Sorry to hear about her accident. Glad she's got fight in her. Some days are tough and seems like it's only the extra vinegar keeping you going.


I was in ICU for few days in traction, got a halo put on, then moved to a regular room. At that point the therapist came in trying to get my legs back. I was transferred to a live-in rehab hospital closer to my parents. It took three weeks before I was able to stand up and take my first steps.

 

Do you remember the actual accident at all Shorts?

 

I do remember the accident. I explained it to the rescue and then again to my parents in the ER. Everything I told them was confirmed from all the markings in the road, right down to the mile marker. Even remembered the song that was playing on the radio.

I left my apt in San Antonio and headed to Corpus. Stopped on the way out of town for gas, a bottle of Sprite and a pack of Skittles. Got on the highway and set the cruise at 72mph. I had driven almost 2hrs. It wasn't early or late at all, about 145pm. I was 10 miles from home. I was driving in the inside lane, radio on, windows down, nice hot sunny day, listening to the Mighty Mighty Bosstones 'Never had to knock on wood". This is where things go into a dream mode. I noticed my dside tires are off in the median. So I lifted my foot off the gas and corrected to get the truck back on the road. (Remember cruise control is on). The truck goes fast into the right lane and so I correct that to the left. After I did that the rear end started to swing around and the truck shot left towards the median again. I was skidding now and I turned hard into the skid. But I had no more control. I remember saying to myself 'That's it, all I can do now' as the dirt got closer. The truck's wheels hit it and started the tumble. The truck got midway through the first flip, I could feel myself rising up as if on a amusement park ride, then everything went black.

When I woke up the sun was real bright, there wasn't really a roof on the truck but someone had put up a piece of cardboard over to shield me and it was a still hot feeling, warm spring in Texas. I couldn't feel my left arm and I couldn't lift my head off the back of the seat. I could feel my legs but I couldn't move them. I heard a lady's voice telling me 'they were on the way' and I think she was the one who was holding a towel on my head (I had a large gash on the left side). I think there were others there, I could hear voices but they sounded far away and I couldn't look around or see anyone.

 

Wow, I guess you DO remember!

I was in an accident, tho not nearly as severe as yours. I didn't even get hurt, but the truck got totaled. A guy hit me in the left rear sideways and spun me across three lanes of highway. I ran over a baby blue Geo Metro in the process which I have NO recollection of. The only way I know that happened is that I had baby blue paint all over my transfer case.

The one thing that sticks out in my mind is that during the spin, everything went silent. Didn't start to hear anything for a couple minutes after everything stopped.

 

Our bodies are amazing at what they can do and how fast when its threatened.
I recall how this happened to me in several of my serious incidences.
When I went through the ice and the river was pulling me under and out to the lake...I swam hard and everything went into auto pilot...no panic, just intense determination to stay out of that current. I never learned how to swim yet I was when this happened.
Another time was when a voice said to look up. There was a semi jack knifing on an overpass and coming through the barrier with all its load of pipe shooting off the trailer down towards the freeway. Everything slowed down...it went methodical but I could not hear any of the crashing of the pipes etc hitting the freeway. It was only a few seconds but it seemed much longer and then blip...all was at normal time again...the noise, the trembling of my hands and feet. My truck and 53ft trailer weren't touched by any of the falling wreckage. Only one car was hit and nobody was injured! Looking at the mess you would have thought there where many casualties.

I am very Grateful for what our bodies and the Power Greater then us can do.

 

Yeah, I remember. It's like a movie. I see detailed images and remember my thoughts as if I had all the time in the world to make them. Of course the reality is it all happened in a matter of seconds. I don't know why but I'm glad I had the super power


Totally agree. I read your pm, all I could think of was 'rag doll'. You're crazy Scotty. Glad you got a shot to get it straightened out

 

Whoa, same thing when I hit that tree with the 67 GTX. Things happened at real time until the front bumper hit the tree, then it was eternity, I clearly watched the hood fold up for what seemed like 2 seconds, and then I got bounced over to the door and into the side of the steering column, when I hit that, it was over, blackout. Don't know how long before I came to, but I remember thinking , "Now I have to replace the turn signal lever" ( didn't hit me that it was 2 feet higher and a foot over for it to be clearly in my view..... )

I can still close my eyes, some 33 years later and replay that scene.

 

It's amazing what our brains process.

Hope you came out ok from that.

 

Its also strange what our brains will choose to blot out.

 

Maybe not as big a deal as these, but I just attacked a pit bull that was trying to kill my cat with my bare hands, and quickly prevailed. I'm 65 years old, and martial arts stuff from 40 years ago just snapped into action.

The stray pit bull bolted into the back door when I opened it, and grabbed my 15 year old pet, Kitty. He had Kitty's back legs and pelvis in his mouth, and was shaking Kitty vertically trying to break his back. Kitty was one screaming rag doll. I grabbed the pit in a brute force choke hold so hard he immediately spit out the cat to try to bite me. I threw him out the door instead. The attack occurred in my kitchen right at my wife's feet.

00 buck finished the job.

Took me a week to realize, "What in the heck did I do." If the dog had overcome the hold, or I had missed it, I'd be dog food. It's truly amazing what you can do when under pressure.

Dog has so much cat in his mouth his incisors couldn't close, and the canines missed on both sides. Kitty was real sore for a few days, but fully recovered. He is grateful to staff for saving him from the pit bull, and shows his gratitude by allowing staff to pet him, feed him, and sleep near him on the master bed.

 

I can relate to the instincts and saying bye bye to a dog.
I started to type what happened here and felt it best not be on a public forum.



Glad you saved Kitty.

 

For the most part I am OK, crushed cheekbone, broken nose, severe concussion ( hmm......never would have thought that the way I am..... ), all that healed and for the most part I ain't ugly. The worst part was it twisted my ribcage on my spine, and over the first 15 years it would slowly pop back into place, it is still probably a degree or two off ( now I am too fat to define my ribcage ) so I just feel a slight pull on occasion.

I felt worse for my Mom than I ever did for myself, she freaked when she saw the car, about a year later I came home to her crying over the paper, there was a 18 year old girl who had hit a tree very similar to mine, but she had been killed.

The worst part is my first kid is just about to get her license.....

 

I'm glad to hear you are well!!

Buddy's daughter is doing alright, too.

 

Dang Shortsie!

Thats some serious stuff.

Worm and I totaled a Ranger of his bout 10 years ago. Gal ran a redlight and turned. Hit headonish at about a 45 deg angle. I remember every detail in slow motion.

My 4 wheeler flip, I remember nothing about.

Funny how things work out. Good thing your still around.

And I know the song, know it well. Good song.

 

Thanks Blake. Crazy rides!