Fatal accident on my way home.

[jeffk3510]

Gentlemen-

Please count your blessings and never over use "I Love You"

http://www.andoveramerican.com/newsnow/ ... homa-woman

I was on my way home to see my family in McPherson Friday night (they still live in McPherson, we haven't sold our house), and I drove up on this accident. I was about the 2-3 car to arrive. We tried and tried to pry the son out of the mini van while he was screaming and not making any sense, but we failed. The force of the impact had pinned all involved into their respective cars and couldn't move at all. We couldn't even open the back hatch on the mini van. We talked to the dad until paramedics arrived, so he wouldn't go into shock. Same with the kid in the truck (he told us that he felt like he had broken both of his hips but couldnt tell because the dash pinned him against the seat. The mom in the van had flown clear into the dash in the front and was killed instantly while she laid across her husbands lap, and he kept patiently calling her name, but she never responded. The look on his face was as his life was just sucked right out of him. Dead on impact. I will never ever forget the smell, sight, and sounds. I didn't know it was possible for the entire front of a car to be COMPLETELY gone....I hope no one here ever ever has witness or as witnessed this. You all have many things to be grateful for, don't take anything for granted. I know I sure don't anymore. I have never met anyone in person here, and probably never will, but I consider you all my friends, and do love each and everyone of you.

[Mynok]

I drove by an accident not too long ago that has scarred me forever. It was a flatbed truck and the only thing left of the cab was the two doors. Had no clue what happened but I was shaken and confessed to my wife when I got home that I was sure someone died in that wreck. Sure enough, the driver was killed when his load of rebar went right through the cab.

Life is short people. God provides hope if we but trust in Him.

[Cribtop]

Also, please don't be in a hurry to beat the light or think you have "enough space" at the stop sign. You are gambling your life and the lives of others in the hope of gaining a few seconds on a trip you will still complete even if you have to wait 10 minutes at an intersection. Running a light or a stop sign is a "high risk, miniscule yield" situation.

[Prydwen]

I heard about that wreck on the radio.  Sad to hear.  Especially around a holiday when people are trying to get together with family and all.  It's supposed to be a good time, not a tragic time.

I see you're from McPherson.  I've been through there several times.  Who knows?  Maybe we've walked right past one another. [8D]

ItsAMadHouse

[rjopel]

Jeff,

Thank you for stopping and trying to help. Not many people will do that.

[CaptDave]

I once saw a tow truck towing the back half of a station wagon, with the front half and the suitcases in the back half.  That was a sobering sight.

To add to the pleas, please remember that the train ALWAYS has the right of way, both legally and by the might-makes-right rule.  In Washington (state) lately we've been having far too many people getting hit by trains, and it was even worse when I was still in Illinois.

[Shark7]

Sorry you had to see that jeffk3510. I've been a paramedic for nearly 20 years, so I know what it's like. The only advice I will offer is that you may find you need to talk with someone about it, it does help.

Safety first, always.

[tocaff]

Travelling home from a college in Ohio to New Jersey on the Pennsylvania Tpke the car suddenly died.  Vehicles passed us and when a mechanic finally arrived he got called to a wreck scene.  When we finally got going again after the wire that came loose was reattached, before harnesses came into being, we passed the accident.  The pack of vehicles we were traveling in and some that passed us were involved in a horrible multi vehicle accident.  A truck cab was compressed by impact to an unbelievable small size.  Somebody was watching over me that day.

The race to save a few minutes is just not worth the risk and there are to many devices to distract us from our driving.

[SargeantTex]

People get a false sense of security in their vehicle like nothing is gonna happen to them in there. My wife cant stand riding with me cause I drive like every every second a wreck will happen I scan every vehicle around me and my mirrors nonstop if we take a roadtrip of several hours I am absolutely exhausted by the time we get home cause I keep my brain scanning constantly. I have been a lumberyard driver for several yrs and when you are in a 14,000 lbs truck with 12,000 lbs of lumber strapped to it you are a rolling death machine. Ihad a girl pull out in front of me in one of those smart cars on a major highway I was doing 60 mph luckily I had enough room to go to the shoulder cause their was oncoming traffic I passed her on shoulder she hit brakes and pulled off I stopped and walked back to her vehicle and she was terribly shaken sure nuff she had been talking on cell phone!!

I let her know calmly that if I hadnt reacted fast enough she would be dead(even though I felt like my heart was gonna explode from the adrenaline)after she had calmed down she managed to get herself together and went on. luckily it was a flat road with shallow ditches cause here we have a lot of elevated highway or else I would have been dead!!!

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: SargeantTex

People get a false sense of security in their vehicle like nothing is gonna happen to them in there. My wife cant stand riding with me cause I drive like every every second a wreck will happen I scan every vehicle around me and my mirrors nonstop

This is called defensive driving. I do exactly the same. And that's how everyone should drive. I know it's unfair but my first assumption is "everyone on the road except me sucks [false, I know] so I better pay extra attention..."

[Hemmingway]

Very very sad. I was an EMT for a while. The weirdest thing for me was getting ready to go to work knowing that the people I would be helping were going about their business right then and did not know that they were going to be terribly injured or die. It's helped me put my life in perspective and reminds me that life is short and unpredictable.

[Nemo121]

Short, unpredictable, violent and often ends messily and painfully. I've had to deal with decapitations ( thank god for skin tone when you have to play match the head to the body ), traumatic amputations and various other horrific situations ( guy getting crushed by a rubbish skip ( steel container ) which rolled over him crushing every bone from foot to face, someone in shock bringing a brain in in a bag asking if we could "put it back in" after the top of the head popped off in a bus crash etc.

I always stop for accidents but often there's nothing you can do. People drive fast, chatting on cellphones and often it isn't just them they kill but whoever is following behind or beside them. There's no rhyme nor reason to it. It just is.

All you can do is be as careful as possible in your own driving and try to avoid people who are obviously in too much of a hurry and are taking chances.

[jeffk3510]

It was a terrible situation...I am trying to track down the father's address and send him something... I have no idea what. A card, letter, flowers, just a hey, I was there, sorry for you loss, were keeping you in our prayers...I have no idea.

They sent him over to Wichita before I had a chance to stop by the hospital in Pratt when I arrived back home.

MadHouse- Yes I live in Mac/Pratt, we haven't sold our house in McPherson yet. I went to WSU my first semester before I transfered to Mac and finished there....Might have to meet up with you over a beer. Whats your story? You from around the area?

[Prydwen]

I'm originally from Illinois.  I joined the Air Force back in '06 and got stationed at McConnell where I work out on the flightline keeping the 50 year old jets flying.  Been here almost 4-1/2 years.  I've gotten settled down since getting here.  Wife, house, dogs, etc.  It doesn't get much better! [8D]

ItsAMadHouse

[rockmedic109]

Not only have I been a Paramedic for over 20 years, but I have also been involved in an accident that nobody {including me} knows how I survived.  These are never easy for those who do it all the time and have got to be worse for those who never witness it time and again at work.  I have had several co-workers that quit after such incidents and one who I believe rolled her truck on purpose to create an injury to keep her from coming back.  I've had several incidents where I was running on auto-pilot for a few days.  It does get better.  If I ever loose the feelings of empathy in the presence of such tragedy, it will be time to quit.  If you need to, most fire departments have a chaplain service that can help or maybe even a local ambulance company will have a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing team. 
 
I still say prayers before shift, after shift, after a critical call, and when getting into my truck.

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: rockmedic109

Not only have I been a Paramedic for over 20 years, but I have also been involved in an accident that nobody {including me} knows how I survived.  These are never easy for those who do it all the time and have got to be worse for those who never witness it time and again at work.  I have had several co-workers that quit after such incidents and one who I believe rolled her truck on purpose to create an injury to keep her from coming back.  I've had several incidents where I was running on auto-pilot for a few days.  It does get better.  If I ever loose the feelings of empathy in the presence of such tragedy, it will be time to quit.  If you need to, most fire departments have a chaplain service that can help or maybe even a local ambulance company will have a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing team. 

I still say prayers before shift, after shift, after a critical call, and when getting into my truck.

You know as well as I do that there are some things you never forget. For those that aren't in EMS, they may not know how to deal with it. I know I can focus on the task at hand, but it still hits me after.

Your advice is good, and I believe most FDs or emergency services would be willing to help bystanders work through a tragedy.

For those who aren't in emergency services, I'll say it again, it may be a good idea to find some support or counseling after experiencing such an event.

[rockmedic109]

Very true. I still drive be certain places and can recall in vivid detail an incident that occured there. I just drove past an area today, and I remembered vividly an event that happened back in the 70s {I was still in high school at the time}. And for someone not in EMS, it will probably {and hopfully} be the most tragic situation they ever witness.

ORIGINAL: Shark7

ORIGINAL: rockmedic109

Not only have I been a Paramedic for over 20 years, but I have also been involved in an accident that nobody {including me} knows how I survived.  These are never easy for those who do it all the time and have got to be worse for those who never witness it time and again at work.  I have had several co-workers that quit after such incidents and one who I believe rolled her truck on purpose to create an injury to keep her from coming back.  I've had several incidents where I was running on auto-pilot for a few days.  It does get better.  If I ever loose the feelings of empathy in the presence of such tragedy, it will be time to quit.  If you need to, most fire departments have a chaplain service that can help or maybe even a local ambulance company will have a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing team. 

I still say prayers before shift, after shift, after a critical call, and when getting into my truck.

You know as well as I do that there are some things you never forget. For those that aren't in EMS, they may not know how to deal with it. I know I can focus on the task at hand, but it still hits me after.

Your advice is good, and I believe most FDs or emergency services would be willing to help bystanders work through a tragedy.

For those who aren't in emergency services, I'll say it again, it may be a good idea to find some support or counseling after experiencing such an event.

[nashvillen]

From a retired fire chief with 8 years as a front line EMT, listen to what rockmedic and shark have to say. They know what they are talking about. Even 20+ years later I can still see the most terrible scenes I have been to. I can still smell the smells and see the damage done to other humans. But, since I had some brothers and sisters to talk to, and cry with, I am OK.
 
JeffK, please, find someone to talk to about this, even if it is just with the other responders from that wreck. Know that what you did in just comforting those on the scene until the responders arrive is a great thing. They knew that there was someone there that cared for them.
 
 

[jeffk3510]

I really appreciate that.  I have family that has been there to talk to.  I have actually found the survivors on facebook, not sure if I should approach them...but it has helped to just talk to someone.  Even you guys.  Thanks again.  I plan on stopping anytime something like this happens, and hope people would do the same if it happened to me.  Honestly, I don't see how you can't stop if you're one of the first to arrive...something just kicks in..

[nashvillen]

Jeffk -- That is why you are one of the good guys.
Just remember, for anyone else that stops at a wreck or any other emergency scene, please do what the responding personnel say to do. Even if it is "get out of the way" as they know what they are doing and have done this many times. Please don't feel hurt by the abruptness of their response. They are even more stressed than you, even if they are not showing it. They know more about how critical the injured could be, and are thinking many steps ahead of what you may be thinking about.
 
If they ask you to do something, please do it as rapidly and as best as you can as this will help them. Even if it is something as simple as holding a sheet up to protect someone from the looky-loos while they do their work. It is helping and makes their job easier!
 
Thank you, Jeffk and to all who are Good Samaritans and take some time to care for their fellow man!