K-57

Bad Driving Choices hit close to work

A broken nose. A broken back. A broken face. It happened at 6:30 in the morning on Friday. She doesn't remember being thrown from the car as it flipped over and over on the interstate. Witnesses saw the car land near her shoulder and face. They saw what happened in the early morning trip to work.

They finally found the driver that started the series of events. Driving his truck too fast, cutting lanes, driving while on a cell phone. He came up fast and cut right, in a space too small for safety. The car swerved to avoid contact and quickly lost control.

Doctors think it may be more than a year before she can go back to work. She doesn't even remember the last few moments before the crash. Health insurance isn't enough to even cover the first week of hospitalization. Surgeries may be needed.

The other driver may have a few moving violations to deal with only, since there was no evidence of contact.

I've not been by to visit yet. Her supervisor and a co-worker visited today. "Sore and in pain" is an understatement.

I wonder if there were any things that could have avoided this incident. I mean beyond the obvious like seatbelts or cell phone turned off or clear vision of all lanes or slowing down to match the traffic situation. We all pay when something like this happens, indirectly. And I can't help but think even a single "better" choice by just one individual in this event could have made a tremendous difference.

Events happen, just like this one, without fault or blame. He didn't hit her car. Her evasive maneuver was called for given this threat.

Responsibility though, is another story.

tag: driving

posted by Kev @ 5/09/2005 11:52:00 AM