BOOTH
Scooter
As I was on my way to a client's this morning, I came upon this incident blocking the left two lanes on 880:
http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_19978017
I hauled it down fast and got stopped about 12-15' behind the Mercedes. I was the second vehicle on the scene. The man from the first vehicle on the scene was getting out of his car with a cell phone, so I pulled over as far to the left as I could and left the bike running so there would be lights on, parked the bike and removed my helmet. After checking with the guy from the first vehicle on the scene to make sure he was calling 911, I checked on the couple in the Mercedes. They were physically fine but seriously shaken, the driver of the Honda was pretty broken up, but was awake and responsive. He was speaking his native language until I told him that help was on the way, then he switched to English and told me his wife was on the other side of the car and was bleeding.
I walked around the car to find her completely pinned under the Honda and knew it was too late. (Have I mentioned that it is pitch dark and there is very little light from any of the vehicles since all the front ends are out.) I looked around for the Volvo driver and not finding him, assumed he was under the Honda as well.
I went back to the bike for my first aid kit hoping to God I could remember enough of my First Aid Merit Badge to make a difference. Before I got back to the bike, the Ambulance and first responders pulled up. I quickly briefed the ambulance driver on everyone's location and got the heck out of the way.
A FR asked me if I was okay, and when he realized that I was not involved in the accident, he blocked traffic so I could get out without getting hit by someone else.
As I've processed it, I have a few personal take-aways in no particular order:
My thoughts and prayers go out to the people and families involved. I'm sure that the lady in the Honda didn't plan on checking out this morning. I wonder how much of her music died with her. :'( I hope very little.
As for me - I think I'm going to suit up and go for a ride to clear my head. Thanks for letting me "process" this here.
http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_19978017
I hauled it down fast and got stopped about 12-15' behind the Mercedes. I was the second vehicle on the scene. The man from the first vehicle on the scene was getting out of his car with a cell phone, so I pulled over as far to the left as I could and left the bike running so there would be lights on, parked the bike and removed my helmet. After checking with the guy from the first vehicle on the scene to make sure he was calling 911, I checked on the couple in the Mercedes. They were physically fine but seriously shaken, the driver of the Honda was pretty broken up, but was awake and responsive. He was speaking his native language until I told him that help was on the way, then he switched to English and told me his wife was on the other side of the car and was bleeding.
I walked around the car to find her completely pinned under the Honda and knew it was too late. (Have I mentioned that it is pitch dark and there is very little light from any of the vehicles since all the front ends are out.) I looked around for the Volvo driver and not finding him, assumed he was under the Honda as well.
I went back to the bike for my first aid kit hoping to God I could remember enough of my First Aid Merit Badge to make a difference. Before I got back to the bike, the Ambulance and first responders pulled up. I quickly briefed the ambulance driver on everyone's location and got the heck out of the way.
A FR asked me if I was okay, and when he realized that I was not involved in the accident, he blocked traffic so I could get out without getting hit by someone else.
As I've processed it, I have a few personal take-aways in no particular order:
- Things happen quick - ATGATT
- I'm really glad I maintain the bike well - good tires and breaks kept me from being part of that mess
- Out of the car on the other side of the direction of traffic is not the place to be after an incident - the Volvo guy was smart, he got off the road and is still alive because of it. Note to self if I'm ever in a similar situation.
- I'm woefully unprepared to be the first one on the scene - had this been in a remote area with the driver's life in my hands, I don't feel confident I would have been much help. Seriously considering taking a First Responder course. The next time it might be my buddy there.
- I'm putting a headlamp in the First Aid kit - in the dark it would have been difficult to see what to do even if I had been better trained and confident.
- I have an Aerostich Touring First Aid Kit, but I've never bothered to learn where everything is in it. I would have spent too much time looking for what I needed - time for me to spend some quality time there and probably beef it up
- I'm grateful that it isn't my family that is getting a call today and that I'm not in the situation of the couple in the Mercedes
- I'm reminded that all it takes is one little slip of attention, one little nod of the head, one look at a distraction, no matter what I'm driving for this to happen
My thoughts and prayers go out to the people and families involved. I'm sure that the lady in the Honda didn't plan on checking out this morning. I wonder how much of her music died with her. :'( I hope very little.
As for me - I think I'm going to suit up and go for a ride to clear my head. Thanks for letting me "process" this here.