Not a battle between good and evil but a cruncher of big and little.
On the damage scale the suburban scored: light damage
On the damage scale the suburban scored: light damage
the car: totaled
Participants: all doing very well, no hospital visits, just a little shaken and sore.
Erika and I were on our way to Idaho Falls (for me to have Lasik surgery) and about 15 minutes from the surgical center we came upon 3 ducks in the road. Erika was already slowing down for the stop sign ahead so slowed even more for the ducks which we did happen to miss even tho' a rather large, stubborn, ruffled duck stuck out his wings, planted his webbed feet and tried to play chicken with us. About 5 seconds after granting that lucky duck his life we felt and heard a thud which resembled the feel and sound of the bumper cars at Lagoon. I immediately recognized what it was as my memory flashed back to 1994 when I was rear ended in Logan, Utah.
We pulled over to the side, a garbage man around the corner pulled over and directed traffic around the car that had hit us and we sat for a minute to evaluate what had just happened. Erika was worried that it was her fault so it took a little explaining to convince her that she had done nothing wrong and that it really was an accident. She was also worried because she doesn't even have her license yet, just a permit. The garbage man (who must be key on noticing garbage) pointed out that there were english muffins all over the road. No wonder that duck was so determined. He was not just hovering over a morsel of food, he was protecting a days worth of food.
The driver of the other car got out and was in the process of getting a screaming baby out of the car when we approached her. The baby reached out for Erika and as soon as she was in Erika's arms she laid her head on Erika's shoulder and calmed down. As we shared our personal versions of the same experience my heart really went out to this lady. My day (and vehicle) were only inconvenienced but this was really going to hold a tough day number one spot for her.
The driver was Janna. She had her 17 month old granddaughter and 70 year old mother with her. She was on her way to take her mother to a nursing home for the day because the mother has Alzheimer's and the nursing home takes her a couple of days a week. As they were driving down the road Janna asked her mom if she remembered who lived in the house they were coming up on. Her mom replied that "yes, that is where Ruth lives. We used to quilt and do canning together". Janna was so excited that her mom was having a clear, real memory that she lost her driving concentration and hit us. I felt so bad that a good moment with her mom was now be tainted with the accident. Janna also commented through her tears, "it's one of those times that I want my mom. She is right here, and yet she isn't".
Janna called her dad to come and get them (it was his car that she was driving). She answered the Onstar lady, the officer came, we showed all of our paperwork and the report was written up. In the end we all shared hugs and were on our way. And it was only 10:30 am.
The day following the accident Erika saw her drivers ed teacher. She told him what had happened and he chewed her out. Evidently, the joke of the class was "if it's a small animal hit it, unless it is a skunk". To any future ducks out there: you better duck cause she's not slowing down next time.
3 comments:
oh what a bummer. i can only imagine how erika and janna must have felt. glad you were with erika in her first accident and that you could witness the "truth" :D
You guys are awesome to be understanding with Janna. It's funny that the baby went right to Erika (probably helped Erika feel a little better too after being shaken up with an accident). With my job, it's amazing how many people are not nice and are out to "win the lottery" when they are hit. I know it keeps me in a job but sometimes I'd like to smack these people across the head and ask them if they even thought about the other driver.
That would be so sad to have your mom there with you but not really with you. I agree with the above comment - better that you were there with Erika to be able to help her through it.
What a terrible day for you, Erika and especially Janna! I don't know how Janna must have felt to have that one moment of clarity with her mom when most of the time she isn't there... but I am glad that it was you and Erika that were in the other car rather than someone who might not have been so nice or helpful with the little one. Thank goodness everyone is ok though!
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