Hey,
I'm in a really messed up emotional state right now, and of all the forums I visit I choose to share this here. If I become a little confused on typing, or spelling, I think the following may well excuse it.
I went out to get some gas for my pickup, a gallon of distilled water to top off my batteries, and some smokes. That's about a 12 mile trip one way on a narrow state two lane highway. Google earth Arkansas Highway 5 east of Mountain View, Arkansas and look for A seeping curve just east of Bob Davis Mountain Road.
The very outskirts of Gustav are brushing up against us here today in north central Arkansas, and it is windy and wet.
Less than 200 yards from where I leave the pavement behind and start on my dirt road towards home I came upon a wreck. A fairly late model Explorer had just left the road, flipped and came bask to rest where 4 wheels should be. One on each side was missing, opposite corners. I was the first person there.
A found a middle age overweight woman face down next to a large post oak, an old woman was wedged between the drivers front seat and the back seat, also overweight. There was a younger woman half hanging out of the passenger side window which was long gone. Only one was breathing, the old woman.
I first checked on the woman face down. Having a little CPR training I knew she needed to be face up with a clear airway in order to get air into her lungs. I held her head as steady as I could and shoulder/knee rolled her onto her back. I wish I hadn't.
I then went to the younger woman and she was now breathing very shallow and very fast. I helped her get into a more normal sitting position back inside the car and she screamed in agony, which told me was very much alive. I took that as a good sign after what I had just seen.
The old woman was yelling to get her out get her out and also obviously hurt badly. She however wasn't bleeding like a cut pig.
About that time 2 ADT security trucks rolled to a stop and then a local volunteer fire fighter showed up. I never dialed 911 so I don't really know if he just happened along or one of the ADT guys did. I helped the EMT's extract and load the survivors and talked to the State Trooper that eventually showed up. It was over an hour later before I gave my statement and headed home. As I was walking back to my truck one of our county deputies came up and told me quietly, "Thanks for the help, you did all you could. Call me if you need to talk about this." and handed me his card. That made me feel a little better.
None of these women were wearing a seat belt. The worst that could have happened to any of them had they been wearing them would have been a couple broken bones. I'm still not so sure the younger woman will live. She was still having a lot of trouble breathing that may have indicated internal bleeding.
Wear those seat belts. It ain't that hard to do. I don't really need to come upon another fatal accident that is the direct result of ignorance. Stupid, no excuses, ignorance causing everyone you know, and some you don't, a great deal of grief. Wear 'em people. They work. What's the problem?
