It was a hot afternoon. The air was so humid it was almost too stifling to breathe. I had been up since 6:30 am helping my mother pack and move the contents of her office. And all I wanted to do was enjoy a Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger, have an ice-cold beer, and go to sleep. However, my 15 year old son really, really, really, really, really, really wanted to go out to the movies with his friends. So, after several thousand text messages, and a lot of convincing on his part, I begrudgingly agreed. I picked him up from home and off we went.
It’s a drive I am very familiar with and it can’t be more than 4 miles from my house. Because as most of you may already know, I usually won’t drive outside of my ‘comfort zone’. So there I was minding my own business, when I had to stop on the highway. I was waiting for the oncoming traffic to slow down so that I could make a left turn into the housing development. When suddenly, out of nowhere…
CRASH. BOOM. SKID.
A 17 year old girl, with hot-pink hair, obviously didn’t see my car, and she drove directly into my driver side door. And then her car scraped down the length of my car. The force of her car, shoved my car off the road completely. She broke BOTH the front and back axles of my car, and flattened all of my tires.
Still in shock, I quietly turned to my son to ask him if he was okay. And thankfully, he was. And thankfully so was I. After I kicked open my driver side door to get out of my crushed vehicle, I raced over to the other car to find that NO ONE had been injured at all. And that, my friends, was nothing short of a miracle.
When the police arrived, they took everyone’s statement, including those who witnessed the accident and had stayed behind to ensure everyone’s safety. According to the police report, I did absolutely nothing wrong. And I didn’t. I didn’t get any tickets at all. The other girl was 100% at fault. And she received a slew of tickets. Apparently, this was her 3rd of 4th accident within the last six months. Personally, I think she should really lose her license. Clearly she can’t drive.
After everything was said and done, both of our cars had to be towed away. My son was picked up by one of his friends parents, and he still managed to get to the movies on time. I was driven back home by one of friends as well.
I was perfectly calm, and perfectly fine, until I saw my father. I immediately broke down and started to cry. The whole accident was so terrifying. And even though I know things could have been A LOT worse, that didn’t stop me from being shaken to my core.
And then I thanked my lucky stars.
So now it looks like I will be getting a “new car” over the next few weeks, once the Insurance Company totals my out my Hyundai. And by “new car” I really mean, I’ll probably end up driving Poppa Sye’s ‘Senior Gold’ 1920 Mercury LeSabre.
YAY!
So tell me people, have you ever been in a car accident? And if so, what happened?
I’m glad everyone is okay. Car accidents suck. thankfully it’s been a long time since I’ve been in one and I’d lose my mind if the kids were in the car with me.
Car accidents can be traumatic indeed. I was in a similar crash many years ago which totalled both cars The next couple of days I was in such a shock that my stomach would turn if I was in a car travelling more than 30 mph !
I am glad you are not physically hurt in anyway. But I wish you well.
Oh, Meleah. I am so sorry. I am glad to hear neither you nor JCH were hurt. You must have been terrified. I haven’t ever ben in an accident, thank God, but a few members of my family have and one family member sustained horrible head injuries. Even though your car was totalled it is a blessing you weren’t hurt. I hope you are OK.
God, Meleah. This is horrible. I always worry when “my time” for an accident will come, and I have to say, knowing you and V both were the victims of bad drivers on the road recently, I feel like it might be time. These things come in threes dontcha know! You were so lucky. I’m happy to read you all came away without a scratch. So very happy.
it’s hard to read this without tearing up, i have no words. i’m so glad no one was hurt.
I am so glad everyone was ok! I think the worst accident I was in was when I was driving with some friends and this guy came out of a side street right in front of me. All I could see was the little girl sitting in the back seat and I was headed straight for her. I managed to swerve at the last minute and ended up smashing the front of his car pretty badly. He got out and started yelling at me that he didn’t have a stop sign. I couldn’t figure out what happened because I didn’t have a stop sign either! Turns out, the sign was across the street since HE was driving the WRONG WAY up a one-way street!! We were lucky too, that nobody got hurt but, oh yeah, was I shaken up!!
I am so glad everyone was ok! I think the worst accident I was in was when I was driving with some friends and this guy came out of a side street right in front of me. All I could see was the little girl sitting in the back seat and I was headed straight for her. I managed to swerve at the last minute and ended up smashing the front of his car pretty badly. He got out and started yelling at me that he didn’t have a stop sign. I couldn’t figure out what happened because I didn’t have a stop sign either! Turns out, the sign was across the street since HE was driving the WRONG WAY up a one-way street!! We were lucky too, that nobody got hurt but, oh yeah, was I shaken up!!
Holy crap! I glad to hear you and JCH are ok. You’ll probably be a bit sore later on after the shock wears off. The important thing is that no one was hurt. I’ve been in a few accidents. Some were my fault, some were the other guy’s. Most of them were back in my stupid (teenage/college) years. One I rearranged the front in on my dad’s LeSabre (you know it was a hard hit when the headlights wind up pointing straight up). A pair of scrapes/fender benders off of a Plymouth Fury III, one ’67 Chevy truck totalled, a banged up 68 Cougar rear end, and a bent forks off of a motorcycle. Nobody hurt, thank god. After I totalled the Chevy, I finally got smart. Any wreck you can walk away from, is ok. After a wreck like that, you are still running on shock and adrenelin and when it finally wears off, the impact sets in.
Hope it gets settled quickly and you are back on the road. You might laugh at Poppa Sye’s old car, but I bet it holds up in a wreck better than most of todays little toy cars. Did you take any pictures of the accident?
Again, I’m overjoyed you were not hurt. You deserve a double bacon cheeseburger after all that.
Glad you’re OK Meleah, short from the emotional shock which is almost unavoidable after such events. Myself have had 3 major incidents, two as a FF (one returning from a call of ALL things) and another one on the NJ Turnpike one MLK weekend – the later where I trashed my faithful Ford Explorer (and the back of a Mercedes Benz); the image that sticks in my mind is an instant when all the stuff riding along just floated mid-air: cellphone, CDs, headphones… surreal is the word to describe it.
Oh, my gosh, how frightening and I am so glad everyone is OK! Amazing, just amazing that no one was hurt. I have been blessed to have never been in an accident. Wow, that would have scared me to death.
I rolled my car on it’s side once in the snow. I was stand in on the drivers side door trying to open the passenger door but it was too heavy, a couple of guys jumped up on it and pulled the door open, then each one of them grabbed an arm and I pretty much flew out, I only weighed about 100 lbs at the time. Nobody was hurt, and the insurancd co didn’t total my car, I just had to get the whole driver side repaired. I caused an accident once too, a bad one but nobody got hurt.
Make sure you look for comps at car lots, the insurance co always will lo ball you, if you can prove that you can’t replace your exact car with the money they offer they’ll give you more money.
“I think she should really lose her license. Clearly she can’t drive.” I don’t believe it’s her driving that’s the problem — it’s her thinking which requires work, or perhaps her brain should be taken away from her.
Glad you’re ok.
Never been in an accident — but I don’t own a car, which reduces the odds a good bit I suppose 🙂
Holy Moley Meleah! Thank goodness that nobody was hurt!!! That is horrible that you had this happen and hopefully you will get past this event and be able to feel at home on the road again! I’ve been in a few minor accidents, but nothing like this. I am so glad that you and your son are safe and hope that the courts will take care of the other driver’s future in the driver’s seat.
Glad to hear that no one was hurt. I agree with you, she should get her license suspended. I’ve been in a few myself, some my fault and some not my fault but they all have one thing in common, they all suck!
Meleah, I am so sorry that happened to you. Car accidents are traumatizing. I hope you are feeling OK today. I agree with you, that little sh** needs NOT to drive…ever. Thankfully, both you and your son weren’t hurt.
Oh how scary for you! I’m so glad everyone was ok. 🙁 I’ve been in a few car accidents, but nothing serious. Just rear enders. Sometimes they’re my fault, rarely they’re not.
I am glad that everyone is okay! I have to admit, if my daughter kept getting into accidents, I don’t think I would let her drive.
Holy sheet girl! I’m relieved to hear you two are OK. “Kicked open….door”. with a few choice words thrown in? I’ve been in a few in my time, the last was about 5 years ago. It was re result of similar clueless driving on the other driver’s part. It also total both vehicles, with no one being injured. I hope all goes well with the insurance process. So glad you’re OK.
“The force of her car, shoved my car off the road completely. She broke BOTH the front and back axles of my car, and flattened all of my tires.”
OMG Meleah, I got shaken up just from READING that!
I’m sooooooooooo glad you, your son, and everyone involoved weren’t harmed – whew!
And you’re absolutely right, this girl definitely needs her license taken away because she CLEARLY can’t drive.
Thankfully, I’ve never been in a car accident.
Btw, I had a Hyundai too. They’re great cars.
Be well, my friend…..X
“Approve”
Me too, B.K.. Me too!
It was so nerve wracking.
And, this was only the 2nd car accident I’ve ever been in.
And hopefully, it’s the last!
Oh My God, Jaffer!
That’s been happening to me.
I’m seriously “gun shy” in the car now.
I keep thinking cars are going to pop out and crush me.
I am so nervous behind the wheel!
My mom said that’s normal, ad it will go away in a few weeks.
I sure hope so!
Thank you, Selma.
It was really scary.
I hope that never happens again.
xoxo
Oh snap. I didn’t even think of that, Kathy.
You’re right. Things like this do come in threes.
But, I think YOU will be fine.
Just be careful out there!
And I am also very happy no one was injured.
*whew!
oh mel, how awful. I give u so much credit for staying calm for your son and waiting until you broke down and cried….not easy thing to do. hugs. and that little pink haired brat SHOULD loose her license!
Yep, that is a normal reaction. Your mother is right. {{Hugs}}
I love you, Valerie.
And, I’m SO HAPPY that YOU weren’t hurt in YOUR accident either.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Holy crap, Nicky!
That’s soooooo scary!
I’m SUPER glad YOU weren’t hurt!
Goodness, Agg!
That’s a lot of accidents!
I used to drive pretty wild when I was a teenager too.
And like you said, ” Any wreck you can walk away from, is ok.”
Amen to that!
PS: I’m already starting to find the humor in Poppa Sye’s car.
And that will make for one hellova blog post!
Rog,
That damned NJTPK!
I hate that highway! She’s evil!
Being in an accident is very surreal.
Lucy,
I am so happy no one was hurt.
Amazed, in fact.
Oh snap, Madge.
That’s terrifying!
Seriously!
Laughing Mom,
I don’t know why this girl even has a drivers license.
Or, why her parents keep LETTING her drive.
If my son was in 4 accidents within 6 months?
You can bet your ass, the only driving he would be doing is AT driving
school!
Accidents do suck, Nick!
I feel lucky as can be, having walked away from that.
But, I’m still really shaken up over the whole thing.
Thanks, Devon.
I’m happy everyone’s okay too!
EXACTLY, Anne, exactly.
I would put my son back into driving school.
And, NEVER let him out on the highway, until he got better at driving.
What the hell is wrong with her parents who keep giving her the keys!
Thanks, Jim.
I don’t think I even cussed when I had to kick the door open.
I was too shocked. I was very quiet during the whole thing.
I miss my little Hyundai already, Ron!
Add me to the list of people who was really rattled to read about this. And the list of people who are really glad that you’re all unhurt.
I’m just so glad nobody was hurt. It is a very scary thing. About 15 years ago, Alex and I had a Miata and were going to work early in the morning. We got out into the intersection a block from our house and a car came out of nowhere and creamed us! No serious injuries besides bruises but we were both pretty shaken up. Both cars were totallled. It all just happens so fast, I know.
glad to know you’re ok. i’ve been in a few accidents in my life, one of them really bad.
its some scary shit.
if you were here, i’d kiss all your boo-boos…
Whoa. So, so, so happy that everyone was okay. I just heard about a terrible car accident here in town where one person died and two were seriously injured. You just never know.
I am glad no one was hurt. Accidents sometimes leave their mark even when no one is injured.
I’ve been in two accidents with no injuries. The first was around Easter in 1979. I had just gotten a new car and some friends and I were out riding around, going through the mall parking. I was side swiped on the passenger side. I had had the car 19 days. The second accident was some years later. Hubby was driving my car and someone ran a stop light and hit the passenger side. We were spun around in the street ending up facing in the opposite direction. I still flinch when someone approaches quickly on my side.
Thanks, Christine!
Same to you!~
Thank you, Thomas. What a nightmare.
That sideways crush job – is so awful, Linda.
Aw…. Thanks, Slyde!