View Full Version : I nearly died last night
I don't know if any of you heard, but Harrisburg, PA got a TON of snow yesterday. And it all came at once. I was at work until 5, and there was already 6 inches of snow on the roads, and no plows had even gone down. I was driving home from work at a brisk 15 miles an hour, hit some snow - spun out of control - and ended up in a ditch. That was the beginning. While I was waiting for the tow truck to come a second car slipped on the road and nearly hit me. There was a woman and a baby inside, luckily they were both safe, but we knew we couldn't sit in our cars anymore.
After 2 hours of waiting, I finally got my car out of the ditch. The roads still hadn't been plowed, and it's dark and still snowing. I didn't want to drive anymore, but the police wanted my car out of there and there was nowhere to park. So I slowly drove home. Going across a major bridge on the highway, I was again going between 15-20 mph, and a semi truck passes me on the right at about 50. He threw wind, ice, and a ton of wind at me, and I spun out of control across three lanes of traffic over a frozen river. I screamed.
I've never had a moment when I actually thought my life was going to end - that was an "I'm going to die right now" scream.
I couldn't see because of all the snow and rain he'd put on my windshield. My steering wheel didn't work and my breaks were of no use. All I could think to do was honk the horn. I honked and honked and honked and prayed the oncoming traffic would hear me and slow down. Thankfully I was going slow enough that I managed to stop before I hit the median, although it was very close. The car coming up on the last lane missed me by 6 inches. It was the scariest two seconds of my life. Thank God everyone managed to react in time.
I will never drive out in a snowstorm on unplowed roads again. My dad was out in them too, and he said in 55 years he never saw conditions so bad - even in Alaska. You don't realize how dangerous it can be. Someone was watching out for me that night. I'm afraid there were many people who were far less lucky than me.
dawsongirl 03-17-2007, 10:27 PM Your job didn't let you go home early? That's awful. With conditions that bad, they should have closed early so their employees could attempt a safer trip home.
Your job didn't let you go home early? That's awful. With conditions that bad, they should have closed early so their employees could attempt a safer trip home.
Actually, the bank was supposed to be open until 7, they let us out 2 hours early. But it just wasn't enough. At 4 it was snowing an inch an hour, all the schools got out at 12 and all other businesses in the area closed at 3. :( We were there until after 5.
Mr. Television 03-17-2007, 10:47 PM Wow that's scary. I'm glad you're alright.
Nighthawk76 03-17-2007, 10:59 PM I'm glad that you are okay.
Hollow 03-18-2007, 12:25 AM that must have been terrifying. i know the feeling of thinking you're about to die tragically. i was in a nearly fatal accident about a year and a half ago where i lost control of the car and all hell broke loose, and kept breaking loose as i tried to flee to safety. as everything happened i thought about how much my life was going to be ruined if i survived, but at the same time it didn't really matter because i thought i was going to die anyway. horrible feeling for one to have going through their mind. i'm really glad you're ok though.
EmoJoe 03-18-2007, 12:30 AM oh wow, that sounds REALLY scary. :( im glad your ok.
freshprinceofLA 03-18-2007, 02:45 AM Dang. i don't drive but me and my family have had experiences of something going wrong when driving. The important thing is you are ok. You did all the right things you did not do a thing wrong. All and All i'm glad to hear yo are ok!:wave:
Max Whittaker 03-18-2007, 02:50 AM Us Texans wouldn't know what to do in such a situation. We panic when it gets a little icy. Everything shut down for three days when the roads iced over early this year. It was kinda funny.
But then, the way they drive out there, it was for the best.
So glad you're safe!
Czas na Zywiec 03-18-2007, 04:57 AM same thing happened to me two months ago. well not EXACTLY, but I was driving down the highway at about 20 mph and there was this huuuuge snow drift, this car in front of me hit his breaks suddenly and I slammed on my breaks too, but since the snow drift was so bad, I slid into a ditch and hit another car. we were all fine, but I had that brief 3 seconds where I was like "holllly ****." but I stayed as calm as I could, just tried to maintain control of the car and make sure we got in as little harm as possible. the car in front of me? nothing, he just kept driving, didn't even stop to see if we were alright. I'll never forget that day.
same thing happened to me two months ago. well not EXACTLY, but I was driving down the highway at about 20 mph and there was this huuuuge snow drift, this car in front of me hit his breaks suddenly and I slammed on my breaks too, but since the snow drift was so bad, I slid into a ditch and hit another car. we were all fine, but I had that brief 3 seconds where I was like "holllly ****." but I stayed as calm as I could, just tried to maintain control of the car and make sure we got in as little harm as possible. the car in front of me? nothing, he just kept driving, didn't even stop to see if we were alright. I'll never forget that day.
Yeah, the semi that passed me on the right and sent me out of control? He kept going. That creep nearly killed me, but he didn't see any reason to stop :mad:
I don't know if I really did that much to save my life - what saved it was the quick response time of the others coming down the road. If there had been another semi in that last lane, I definately would have died. They never could have stopped in time. The guy was actually in an SUV and he came within inches. I know what you mean when you're like "holy ****". That was when I screamed. I wasn't thinking of my family or my life or the things I hadn't done. I was in just a clear recognition of what was happening. I never want to go through that again.
that must have been terrifying. i know the feeling of thinking you're about to die tragically. i was in a nearly fatal accident about a year and a half ago where i lost control of the car and all hell broke loose, and kept breaking loose as i tried to flee to safety. as everything happened i thought about how much my life was going to be ruined if i survived, but at the same time it didn't really matter because i thought i was going to die anyway. horrible feeling for one to have going through their mind. i'm really glad you're ok though.
Thanks Sarah. Yeah, you never think it'll happen to you, ya know? I'm glad I'm here and you're here :)
Stormtracker TF 03-18-2007, 10:37 AM Wow, that's scary. Glad everything was Ok.
swedeace 03-18-2007, 11:03 AM Us Texans wouldn't know what to do in such a situation. We panic when it gets a little icy. Everything shut down for three days when the roads iced over early this year. It was kinda funny.
But then, the way they drive out there, it was for the best.
So glad you're safe!
Yeah, that's us as well. We have all these road/highway closures happening.
Wow...I am glad you are okay, Liza. Yep, you were definitely looked after. :hug:
Georgia's on my Mind 03-18-2007, 08:02 PM eek.
do you work for bank of america?
80sTrivia 03-18-2007, 08:24 PM Goodness... what a terrifying experience! I'm glad that you are okay! :wave:
*Pleasant Tomorrow* 03-18-2007, 09:33 PM God, that's horrible. I'm so glad you're okay.
Brent88 03-18-2007, 11:40 PM :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:
WOW. :(
eek.
do you work for bank of america?
:lol: Nope. I work for a small local bank, here in Harrisburg. Brand new job, too :crazy:
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