so slow my wife recalling the moment of impact, thought he was actually stopped. She was doing 60 when she hit him in the left rear, thanfully missing the mixer, I have played back the idea of a direct hit on such a collection of windshield penetrating projectiles...I shudder. The truck is DESTROYED. I have seen wrecks like this and vehicles that look like this don't often contain people with minor injuries, although I had about 3 hours to get the news that it could have been much much worse.
I don't know what recourse I have right now. The dumprtruck was in my opinion a POS that had no business on I40 at pitch dark...especially with what few lights it had, obscured or in the case of the actual rear lights...invisible. I am sure the troopers will investigate with utmost professionalism, they were certainly very nice and responded promptly, it didn't seem that they did...but then every second that ticked by seemed an eternity with my youngest child headed to Mission on an ambulance.
I got the girls home a few hours ago. I have already called in for this evening at work, as I have meds to run get and groceries, comfort food, etc as the Whammer cannot drive a straight drive. I am thinking she will be more receptive in the coming weeks. Thankfully my schedule allows a lot of freedom to haul them to school, it will however eat greatly into my slar phase.
Joe Jr is sitting in my recliner nursing her broken hand, a nose that looks like it went a round with Mike Tyson(of course two black eyes), and generally mild lacerations from head to toe.
Since I am used to staying up all night I have first watch. The Whammer has agreed to relieve me for a nap after she gets some sleep. I will stay in reach of my cub in case she needs something...anything. I may be able to sleep a bit in between running to the kitchen for the cub.
I am blessed, and I say that with the utmost of sincerety. God is Good.
First I ask for your thoughts and prayers. I have definitely witnessed a miracle in the last 10 hours(by the time I finish these words it will likely be 11 hours).
Second, to those of you who approach a terrible wreck, and continue to push through, despite first responders efforts to stop traffic: I have words to express, but in light of the miracle I witnessed will refrain in respect of The Almighty. I pray that you will never have to stand beside a highway and have your bloodied child scream and beg for you to get her out, cause she can't move, and at the same time...you can't run to her because of some @#$%^& that thinks he is the most important son-of...Lord forgive me. May God forgive you.
I did not get to attend range day at Woody's Saturday due to my daughter's BDay, nephews BDay, no loads tested, firewood to haul, blah blah. At this point a person starts playing the what ifs. "What if I had gone to Holly Springs?" "What if I had told my wife she should stay at her mother's rather than drive up the mountain." The what ifs always go on and on in these situations. Things always happen for a reason I suppose.
My wife and I had left the In-laws at the same time, she in the truck with a small load of wood(it was a Ranger so it had to be a small load), and me in my car. I had to stop and get gas which put me 5 minutes behind her. I figured I would catch up to her before she got to Old Fort because I knew she would be driving less than the speed limit with a load and a new transmission, since we are a 2 car household...correction...one car. When I got to the long straight(what I call it) before you get to old fort, just past Parker Padgett exit, I saw brake lights in the distance, and began to slow. When I was 100yds out I could begin to realize the worst...that is my WIFE and DAUGHTER...I I don't see them, it had literally just happened.I put on my flashers and pulled up even and cut to the side of the road and ran out of the car, somewhere in the process I lost my keys. I will not retell my daughter screaming Daddy. Until Sarah called out I didn't think anyone could be alive in the passenger seat. The truck looked almost broke in half. I couldn't see what in the world she had hit. Every time I relived the moment on the way to the hospital I would break down in tears. I have never felt so utterly helpless in my life. I could have ran across that road and ripped what was left of the mangled door right off the hinges. I played a thousand scenarios through my brain as Sarah screamed for me. Me getting runn over by one of the many @55...fine people with very important business on a Saturday evening. I was screaming at a few of the first responders asking if I could move her. One told me don't...we gotta get this traffic stopped. My wife was scaqred to get out...though she could because another car had already clipped her seconds after she hit that dumptruck, that dumptruck that was pulling a cement mixer completely obscuring his rear lights, leaving 2 tiny weak running lights at the top right and left corners of the dump bed. He was also merging back out into traffic from the shoulder, so slow my wife recalling the moment of impact, thought he was actually stopped. She was doing 60 when she hit him in the left rear, thanfully missing the mixer, I have played back the idea of a direct hit on such a collection of windshield penetrating projectiles...I shudder. The truck is DESTROYED. I have seen wrecks like this and vehicles that look like this don't often contain people with minor injuries, although I had about 3 hours to get the news that it could have been much much worse.
I don't know what recourse I have right now. The dumprtruck was in my opinion a POS that had no business on I40 at pitch dark...especially with what few lights it had, obscured or in the case of the actual rear lights...invisible. I am sure the troopers will investigate with utmost professionalism, they were certainly very nice and responded promptly, it didn't seem that they did...but then every second that ticked by seemed an eternity with my youngest child headed to Mission on an ambulance.
I got the girls home a few hours ago. I have already called in for this evening at work, as I have meds to run get and groceries, comfort food, etc as the Whammer cannot drive a straight drive. I am thinking she will be more receptive in the coming weeks. Thankfully my schedule allows a lot of freedom to haul them to school, it will however eat greatly into my slar phase.
Joe Jr is sitting in my recliner nursing her broken hand, a nose that looks like it went a round with Mike Tyson(of course two black eyes), and generally mild lacerations from head to toe.
Since I am used to staying up all night I have first watch. The Whammer has agreed to relieve me for a nap after she gets some sleep. I will stay in reach of my cub in case she needs something...anything. I may be able to sleep a bit in between running to the kitchen for the cub.
I am blessed, and I say that with the utmost of sincerety. God is Good.
