Sunday, September 30, 2007 4:23 PM

I have tried to clear up a few things, and added some things I have learned from the local media.
I'm still crying at the images of this horrific accident on the road, involving the two vehicles in front of me, and one that crossed the median. Apparently, a southbound vehicle on Interstate 79 at mile marker 77 in West Virginia, somehow crossed the median and collided with the vehicle in the left lane about 70 yards in front of me. It was a beautiful day up to that point. I was northbound in the right lane. I remember a vehicle with a trailer going by me in the far left lane, and a few seconds later, another vehicle, (suv, jeep?) passed me in the middle lane. It's strange how our memories work. I remember that the trailer and the car in the middle lane were both red, but I can't remember what was pulling the trailer.
Whatever happened was blocked from my view from the right lane by the car and trailer. The southbound vehicle came across and struck the car with the trailer directly opposite of my position which was behind and to the right, so I did not see that impact clearly due to the angle.
Suddenly, the trailers rear rose and started to swing into the middle lane, tumbling as it went, and I could see an explosion of rubble from in front of it, as a vehicle swung into and across the middle and right lanes. As it was going across the highway, the now free trailer smashed it and disintegrated, everything but the metal frame, (it looked heavy, like a two car carrier frame), and the frame tumbled back toward the red suv, smashing it and turning it over in a flaming heap on the right shoulder of the northbound lanes. I steered across the middle and left lanes to avoid the tumbling and by now skidding trailer, stopping to block the traffic behind me.
As I stopped and started out of my vehicle, a brindle-colored dog, a greyhound or whippet, I think, ran from the suv, across the road in front of me and into the median, heading south. Believe it or not, I actually started to call soothingly to the dog for a second, before realizing how stupid that was with people in the wrecked cars waiting for help! Even though it only cost two seconds, I still felt foolish for wasting that time!
I ran to the jeep with my fire extinguisher, and as I fought the flames was calling to anyone inside. I could not see in because the windshield was crushed to the hood of the car, and the plastic door panel had fallen and was blocking the drivers window. A women cried out that, "I can't get out", and I told her in no uncertain terms, "Lady, that is NOT an option!" I managed to pull the door open but that plastic was still blocking her way. She was folded up, but alive and ready to get out. We got the plastic out of her way, and got her out of her seat belt, and she crawled out. "Where's my dog?", she asked. I told her I had seen the dog run south in the median, and she ran off after her dog. I never saw her again, I wonder if she found the dog?
I ran to the other vehicle, It was a van, I think. Nothing could prepare me for what I found. It was facing southbound on the northbound shoulder, about 20 feet north of the overturned, and by now, flame engulfed suv. There was a man sitting a little north of the vehicle, bleeding from the head (I think this man started out in the southbound vehicle, but I'm not sure). As I approached I yelled, "Are there people still in this car?" He said yes, and I went to what was the passenger side, which was facing the highway.
I could see a man moving in the passenger seat, but he was obviously not aware of his surroundings. I saw a child in the back seat, but I could not get the sliding side door open. I called for help from some people standing behind my truck, then I went to the drivers side of the vehicle. It was gone. The seat belt, having been ripped of with the roof, had decapitated the driver, a woman. I had to step over her head to help the screaming child, who had horrific facial injuries. I said to him and the man in the passenger seat, who was now moaning and moving his head around like he was trying to get his bearings, in as calm a voice I could, "it's time to go, kids", and I reached over the child to unlock the door and unhook his seat belt so he could lay across the seat. The man seemed to be coming around, and he looked to his wife,(?). He could not seem to comprehend what he saw in the drivers seat. I told him, "she can't help you sir, please unlock your door". While there was small fire in the engine compartment, it did not seem to be spreading to the vehicle body, so my main concern was opening the doors to let the help, which was starting to come from everywhere, (I could hear the sirens), get to them. I wanted so bad to help the little boy.
When I saw I could do no more, it was like a switch. One second I was acting like I knew what I was doing, then suddenly I felt like I couldn't walk. I vomited and shook for the next 45 minutes, and I am crying as I write this, a day later, with the sound of that childs screams in my head.
Why did I feel it necessary to post this gruesome story? To point out that you never know! Driving can kill you in a second. Check your tires. Watch your speed. Watch the other guy. It is not a game. Stay off the phone. Don't drink, or ride with someone that has been drinking. Do everything and anything to make sure you don't end up like these poor people through some stupid mistake. I will never be the same. I could not imagine being one of the officers or first responders that have to deal with this, and going back and seeing it again another day. I don't know how they do it. God Bless them and may their memories fade.
It is now a week later, and while I can't see things as vividly, I still hear the screams of the child. I'm not ashamed to say that it is hard to deal with.
I have learned since that this 9 year old had a 6 year old brother that I had not seen, who was ejected and killed. Last I heard, the nine year old and his dad were in intensive care.

I would like to thank all my friends who have called and offered their support to me in this very emotional time for me. I don't think I could deal with this without them, especially my parents and my Sonia. Thank you.

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