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On Friday, September 5, 2008, at 08:13 PM, Donnamaie White wrote:
I am going to draft this while it's fresh and write it up when I am less groggy and shaking (from lack of sleep and too much Starbuck's). This is somewhat normal when doing a 484- mile haul to San Diego (and days I drive back too).
This time, I set out at about 5AM - I got up at 4 - grabbed the cat (Summer) - Planned to munch a Medifast bar in the car so no breakfast - sipped some real Starbuck's cold in fridge, took pills, and tossed stuff into the car. Animals go in last. Ice chest equipped with frozen water bottles, blue ice packs and Harris Ranch ice packs. This are in sets of three - for use I the animal cages. In high heat, they travel in cooler cages.
The old dog was AT THE GATE so anxious was she to be loaded (she's getting worse all the time - I have to LIFT her out of the truck now).
I pulled out, things shut down behind me (air turned off, computer off, etc.) and hit the road. It was BEFORE the crack of dawn.
Anyway - I was bipping along - it was early - not a lot of traffic - and as per usual - staying out of the #2 lane (truckers) and staying in the #1 lane (left one) on a 2- lane MAJOR MAJOR throughfare North to South thru CA.
I as free- associating thoughts as we do when we drive (read that expression in a book - like it).
The sun was coming up, the sky like a large dome because on I5, you are in a 360 degree horizon situation and it is incredible. The Sierra Nevada mountains are way over to the left. The coastal foothills (4500 feet max) are over to the right. The LA foothills are not in sight. It is a long, straight haul, slight rise and fall, slight curves, but mostly long stretches of wide open space. There are either cultivated fields. Or range land with sheep or cattle. Or nothing (natural chaparral). You might see, esp in the early morning hours pre- dawn, twinkling lights of a town far to the left. The California Aqueduct keeps you company for part of the trip.
I am a visual person. The drive is, for me, relaxing if the traffic isn't too heavy or the wind too rough. The wind can flip you, toss am 18- wheeler, or make you change lanes without effort. Then you have to drive sideways, steering left to keep going straight. It's an art form.
This was one of the leisurely times. Whip on down the road and enjoy the drive. Occasional truck, occasional other driver. I tend to hang in the left or number 1 lane, because the trucks tear up the number 2 or right lane. At one point, the pot- holes were so bad that I had to get the truck re- aligned every 2 trips! I learned. Hang left. Unless the right is smooth and some idiot is crawling up your bumper, in my case, my trailer hitch.
Some of my free association is to think over plots for my CHiPs out of Uniform stories - I check out any Highway Patrol I spy. I have a great story - Snowbound - the first page was a 1- page read at a meeting and NO ONE HAD A COMMENT. I should submit it. I need to know a bit more about the uniform.
Need to chat with a cop sometime. One of these days I'll find one drinking coffee- - - - - .
At any rate, I was going about 70-75 - slower than the freeway runs - (limit is 70 - normal flow about 80 - except for "bait" cars running 90- 120) - and behind a black SUV - for several miles. We had entered the "Road Work" area - one of them - because they are repairing and repaving the whole freeway miles at a time. The road was freshly laid - lovely and easy on the tires. (Left and right lanes.) But I was staying left. The signs clearing said "No Shoulder" - because they hadn't poured it yet. This means - there is this little "drop" and for some cars - that would take out the transmission.
Remember I am in a Toyota Tacoma TRD 4-Wheel drive extended-can truck - a Moderately large truck - not humongous - but pretty big and it handles (at about 130,000 miles) very damn well. And I have brand- new - or nearly so - REVO All- terrain tires.
We were rolling along. The sun was up. The sun was low on the left window. I hadn't seen the need for the Prescription Polaroids or even the visor. I have Transition lenses anyway. Red sun at morning etc. Beautiful sky. IÕm early. I can get thru LA before the Friday rush. I am happy. I am at peace with the world.
Suddenly, the SUV ahead of me - remember - we are on a stretch of road with signs saying NO SHOULDER - and there isn't - just a deep drop of about 4-5 inches into the very wide Median you are supposed to stay off of - well - the SUV dropped its left wheels (I think both but maybe only one) off the side of the road - just a sudden veer left. From normal stable driving, steady enough for me to contentedly follow, to uh oh chaos.
I braked - pumping the brake - because you do NOT slam on brakes at 70-75 and not even at 20 with Revos - which grip the road - you would HOP - literally - like a rabbit. With new front brake linings, I could end up going ass over teakettle as they say.
Anyway - the SUV driver - like we all instinctively do - yanked the wheel to pull right. Now - I yank the wheel a little on these occasions and settle it right down - in other words - I do NOT overcorrect. And I drive a sensible truck. This time I can't say it was heavily loaded, but it usually has a balanced load, however large it is.
This driver, however, yanked the SUV back up over the curb rather hard and it swerved into the right lane. The SUV was swaying, indicating that the center of gravity is too high in that car making it rather unstable. As I could plainly see. (OK - I am an engineer - I think this way.)
The SUV wasn't braking - I can't remember seeing the smoke you get from skidding rubber - so although slower - we were still moving pretty quickly. Prob 60? 65? I was slowing but no panic 70 to 0 stop.
The driver yanked the SUV back to the left. Hard. Over-correcting the over correction. The SUV didn't like this. I was holding my breath - I swore it would be on its side. It was 45 degrees off center. Leaning over.
Repeat this process a couple of times (2? 3?) I wasn't counting. I was horrified and fascinated. Mesmerized. My son describes it as the brain on overload and everything in slow motion. I describe it as tunnel vision. You are oblivious to everything but what you see. I know I was gripping my wheel, and I was on auto-pilot. I am a defensive driver. I am a graduate of taking small children on a long car trip. I am a graduate of boy scout outings. I am a survivor.
Each time back and forth the SUV was swaying off the vertical more and more - almost from one set of two wheels to the other - that angle was worse each trip. I kept hoping the driver would slow down, and stop yanking the wheel back and fourth. (In these cases, just drive off into the gravel median and stop. In fact, if two wheels drop off, steel into it and drop the other two off too and park for a bit. Gives you a chance to check for a blown tire.)
THEN - to my horrified eyes - the SUV went right - PERPENDICULAR TO ME - thank GOD no one was there.
Honest to GOD it T-boned the right side of the road - a steep hill cut-out - and it wasn't slowing down. It was really hauling.
It hit the hill and the rear end swung around (the car now facing traffic) and immediately took off in a rollover up the hill - I swear it bounced end to end while spinning - because I never saw any brakes or have no memory of them - I was still moving forward myself - still braking and still on the highway - running interference for the SUV until it left the road.
And then the SUV went AIRBORNE after one of the end bounces - it was like the thing WEIGHED NOTHING - spun in the air - and then it crashed down on its side. A poof of dust and debris. I swear - a poof went up, and I am not sure I was breathing. I was waiting for the explosion. If the driver wasn't in a seat belt, it would have been Waring-blender time.
I went OFF the left side - off the "no shoulder" - " on purpose (aimed) and slammed myself stopped in flying gravel. Leaped out of my truck calling 911 - WHICH - MIRACLE OF MIRACLES ANSWERED THE DAMN CELL PHONE!!! ("if an emergency - punch any key" - I did) I was about 30 feet further down the road then the wreck when I stopped, but I had evidently been slowing the whole time.
I said - "rollover - Southbound 5 - 60 miles North of the 198 intersection." That's Harris Ranch for the non-Californian - a major Oasis in the wilderness. And we are standing in a wilderness of nothing but wild and pasture.
Now to me - the mileage estimate that I gave is pretty damn specific. The 911 operator however was trying to figure out where I was - because it was in "another county". HUH????
LOOK AT A DAMN MAP! (See - I KNOW every highway patrol and local cop KNOWS Harris Ranch because I see 3- 4- 5- 6- 7 cruisers there on a morning say about 8- 8:30 AM. White ones, black and white, old style blinky lights, new slick ones, etc. I see them walk in. I am debating way-laying one to ask my uniform questions.
I knew exactly where I was. Give or take odometer readings. I had 60 (62) miles to go to the Harris Ranch PARKING LOT - over by the side of the 198 -5 interchange. The Cops know this place - they eat there - they take breaks there. It's an oasis in the middle of NOWHERE. And I do mean nowhere.
OK - I yelled across the street to someone - "are we north of 163- 5 whatever" yes - - - - well - how in blazes would I know? I run my trip by the odometer. Some many miles to this one. So many miles to that. Harris Ranch is 170 miles from my Fremont house. Lake Hughes Castiac MacDonald's is 150 miles further and the house in San Diego is 150 miles from there. 1/2 gas tank each. Give or take a gallon.
I said - "Road construction"
911 wanted to know (remember I am on the other side of the freeway - watching black smoke - terrified of what was in the car) - If "everyone was out" - Several cars and truckers had now stopped - men were walking over - men got her out and she was alone.
I looked up - "YES" - a bunch of men had gotten the woman out - using a locked-arm chair carry you learn in basic first-aid classes and she was clutching her purse and cell phone I believe. Can't swear to that - but she DID have the cell phone in her hand every other time I looked at her. How much do you want to bet? No ear piece. Illegal call phone use. Bettcha.
911 asked "Fire?" - probably - By the time 911 managed to garble their questions, the truckers with fire extinguishers put it out - (I would still roll a truck and check the scorched Earth - we are in grass-fire area - range and farms) "Ambulance?" I thought perhaps - then I saw her standing. Well - I would have rolled a bus for that anyway. She has injuries - but you never feel them until the next day. Whiplash for sure. Who knows what else?
How is she standing? I am still horrified. I am across the street because I am terrified of fire and I did NOT want to see what was inside the SUV after that wild display olf the forces of basic physics. Momentum. An object in motion wants to stay in motion, stopping it requires a transfer of energy. Her motion was excessive by the time she T-boned the hill. It transferred itself to the air ballet.
That SUV tossed itself around like a leaf in a dirt devil. It slammed to Earth like a kid had picked up a toy car and slammed it to Earth.
I had actually expected it to flip over back down the hill. It stayed put. Guys yanked stuff out and got her suitcase. The car was not a shiny black this - more dust-covered and dulled. Broken toy. 911 wanted to know if the car was "blocking the highway" (because God knows - we can't be blocking the highway) - no - it's up on the side - try it flew thru the air and landed up by the cattle fence.
OK - someone else helped them decode it (location) - the truckers pulled out - guys had hauled the women out of the SUV and even rescued her suitcase - she was still clutching a cell phone and standing - I had said she may need an ambulance - frankly - she should have been immobilized at once - that thing SPUN BOUNCED FLEW and SLAMMED DOWN - HARD.
I was still waiting for an explosion. There were about 20 people milling around.
Since I was sick of yelling at strangers - I had decided to walk across the freeway. I saw a break and walked across. I was tired of shouting over traffic across a freeway.
911 signed off as I got there - they had my name and by now my cell phone #. (Do they keep a record? If you report too many incidents, are you a bad person?)
Some guy yelled to everyone - "Anybody call 911?" Yes I said - this is the guy who had looked at me funny when I was yelling across the street. (Why did they think I was yelling questions?)
Now I am on the opposite side of the freeway from my truck. And no - not thinking clearly. I was saying out loud, "I need to get back to my truck". Over and over.
And then, here comes the Calvary - more cars had left and traffic was flowing - fortunately not heavy.
The two cruisers hauled onto the Median from the South and spun U-turns across the freeway. Blinky blinky.
First cruiser slammed in - stopped inches from my knees, spinning gravel.
Second one slammed in behind him.
First cop out went to discuss whose car and which of 20 people was the victim. (Not obvious.)
I looked lost - standing there confused and holding my hand up and the closed cell phone in it. My keys were dangling from my wrist. I was beginning to sense disorientation. Shock. Adrenalin rush receding.
The other cop looked at me and asked if I saw it and I said yes - I called it in. My cell phone in hand. I looked at the phone like it would confirm this. HE was reaching for pad and pencil.
He needed my driver's license - I pointed to my truck. "It's over there." (Across the freeway.)
He walked me back across the highway - stopping trucks and traffic. I ran the last few feet. I normally do NOT run. The Earth could be exploding and I do not run. I ran. (Asthma be damned.) In passing - I indicated that her wheels had dropped off the edge and then she had spin out and rolled over. I think I mumbled airborne, ass over teakettle, and flew through the sair . I don't remember. I was hurrying to get him what he wanted.
I got my wallet (I had left my car open - the wallet on the seat - the keys however still on my wrist). Conditioned response to grab keys having locked myself out of my car at Harris Ranch and it taking an HOUR for AAA to find my membership (Northern and Southern CA don't talk well together.)
He got my lic #, my cell phone, and year I was born. He had a little notebook and pencil kept in his breast pocket. I made a note of that. He was shoving it back in as he negotiaed himself across the street.
Then he went back across the freeway and I was left trying to walk off the sudden attack of the shakes. (LEan over your knees - walkk about a bit.)
I saw a break in oncoming traffic - hopped back in my truck - didn't even use 4-wheel assist - roared out and over the ridge and across the lanes to the right side, hauling ass, foot on the gas and switching gears. Revos can really let you haul. I hauled.
About 20 minutes later, I realized the second cop was tall, fit and perfect (story- wise) and I hadn't even gotten his name or even looked him in the face.
RATS! - fleeting impression - he could walk me across any freeway he wants.
I called Chuck from Harris Ranch - got him at Buttonwillow - 1/2 way to San Diego.
I stopped there for a decaf Starbuck's - I deserved it. I had realized I had a bit of shock symptoms but Harris coffee wasn't open (not the meat counter) and I wasn't interested in a cold bottle of Starbuck's.
A Starbuck's dacaf grande cafe mocha non-fat no-whip was a staple in my diet when John was going thru chemo. It's my "Mother will calm down now" drink. It is also the "Mother has a fat gut" drink. I try not to indulge. Sometimes, you must sooth the savage beast. Or a frazzled woman.
Mind you - I have been looking for a chance to speak to a CHiP - I want to ask how long it would take to get them out of that uniform - but Chuck has threatened that if I do ask one and get arrested - he won't bail me out!
I didn't think this event warranted that kind of levity and I was in no condition to appreciate it anyway.
I wish I had taken a good look at him however. Or even gotten his name!
Rats again! (He WAS in a black & white - not a new stealth white car.)
Chuck said - that's two near-misses (accidents) - I am watching you! Well - one was not a near miss - the 18-wheeler grazed the truck at 65 MPH, dented the back fender, bowed the passenger door and scratched up the rear-view side mirror. But I was unhurt. The dent is small. I didn't even notice the slight loss of air-tightness in the door for a week, which is what he meant. OK I drive with a roll of Gorilla Tape.
I said - "I'd just go off to the left - I'd just go all the way to the left and sit there for a bit. Then drive back on and be sensible!!!"
I have driven off to the right. Once I did that - and so did every other car. 60 - to - zero - no bumpers touched - then we all started back up and wove back into place. Like a Ballet.
I still don't remember seeing or hearing screeching tires from the SUV - I swear she had frozen with her foot on the gas. She had a LOT of momentum (inertia) and that was obvious from the ballet that SUV performed. I didn't know cars could do that.
(OK - my Renault did a 360 on black ice once and put me up on a snowbank - I had to be lifted down. Four guys lifted it back to the street. This had evidently happened before. Snowbank was on a stonewall. My tires marks were on the tree truck. I HAD yanked the wheel that time. I had been headed for a head- on crash. Instead I drove over the tree trunk and landed upright. That car weighed 1200 lbs. I was 18. I called my boyfriend to venture out and lead me the rest of the way. Not the same thing. An SUV is far heavier, and it was a sunny day.)
After this horror, by the time I reached San Diego (374 miles later), unloaded the truck, and settled the animals, I was useless for the rest of the day. Delayed reaction. Red wine. Blanket. Warm cat.
Comment: Notice that the person I called - was my older son. One cannot emphasize the importance of families.
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