The world gone mad

Have you ever had the feeling that the world has gone mad? I had that feeling this morning. I was heading into work (southbound on the 101, just south of Ray, for you locals). I was in the middle lane, when all of a sudden, there was a huge thump followed by the screech of tires on pavement. Before I could react, a huge dust cloud was kicked up just to my left, and my car was peppered with a blast of rocks. As the dust cleared, I saw a small car at rest nose-first against the wire traffic barrier, pointing north (recall that I was heading southbound). I pulled into the left breakdown lane, then backed up. As I got out of my car, I dialed 911 on my cell. A busy signal! How in the hell do you get a busy signal on 911?! When I got to the car, the driver had already gotten out. The car was a Miata, with a trashed front end and two deployed air bags. The driver seemed fine, though she said her wrist hurt. She was also understandably just a little panicked. Another witness to the accident had already called 911, so an ambulance and the police were on the way. Two more people stopped, and we all talked with the driver as we waited for the police. She told us she had just bought the car! She quickly added that at least she was okay. Her husband was on the way, the police were on the way, and the morning looked like it might return to normal.

As we stood there in the center divider, there was a tremendous CRUMP sound. We all swiveled out heads just in time to see a minivan driving at a 45° angle up the gravel incline to the right of the northbound lanes. It took out a tree, then slid backwards. The other witness and I hopped the wire barrier then ran across the northbound lanes. By the time we got there, the driver was unbuckling a screaming child from a car seat. We got them to sit on the side of the road, and called 911. The mother was really shocky, worried about her daughter. I’ve got young kids, so luckily I spoke her daughter’s language: she said “no” when I asked if she had any “owies”. The mother complained about her neck – luckily the other witness to the original accident was very forcefully requesting another ambulance. At that point, we finally noticed the other vehicle in the accident. A Ford Expedition (or Excursion, or one of those damnable barges) was sitting on three wheels in the middle lane, leaking fluids all over the ground. Though the airbags had deployed, the driver was fine, and in fact had walked over to check on the mivivan passengers.

Just then, a motorcycle cop arrived at the first accident. He quickly ran over to our side of the road. Seconds later, an off-duty firefighter arrived, shortly followed by another. One wanted to cut the cable on the ruined battery on the Ford to prevent a fire, so I handed him my Leatherman (man, I’m glad I had it with me).

A few minutes later, the cavalry arrived. Fire rescue, and some police cars. Those of us that stopped stayed to give our statements (for two accidents). Just before I left, I talked with the driver in the original accident. She was cut off (that driver left the scene). She went through (either over or under) the wire barrier. The same barrier that Arizona DOT insists is effective. The same barrier then has allowed too many cars to cross over. Too many have died. Thankfully nobody was injured in this case, but that was due to simple luck rather than the engineering prowess of ADOT.

The driver of the Miata kept saying she “lost control” and wished she could have controlled her car better. Although I kept telling her, it may take her a little while to realize just what an incredible driver she is under pressure. She had the presence of mind and reflexes to turn back toward the inside after going through the barrier. For that, my family and I are more grateful than she may ever know.