Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Road Kill

Last night Allyson, Max and I were in a car accident returning home from an amazing wedding and reunion of sorts that we attended over the Holiday Weekend. Allyson was driving down a hill on I-68 at about 70 miles an hour (the speed limit in WV) and lost control of our car when she swerved out of the right lane to avoid a deer carcass. The car smacked against the divider and was knocked back into the right lane on a 45 degree angle from the shoulder of the road.

Max was sleeping at the time but the impact of the crash and the screaming of my wife woke him up and he started to cry. At that point I got out of the car and told Allyson to drive to the shoulder so we could get the the car off of the highway, but it wouldn't drive because of damage to the fender and the left front tire. I then tried to push it off the road, but that didn't work either. Allyson then told me to grab Max and get him out of the car and then she tried to get out, but her door wouldn't open because there was some damage there too. She unbuckled her seat belt and got out through the passenger side. I think some of us might have been in shock at this point.

At least two people saw the accident take place (from a safe distance) and pulled over to help us out. Nice folks out here in West Virginia... I eventually got into the car and was able to pull it off to the side of the road. A WV State Trooper showed up about 20 minutes later and called a tow truck and we waited with him in his cruiser for another 30 minutes or so.

After the tow truck guy came we found out there was enough damage done to the car that it had to be towed and because yesterday was a holiday there wasn't anyplace to get our car fixed. The State Trooper then took us to a hotel at the next exit and 24 hours later, hear I sit sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate while I type on a computer provided by the friendly folks at the Holiday Inn.

I'm not exactly sure why, but for some strange reason I can't sleep tonight. Either I'm just starting to process my thoughts and feelings or I had too much unsweetened ice tea with my dinner.

I'm completely amazed and grateful that the three of us walked away from this thing unscathed and for the most part our beautiful gray Ford Focus is completely intact. Just another example of why you can never go wrong with an American made car.
I guess I'll go back upstairs and watch my wife and son peacefully sleep for a little while. I'll catch up with all of you real soon.

Update:
It seems that I slightly miscalculated the damage that our beloved Focus received crashing into the guard rail at 75 miles per hour on Sunday night and as a result we're still here in Morgantown on Wednesday.

60 comments:

captain corky said...

Actually my ice tea was sweetened with Splenda. I just wanted clear that up.

Anonymous said...

lol American Made!

I'm glad you guys are ok, but you should've taken up the many people we know in that areas attempts to help take care of you.

I also hope that we can talk about the good stuff from the weekend once you are home.

BE SAFE and good luck in the morning.

Dana said...

Wow! I'm glad to hear everyone came out of this without injury. What a terrifying experience!

WV ... they might all be related, but they are some great folks!

Nancy said...

So glad to hear you all 3 walked away unhurt. Scary indeed!

P.S. Stevia over Splenda, much better for you =)

Melissa said...

Oh my goodness - how scary!!! I'm so glad to hear that you are all ok! Please give yourself, Allyson and Max a hug from Jersey!

The Lone Beader® said...

OMG! I am so glad you are okay, too!

Leighann said...

Wow, scary stuff. I'm glad to know that the three of you are "okay"!

marykay said...

OMG! Thank God your all okay, Give all a hug!

Justin's Mom said...

Thank goodness you guys are okay! Very scary - I can't imagine. Give Max a hug for me!

Bonnie Blue said...

Yikes..that's scary. I'm glad you guys are ok though...that's the important thing. Also, Max won't remember a thing so that's good. You 2 on the other hand...well...don't be too traumatized.

I have to laugh though...imagine that happened up here and you had to deal with NY or NJ troopers...wouldn't have been the same experience. Though...not so many deer on the NJ Tpk and NY...I only see dead deer tied to people's cars.

FOOLS GOLD said...

I am so glad you are all ok, what a relief.

Cate Subrosa said...

Shit Corky, I'm so glad you're all ok. Ouch.

Anonymous said...

So glad you all are okay. Hugs to all.

fiwa said...

Holy SHIT! I'm so glad you are all okay. Who cares about the car - if you all walked away uninjured, that is all that matters.

I hope there are other good things to remember the weekend by.

lovins to all of you -
fiwa

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness you all walked away unharmed! Hope you were able to catch some shut eye.

Jay said...

That's scary as hell. Thank goodness nobody was hurt.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Corky! that is frightening! i am so so glad you and your wife and that precious Max of yours are okay.

Have a great week!

furiousBall said...

jeebus cork. glad you're all ok

Mike Golch said...

I'm glad all of you are safe.

CarmenSinCity said...

Thankfully you guys are all okay!!!!!

Patti said...

Wow. Just wow.

Glad you're all okay...hope you made it safely home!!

Anonymous said...

This post calls for a little levity...

http://www.mrtraffic.com/roadkill.htm

Knight said...

Holy Crap. It's good to hear you are all okay. Good luck with the car and I hope the rest of your trip home is very safe.

Burfica said...

wow Corky I am so glad you all are okay. Even if the car was totaled, as long as you have your two loves.

Stay safe cork, and I'm sure you were awake because of over thinking things.

Billy said...

Holy shit. I am so glad you are all okay. Poor little Maxi!

MrRyanO said...

Glad everyone is OK! Sorry it take an accident for you to post more often. :P

youarekiddingme said...

A parent's nightmare. Not that that's fun for anyone but to have him in the car, ugh. - glad everyone is OK!

Ginormous Boobs said...

Wow, that's super scary! Glad you are all ok.

I heard from a certain little birdie that your weekend was splendid. Not Splenda. That would be fake fun.

Acrimony said...

How frightening! I'm glad everyone was ok!

Theresa said...

I'm sorry you had such a scare, but OH, SO HAPPY that things turned out as well as they did. Hugs to you all!!!

Michael Colvin said...

Car accidents are scary stuff. I'm glad to hear that you all are safe. We don't get deer in the road here, just cats and foxes and drunk teenagers.

Canadian flake said...

holy cowwwwwwwww I am so glad you are all okay. The vehicle can always be fixed or replaced, but I am really glad no one was hurt. It could have been so much worse, thank god!!

Unknown said...

Cars = replacable
You, Allyson & Max = not!

So glad that you are all okay. Hope they can fix the car and you can get home soon.

eric said...

sorry to hear that. i know that's frightening, because you can't stop worrying about what it could have been.

kind of when i let my oldest son when he was a baby drop directly on his head onto the pavement from the back of my truck (seriously).

Tink said...

Oh no! I'm just glad you guys are OK. Accidents, even when no one is injured (but the car), can shake you up for awhile. Especially since you had your kiddo with you. Try to enjoy the forced vacation and hopefully the car bill won't be too high.

Mx said...

Oh geez.... Madame x will never mock car seats for kids EVER again....

Sooooo glad everyone is okay....
hugs to you all....

captain corky said...

Thank you all for the kind words and well wishes! It means a lot to us.

We hope to be leaving in the morning. WV is a nice place to visit, but It's starting to feel like Ground Hog's Day around here.

Rick Rockhill said...

Corky- I am so glad you are all safe. Car accidents are scary and even with none being injured can be quite a jolt to the nerves. I lost a friend in a car accident a few weeks ago and I still devastated by it. someone was watchng out for you all.

Cheryl said...

I was so afraid you were going to say your car was hit by another as you tried to move it off the road. You guys are so fortunate that no one was hurt. What a story!

Anonymous said...

Oh wow. Glad you're all ok. How absolutely scary. :(

marykay said...

I know you have alot on your mind right now but, Max really needs a new car seat now. Once it is in a accident they should be trashed. I know something else to worry about. Take Care.

Cazzie!!! said...

Thank the bloody gummy MAry you three are ok! I just goit a shock initial read of this post..why? Because I just specialed a patient tonight at work who was hit by a tow truck, as a pedestrian...long story..thing is, anything can happen, and I am so glad yu are all ok.
Isn't it marvellous how people root together to help one another in times of crisis... I just love it! Stay cool you three, and hugg and make sure you say you love each other 50 times or more in one day :)

Portia said...

HOLY MACKERAL! So glad you guys are all okay. Hope you make it home soon:)

Pink said...

Thank you know who you're all safe.

really.

xx
pinks

Hazed said...

Darlin', a car is expendable; your kid and wife are the world! That's why we pay out the ass for insurance premiums! Thinkin' of y'all! Hope you are all home safe and sound. Make sure the ins. co. knows that they're lucky they're only having to replace the CAR, and nothin' or no one else ;)
Best wishes to you all!

bonnie said...

I do hope you are all really ok. Ditto on fridaysweb. Not sleeping? Busting your car up while you are inside must be traumatizing and terrifying. I hope you find your way home soon.

Real Live Lesbian said...

Glad you three are ok physically. I'm sure the mental part will catch up to you...cuz it was scary with the baby in the car.

Hugs,
Lynn

DJ Kirkby said...

So glad to hear that you are all physically unscathed!

nikki said...

Glad you guys are alright. Oddly, I just now saw this on my reader and I check it everyday. Anyway, sorry about your car though. No fun.

dilling said...

so thankful you are all still here with us, Cap'n.
so thankful

HAR said...

Corky- I hope that you are all home safe by now. I was sad to read about this but happy you all are okay.

P.S. lay off the ice tea

Princess Pointful said...

Phew.
I'm a little late...
But, wow, yikes.
Glad you are okay. It is scary how quick all of that can happen!

Anonymous said...

Glad you guys are OK. And when you get the car back, make it home safe. I used to love rolling over Skyline Drive in WV, but that stretch of highway can be treacherous too.

Jodi said...

Oh my gosh, Corky. I'm so glad you all are okay.

J.

Biscuit said...

I'm glad you were unharmed, and I hope you've made it home by now!

Heidi the Hick said...

So it's been almost a week, Corky... are you back home again???? You guys okay?

Sunshine said...

I'm just getting caught up, I'm so glad you guys are all OK!

Christie said...

I am so glad that your family is OK. That is so scary.

Biddie said...

Holy shit! Can I say that here? Look what I miss when I take time off!
I am so glad that you and yours all safe, and nobodt was hurt.
Sometimes it can take awhile to digest a scary ass thing like that.
When I was working at Zehrs, a car came crashing through the window, landing on a lady that was stuck under the drywall (sheet rock for you Yankees) I was about three tills away..Close enough to have nightmares for months afterwards...
I am so glad that you are all in one piece.

Unknown said...

WOW! That must have been a incredibly traumatic experience. So glad you all made it out unscathed. Too bad about the car, though. That, though, can be easliy fixed/replaced.