Friday, January 7, 2005 - The worst day of my life.

On friday, I was heading on my way back home from school, and I was driving down my road to my house on the left. I looked ahead, and I didn't see any vehicles. I was driving up to my driveway, and I turned to drive in. And that's when it happened. A giant dump truck smashed into the passanger side of my truck. I was obviously dwarfed by a giant dump truck. It made me spin all the way around until I halted the same way I was facing while driving. The truck slid on the snow into the banks and then onto the neighbours yard. My windows were shattered, the whole front passanger area caved inwards, smoke rising from inside. I felt like the air was sucked out of me. It took about a minute to recover and breathe properly. A van had stopped at the side of the road to check the whole accident out. He walked up to to the empty window to see if I was okay. I opened the door and got out. Miraculously I could actually walk. From that point on everything seemed to go on forever. I looked around and saw parts of my truck lying everywhere. I was really in shock. I was shaking so much. The guy rushed over to the dump truck to see if the other guy was okay. Many other people stopped on the road at this point to help. One person had called the police. Eventually the police had come, I was sat into a helper's van. The firetrucks came right after, strapped a neck brace one me, an oxygen mask, and I sat there to wait for the ambulance. They eventually came. I felt fine, but they strapped me up on a board because it's procedure, I went to the hospital, and incredibly I could walk away in about two hours time. My knees were bloody, but nothing broken and just bandaged up, I had scrapes and bruises everywhere, and a cut above my eye. But that was about it.

There's so much more aftermath, but that was basically the whole thing. I can't possibly tell any of my friends, because that would be incredibly embarrassing, so I wanted to vent somewhere. It was the worst day of my life, but at the same time, inspiring in that the whole thing is a miracle. It's a miracle that I'm still alive. A dump truck hit me. The police and doctors said that it was a combination of me driving a relatively big truck, the airbags actually deploying, and me driving only at about 20 km/h because I was slowing to drive into my driveway.

I can't stop thinking about the whole thing. I keep replaying the whole experience in my head. I find myself just randomly tearing up if I ever think about it again. It's going to take a long time for me to get over this, that's for sure. It was horrible. Absolutely horrible. Unless you've been in the same circumstance, you can't even imagine it. I'll never look at a car crash in a film the same way again. Every one will always hit me in a personal way from now on. I still find it amazing how my life can change in just a couple of seconds. I find it even more amazing and in a lot of ways frustrating how a person's eyes can play tricks on you. I could have sworn I did not see a vehicle coming, but there was. I barely even saw it coming.

I am very angry and upset with myself right now with the whole situation. And I'm sorry for rambling on about this on here to you guys, but I needed to talk about it. Thanks.

Sorry to hear about it, Mike.

When I read of car accidents like these or hear from people I know about others who have been in accidents (one down the street was in one in May. Although he was a MAJOR pot smoker (and goof-off), he was "clean" during the accident and still almost died because of the severity of the attack. He ended up in crutches for quite a while), it makes me want to delay taking the permit test even longer. I'm not really anxious to drive, but I hate relying on public transportation and friends to get around. The mere thought of these accidents (and, our county has had more teens die of driving accidents than ever before...) horrify me.

I'm glad to hear you're okay. Get off the truck for a while and get back to it when you honestly feel you're ready to handle the risks.

Why do you feel you'll be humiliated if you tell real-life friends? From what it sounds like, it wasn't really you're fault, though you coulda been more alert, I guess. I mean, were you out of turn while driving, or were you following the rules and just happen to clash with the truck?

If you're positive you didn't see a truck, consider getting your eyes checked. It's very common for the diseases to develop, and, while it's not likely you have one, it's always better to be safe than sorry!

Glad you're alright, Mike. Get better. And don't let yourself be 'embarassed' by it; your friends will only be compassionate.

Oh, and you should definitely not hesitate about getting psychological treatment.

glad to hear you're ok mike, that must have been so awful

Mike,

I know exactly how you feel. I really can sympathize. My situation was eerily similar in that I did something moronic and ended up totaling a brand new 2002 Chevy Impala my junior year in HS.

My situation was I was doing 90 in a 35, a windy not often driven back road. I went around a turn in the wrong lane because I wouldn't have made the turn otherwise, and there was a car coming at me head on.

I turned hard back to my side, my back end started sliding out ... I could feel it. I corrected back toward the car, and we didn't hit, but I had over corrected back to the other side of the road, and as fate would have it there came another car. I jerked hard, too hard, back to my side of the road, totally lost control, car was sideways perpindicular to the road, and the brakes were going into anti lock mode where they auto pump. My car rolled 3 times, and was totaled, thank god I didn't hit anybody.

I woke up in an ambulance, with my mom in the car, apparently a friend drove by right after, and I lived less than a mile down the road, and he went and got her.

I was fine, no serious injuries. I almost cried that night, it was scarry to know you came so close to death. But now is in the past, nothing I can do to change it, and it doesn't bother me. Sometimes you just have to accept what happens in life, and go with it, I find its much better that I didn't dwell on it, and was able to move on. I hope you can do the same.

Mike, why are you blaming yourself if he hit you?

I am very relieved to read that you are fine, but geez, it's scary, huh?

I think he is blaming himself because he pulled across the road infront of him, when he should have waited for him to pass.

But things like that happen, no reason to blame anyone, just be happy your allright.

Ohh my god. That's terrible. Glad to hear you're okay, Mike.

The Important thing is that you and the other guy are alright,I hope you get better.

That's really sad to hear, Mike.

I've never been in a car accident as severe as the one you've described, so I can only look at this from an outside perspective. Lord knows I've made mistakes driving, though, as have my friends; one of my best friends was in a head-on collision of sorts, the other switched lanes right into someone (both of these accidents their own fault, both occuring within six months after they actually got their licenses). It wasn't something to laugh at, though, so unless your friends are a little masochistic, I doubt they'll express anything but compassion for you.

I would give you the advice "don't dwell on it," but that's unavoidable. Is there anyone you could talk to about it? I remember you saying that your relationship with them was a little sub-par, but are your parents still somewhat of an inaccessible outlet?

Heck, maybe it'll turn out that it wasn't the worst day of your life but the most enlightening. No joke.

All the best to you over the coming weeks.

Sorry about the accident.

But the thing that matters the most is that you are ok .

Very sad and unfortunate for that to happen to you Mike, I can sort of understand what happened to you, i've been in a few car accidents myself but none as big as this. I can kinda understand what you mean by your embarrased, I mean, about November time my sister was driving back home one night with her husband and 18 month kid, they stopped at a traffic filter and as it turned green they drove through; they got hit by a car side-on which went through a red-light and was apparently going 30mph. Luckily it hit the passangers side and no-one was sitting that side, and they 'only' got cuts and bruises. The car was a right off. My sister called us about 2-days later informing us about it, she didn't want to tell us at first, mainly because we're a bunch of worriers. Its good to tell your friends about it Mike, they'll give ya a bit of support. :wink:

Shit happens, youre okay though

What can you do?! For everything bad that happens, something good is bound to come. So maybe I'll send you a hooker. Just need your address though.

Mike, it is not really the worst day in your life, but much rather the luckiest day in your entire life. Do you know how slim chances are that not even get anything broken while getting into an accident like this one? You were very lucky.

I am still sorry to hear about it and I hope you'll be doing better soon. Cheer up, your birthday is coming up soon

after some time, u will realize that what happened today was actually good for u.


nothing happened to u, and since people always learn from their mistakes, notice how much of a better driver u'll become from now on...


on any other day, u would have been seriously injured, and u wouldn't have had the chance to 'become a better driver'

I'm glad you felt you could vent here.

You should not be embarassed, it was a car crash..it happens all the time. I totalyl understand your feeligns after, I wasmissed a ten car pile up by less then an ince one late night and afterwards I didn't want to get near a car.

I am reallly glad you are ok, and it is natural to feel shaken up, embrassed, and out of it after.

You'll be a better and more carefule driver because of this. And later in your life you can tell the story to your kids when you teach them how to drive.

No one is infallible, and we all get scared/nervous/embrassed, its human, but its overcoming those feelings that makes us who we are.

Now make sure there are no lingering effects, take it easy for the next few days.

Wise words

I agree

I am really glad to hear everything is okay with you, Mike. I've never been in such a predicament that is anywhere near as life-changing as that, so I can't really imagine, nor do I want to. I hope you recover overtime from it, because what I can imagine is what it can do to you, physically and mentally. Get well soon, man. We're always here to talk to you, and make you feel better!

Thanks guys, for your support.

The one thing that this accident really, truly exposes me to is the fact that the NEWS is horrible. I've always known they lie and overdramatize and fabricate statements, but this really made the truth hit home. My accident was published in the public paper and on television, and both said that I was still in the hospital in extensive care, which is an absolute lie. It's frustrating that the news can get away with reporting fabricated material and they are protected over the whole "freedom of the press" crap. I'm glad those morons don't get to print my name.

I almost, ALMOST hate news investigators more than politicians.

PEACE, Mike

You should sue them That actually could work, heh.

It could've been alot worse Mike.
Glad you're okey.

I absolutely agree! I think after some time, Mike, you will realize that this was one of the best days of your life (but I can understand your reaction - I would also be pissed about the situation right now)! :wink: