On the way home

Discussion in 'Sports Board' started by Stu Ryckman, Oct 13, 2019.

  1. Stu Ryckman

    Stu Ryckman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 1999
    Messages:
    7,851
    Likes Received:
    484
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Mansfield, OH
    from the Purdue Maryland game I'm following this semi on US 30 at the speed limit (70mph) and I see a black minivan lose control in the oncoming lanes...perceived it had been hit as it's bumper flew off...crossed perpendicular across the median...and I was just about to say "Oh **** look at that" when it slammed into the trailer of the semi and exploded. Never saw anything like it and I've been to a lot of wrecks...the rear two axles of the trailer decimated the minivan and the impact tore the entire rear wheel assembly off the trailer. The semi driver was able to get the thing under control without flipping and ended up 200 yards down the road. I pulled over in the grass behind the minivan and my wife called 911. I'm hurrying up to the minivan thinking for sure there would be fatalities and damned if there isn't a guy thrown out of the van and sitting in the middle of the fricking highway surrounded by debris and screaming. I sent my wife over to the minivan and I'm out there in the middle of a 70 mph highway waving my arms hoping the traffic behind us was alert and would stop (they were and did.) A little old lady (turned out she was a couple years younger than me actually) came next and helped flag traffic. Then I just tried to calm the guy and keep him warm and keep him from moving around. More people came up including an ER nurse and a paramedic. The minivan had his wife or girlfriend and four little girls aged 6 through 12 in it. Graced by God nobody was dead. Three of the girls seemed fine and one was a little in and out of it but I think will be ok. She had a bumped head and maybe a broken ankle. A bunch of ladies in the traffic behind us came up and were holding the kids and calming them down. The guy in the road had a broken femur and who knows what else but was alert. The lady (who was driving) was unconscious but breathing when I got there but was conscious when the squad took her. Not sure of her injuries. It seemed like a long time for the squads to get there...but in reality it wasn't. The road was closed down for an hour and a half. We had to stay and give statements. There was a nice guy there who caused the thing by pulling out from a cross road and nipping their car. He lived nearby and crossed that highway thousands of times...just never saw them. He was pretty shook up of course. He stopped right away and ran to the minivan but didn't see the guy in the highway.

    I'll call the Highway Patrol tomorrow and see if I can find out if everybody made it.
     
    • Optimistic Optimistic x 1
  2. Terry O'Keefe

    Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 1999
    Messages:
    61,890
    Likes Received:
    1,534
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Wow that's quite a story and heart warming that so many people stopped to render aid. Hope everybody makes it.
     
  3. IrishCorey

    IrishCorey Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2006
    Messages:
    11,695
    Likes Received:
    236
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Hartselle, Alabama
    Holy cow!!!!!
     
  4. Stu Ryckman

    Stu Ryckman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 1999
    Messages:
    7,851
    Likes Received:
    484
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Mansfield, OH
  5. RECcane

    RECcane Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 1999
    Messages:
    4,254
    Likes Received:
    142
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    "Flaaarida"
    Good Lord, it sounds terrible... Amazing there are no deaths and as terrible an experience it was for you and your wife to witness I’m glad you were able to help out...
     
  6. IrishCorey

    IrishCorey Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2006
    Messages:
    11,695
    Likes Received:
    236
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Hartselle, Alabama
    We need a shocking icon on this board. I can't believe anyone walked out of that okay let alone have everyone survive. Man, it's horrific how it can all change in a second.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  7. Terry O'Keefe

    Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 1999
    Messages:
    61,890
    Likes Received:
    1,534
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    About 1/2 through Stu's post I thought I would read that debris hit his car and he's texting from the hospital
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  8. Sid

    Sid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2002
    Messages:
    15,813
    Likes Received:
    622
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Fishers
    Stu, God bless you for stopping and doing everything you could to help the situation.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. Stu Ryckman

    Stu Ryckman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 1999
    Messages:
    7,851
    Likes Received:
    484
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Mansfield, OH
    It's what almost everybody would do...So lucky that nobody seemed to have life threatening injuries and that so many people stopped.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  10. Scott88

    Scott88 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 1999
    Messages:
    7,925
    Likes Received:
    457
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Arlington, TX
    Wow. That's all I can think of.
    Glad you for all involved no one was seriously hurt, and glad you weren't close enough to get involved in it Stu!
     
  11. Don Ballard

    Don Ballard Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2001
    Messages:
    8,598
    Likes Received:
    529
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    New Albany Oh
    Stu, not exactly what I was expecting when I checked in a few minutes ago. Amazing that no one was killed in that horrible accident. I imagine and hopefully we all will be a bit more alert when driving but that had to be one horrific experience for all concerned.
     
  12. Bobdawolverweasel

    Bobdawolverweasel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 1999
    Messages:
    6,916
    Likes Received:
    524
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    I join with Sid’s comments. Well done on your part, Stu.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  13. Stu Ryckman

    Stu Ryckman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 1999
    Messages:
    7,851
    Likes Received:
    484
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Mansfield, OH
    Didn't do much except pray for the squads to get there. I just now called the Patrol...they of course can't give out any medical info but the accident is still a non-fatal...I am amazed.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Optimistic Optimistic x 1
  14. gipper

    gipper Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 1999
    Messages:
    16,309
    Likes Received:
    440
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    The Villages, FL
    Wow! Quite a story Stu. Glad none of the good Samaritans got hurt.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  15. JO'Co

    JO'Co Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 1999
    Messages:
    16,690
    Likes Received:
    322
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Apple Valley, CA
    Wow! Well done Stu!
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  16. Gator Bill

    Gator Bill Well-Known Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2000
    Messages:
    17,678
    Likes Received:
    338
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Franklin NC
    Wow well done Stu is right.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1