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Shalom's response in my Weird Weather thread reminded me of an accident I was in 1994.
Picture it: The Eastern Shore of Maryland, January 1994. My father was getting ready to retire from the Federal Government after 37 years. I was planning to drive up to my parents so I could attend the official retirement dinner shingdig that the Defense Systems Management College was throwing him.
The weather was looking a bit dodgy. There was nothing going on where I was (Salisbury) but the Bay Bridge has a bad reputation of icing up quick. So I call the Bridge to ask about the road conditions before I start out.
They assure me the weather is clear, no precipitation, just very cold.
So I head out on the road. So far so good. Everything is fine.
I get to Cambridge, and it begins to drizzle lightly. Still not too cold, and rain not ice, sleet or snow.
I cross the Choptank River bridge and BAM!
Full blown ice storm. Coming down fast and hard. Road is very slippery.
I slow down, but am still fish tailing all over the place. I realize the road conditions are too dangerous and ease over to the left lane to do a U turn and go home.
A pick up truck comes up behind me in the right hand lane, and loses control. He cuts in front of me, and swerves into the ditch on the left (median). I manage to slow down and keep control of my vehicle.
Dipwad speeds up as he gains control and tries to re-enter the highway . . . right in front of me. He loses control again and starts sliding sideways up the road. I tap and try to slow even more but this time I hydroplane and lose control. The car actually speeds up a bit due to this, and I T Bone the guy, glance off, and end up in the ditch on the right hand side of the road.
My left arm goes dead. I can't move it at all. I'm shaking I'm so scared.
This fellow who lives in a house off the highway sees the series of accidents happening all up and down the highway and calls 911, then comes to check on me. I still can't move my arm.
Ambulance takes an hour to get there due to the road conditions. They put me in a C collar and a backboard. My arm is starting to come back to life by now.
It takes us another hour to get to the hospital in Easton, which is normally a 15 minute drive away (I wish they'd take me to the hospital in Cambridge which is actually closer).
Half way there, I have to pee. Like really, really bad (well, it's been 3 hours since I left home). They put me on a bed pan.
No go.
Finally they get me to the hospital and check me out. My arm is fine by this point. No broken bones; just a pinched nerve and muscle strain. My roommates come pick me up at the hospital as the cops tell me it's going to be a day or two before my car can be towed (it was not drivable).
This is because they are just too busy. There were 75 car accidents in the same 15 minute period as mine.
Needless to say, I missed Dad's retirement dinner
Picture it: The Eastern Shore of Maryland, January 1994. My father was getting ready to retire from the Federal Government after 37 years. I was planning to drive up to my parents so I could attend the official retirement dinner shingdig that the Defense Systems Management College was throwing him.
The weather was looking a bit dodgy. There was nothing going on where I was (Salisbury) but the Bay Bridge has a bad reputation of icing up quick. So I call the Bridge to ask about the road conditions before I start out.
They assure me the weather is clear, no precipitation, just very cold.
So I head out on the road. So far so good. Everything is fine.
I get to Cambridge, and it begins to drizzle lightly. Still not too cold, and rain not ice, sleet or snow.
I cross the Choptank River bridge and BAM!
Full blown ice storm. Coming down fast and hard. Road is very slippery.
I slow down, but am still fish tailing all over the place. I realize the road conditions are too dangerous and ease over to the left lane to do a U turn and go home.
A pick up truck comes up behind me in the right hand lane, and loses control. He cuts in front of me, and swerves into the ditch on the left (median). I manage to slow down and keep control of my vehicle.
Dipwad speeds up as he gains control and tries to re-enter the highway . . . right in front of me. He loses control again and starts sliding sideways up the road. I tap and try to slow even more but this time I hydroplane and lose control. The car actually speeds up a bit due to this, and I T Bone the guy, glance off, and end up in the ditch on the right hand side of the road.
My left arm goes dead. I can't move it at all. I'm shaking I'm so scared.
This fellow who lives in a house off the highway sees the series of accidents happening all up and down the highway and calls 911, then comes to check on me. I still can't move my arm.
Ambulance takes an hour to get there due to the road conditions. They put me in a C collar and a backboard. My arm is starting to come back to life by now.
It takes us another hour to get to the hospital in Easton, which is normally a 15 minute drive away (I wish they'd take me to the hospital in Cambridge which is actually closer).
Half way there, I have to pee. Like really, really bad (well, it's been 3 hours since I left home). They put me on a bed pan.
No go.
Finally they get me to the hospital and check me out. My arm is fine by this point. No broken bones; just a pinched nerve and muscle strain. My roommates come pick me up at the hospital as the cops tell me it's going to be a day or two before my car can be towed (it was not drivable).
This is because they are just too busy. There were 75 car accidents in the same 15 minute period as mine.
Needless to say, I missed Dad's retirement dinner
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