Saturday Night

(Google images)

Saturday night after work I was going home my usual route. It was almost dark. I got to the Minit Mart at Warren East. I am half way home and looking forward to getting there it is almost 8:16, more than a half hour later than normal. I get to Hardees. Moving forward tired. I am almost to the light. Brake lights. Wonder what it is, I can't see. Light is green, what is wrong. Much debris in the road. A helmet? A shoe here, then there another. A motorcycle on the road on its side, pieces here and there. Then I see. Woman from 68-80 running to something in road. It is a man. He isn't moving, she bends over him sobbing - she is hysterical. Someone running to her helping her to her car. I am running to the person in the road with 911 dispatcher on the line. He takes an agonal breath. A few seconds later a second agonal breath. Then no more. He is gone. EMS Dispatcher comes on the phone. A young man comes up and says I know CPR. Another woman does the same.  We follow dispatchers instructions. Then first responders come on scene and help with the CPR. Richardsville and Gott Fire Departments arrive.  EMS supervisor is on scene. It is over. Eleven minutes from the impact. The young man, a lifeguard, desperate to help another human being, is devastated that he cannot help. He tried his best.  He was so sad. The woman was so sad. I was sad. I have seen these situations before but from a first responder side of it. Never as a bystander within seconds of the accident. I pray I am never in that situation again. I am not a first responder anymore for this very reason. This bothers me. I could not sleep Saturday night. I kept seeing the woman from the car hovered over that young man sobbing. Devastated and hysterical. She did not see him. Now, two families are forever changed. Her sobs still haunt me today.

This is the second terrible motorcycle vs. car accident I have seen in the past 3 or 4 years, the first there were serious injuries but no fatalities. In both cases, the car driver simply did not see the cyclist. In both cases, the cyclist had the right of way. In both cases, the driver simply did not see they motorcycle or rider. The first time, I was a first responder and first on scene and had the equipment necessary to assist. Saturday night I was not a first responder. I had no equipment. Had I had equipment, it would not have made a difference, the young man's injuries were fatal. He was alive, riding his motorcycle then in a split second, he was gone. NO warning, no time to prepare. He was gone. Life is that way. We are here then when our time comes, we are gone. Nothing anyone can to to prevent it. If you are not ready for that hour, please do not wait. Get ready today. Now. We cannot escape it. Earlier this year, I was going to work. I was near Houchens on Louisville Road. I was going to change lanes (left to right). No one was behind me or beside me- or so I thought. I checked my mirrors. I looked behind me to my right. I signaled. I started to move over and low and behold a motorcycle rider was riding in my blind spot. I did not see him. I did hear his horn. The road was wide open. He had no reason to be riding in my blind spot. But he was. And I almost hit him. I feel for that woman. I did not see or hear him behind me either. I hesitate to change lanes when driving for that very reason!

January 21, 2010 Rick was in an accident about this same time of night at this very intersection. I was behind him, too. I witnessed the whole thing. Luckily, he was not injured and the people in the car who came out of 68-80 at that red light were not seriously injured. I kept reliving that on Saturday night as it turned into the wee hours of Sunday morning as well. Two days later he would make his last living journey through that light in the back of an ambulance with lights and sirens blaring with a very low oxygen level. You can find the rest of that story in the blog archives from my 2010 posts should you wish. Look to the right of this post.

The book of Matthew Chapter 25 speaks of people helping strangers. I witnessed that Saturday night as I believe one way it was intended. 

Remember me in your prayers and please, please remember the two families involved in this terrible tragedy. Also, please remember that young man who tried so desperately to help. He really gave his best!

I love all y'all❤

To be continued..........

          Matthew 25

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.