MOMS COLLIDE - A RIDE HOME CAN TURN SO DANGEROUS

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mark Young
  • 505th Command and Control Wing
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  It's 4 p.m., quitting time for a lot of people heading west on U.S. Highway 98. The speed limit is 55 mph, and everyone's in a hurry.

Long day at work -- traffic flows at about 60. One young mother heads east, on her way presumably to pick up her son from school, and another heads west with her daughter on her way home.

East-bound mom is crossing Highway 98 and is hit by the west-bound mom.

An Air Force major stops to render first aid to Victim One (East-bound mom). She is in and out of consciousness. The car's front door is jammed and people are trying to pull the door open to free her legs.

There is gas leaking on the ground. One lady is concerned about possible sparks from the battery igniting the gasoline.

Victim Two's vehicle is empty in the median with a deployed airbag. She is in the driver's seat of another car being assisted by the vehicle owner. She has neck pain, 
a bump on her head and her arm is hurt, but she is responsive. A woman brings Victim Two's daughter to her. She is unhurt.

Victim One's cell phone rings. It's her son's school wondering why she hasn't picked him up yet.

Victim One is still in and out of consciousness and convulsing. The major, 
a combat life-saver, is still supporting her neck, trying to keep her with him by talking and encouraging her to fight.

First responders then arrive at the scene and take control. They attempt to open the door, but are unsuccessful. One grabs the big saw and starts it up. People back away to give them space.

Paramedics successfully remove the door and place Victim One on a stretcher. She is conscious, yet moaning from the intense pain, as they load her into the awaiting ambulance.

Meanwhile, another paramedic puts a brace around Victim Two's neck. Then they move her from the vehicle on a backboard.

An unmarked police car races to the scene to direct traffic, and cars begin to flow around the accident. Before returning to their vehicles, one person asks bystanders and assistance-givers to say a prayer for the victims. Soon, the crash site clears and speeds pick back up -- almost like nothing ever happened.

This account is true, as I saw it all unfold and assisted at the scene. Luckily, all involved were wearing seat belts, and the young girl was in her car seat.

I pray Victim One pulled through to see another day ... to see her son.

Complacency and speed can impact lives in an instant. Highways are dangerous because drivers are too careless. They don't realize a lot can happen on the way home.

The day after the mishap, as I drove to work, the crash and the victims were still fresh and vivid in my mind. I saw another woman speeding on her way to wherever. She was behind me and sped up to pass me on the right, just barely missing the car in front. As she zoomed past, I noticed she had two or three young children with her. She continued down the highway weaving in and out of traffic.

If she only knew ...