Had a Bad Day?

www.dennismook.com is my website with my photography galleries.

Yesterday was one of those days where all was just great.  The weather was not hot, the humidity was down, it was a Friday and I had some errands to run before going across the James River to pick up the older of my two granddaughters.  My wife and I had a nice evening planned with our granddaughter and she would spend the night with us.  Whenever we have her it is a true joy.  It was a great day and I was feeling especially good.

So, I'm sitting at a red traffic light, in the middle straight lane, listening to a photography podcast.  Traffic was moderate, the sun was shining and, as I said, all was well in the world--with me at least.

I saw the left turn signal turn to a green arrow and the large box truck next to me started moving forward.  I was looking at the red light waiting for it to change for those of us who would be going straight.

All of a sudden--BOOM!  It was like an explosion had hit my van.  Glass flew forward to where I was sitting, the van lurched forward and, luckily I never pull up closer than 10 ft. behind the car in front of me (that law enforcement training that says leave a gap in front of you in case you have to leave your lane and pull around the car in front of you.)  The van must have moved a foot forward even though I had my foot firmly planted on the brake.  Luckily, I was back far enough that I didn't hit the auto in front which would have damaged that car and the front of my van. 

It took me about two seconds to realize what had happened.  I looked in my rear view mirror and I had a real close-up view of the front of a Chevy Tahoe sitting in the back of my van.  The driver, a woman in her twenties, then backed up about 10 ft.  I sat there kind of dazed and certainly stunned by the really hard impact I just experienced.  My head flew back, then forward, then back again.  Our new road trip vehicle, our new Odyssey van had been assaulted!  The Tahoe's bumper was higher than mine and the front end of it drove into my rear lift gate, exploding the glass and caving in the door.  The damage would have been less if the bumpers were the same height.  But no.  Luck of the draw, I guess.

After collecting my thoughts for about 30 seconds, I got out to see if she was injured.  She was not and she started to cry.  My legs felt a bit shaky and I was feeling a bit light headed.  I suspect it was the adrenaline kicking in--the fight or flight autonomic response.

Now, here is where who you are and what you do can make a difference in someone else's life.  Being a police officer for over 30 years, I had certainly worked many, many accidents, some of which the victim driver was extremely irate and sometimes violent.  Others not so much.  My 30 years of law enforcement training kicked in as my head became clear and ready to take action if necessary.

So, what did I do?  I told her everything was fine and not to worry.  I told her I was not angry with her and that we were both pretty much okay it was just property damage.  I could have yelled at her, screamed at her, pounded on her vehicle, but that is not who I am.  I felt I needed to somewhat comfort her as she was much more distressed than me.  So I, again, reassured her that all would be fine.  I also told her that I needed to go back and sit down as I was lightheaded and I was feeling pretty shaky.  Why make her feel worse than she already felt?

I went back to my vehicle, calmly called 911 and asked they also send a medic as I felt my blood pressure had really become elevated and I wanted to ensure that I was okay.  As they were on the way, I got out of my van and, again, asked her how she was, reassuring her that I was not angry and all would be fine.  I went back and waited.

The medics arrived first.  They asked me a series of questions and checked my blood pressure.  I told them that I was shaky, probably the adrenaline, and that I just needed to sit still for a while and let my blood pressure return as close as it could, to normal.

The officers arrived as I was still sitting in my van.  I just needed to sit still.  My neck and upper back was generally hurting, but no sharp or stabbing pain.  I knew I would be hurting later.  I wrote a statement for the officers, as did the other driver.  They asked us to move the vehicles out of the travel lane and into a parking lot across the street.  We did.  The other driver's husband pulled up and she started crying again.  I walked over, introduced myself to her husband and assured him that I was not angry at his wife and that all would be okay.  I told them both that life is not perfect, things happen but no one is seriously injured and that was what was important.  I think he was more upset than me.

To make a long story short, I spent the rest of yesterday sitting still with ice packs on my neck and upper back as well as taking a good amount of ibuprofen.  This morning, things are a bit better, but I'll be okay, and I hope she will to.

Lesson to be learned.  Help out in times of trauma or distress, don't make things worse by being self-centered.  Think of others before you think of yourself.

Thanks for looking.

Enjoy!
Dennis Mook