OK. So here is what happened.
Monday, October 1, 2007: I am not even really supposed to be where I am, but I am driving south down Route 116 in Amherst, minding my own business, when I am hit in the driver's side of my car by a minivan attempting to turn left. The minivan was heading north, and was attempting to make a left turn onto a side street, crossing into my lane of traffic - and into my car.
It is about 9:30 AM, and the weather is clear. There is no apparent excuse for this.
My car goes about 20 feet off the road, barely missing a tree. I was going about 40 mph, the posted speed limit in that part of the road. I have no idea how fast the minivan was going. The impact was less than a foot in front of my dashboard. See pictures below:
Somehow, I managed to get out of my car (the driver's side door would later not open). At this point, a number of nice, wonderful people stopped to help - call 911, turn off my car, make me sit down, etc. In particular, one lady who I think was pretty important (she had a name badge on I couldn't read in my hysteria) turned off my car and spoke very soothingly to me. Madam, if you happen to read this blog, please accept my sincere thanks for everything you did for me that day. And my thanks extend to all who stopped to help me that day.
I was taken to a nearby hospital, where luckily I suffered no more than some bruises and scrapes, minor neck & back trauma, and shock. JLM and WWP met me at the hospital. I was pretty hysterical, mainly because my car was gone and I had absolutely no power over the situation being strapped to a board. My immense thanks to both of them for calming me down and helping me through the day.
They released me, and when I went to go find my car, I cried.
My mechanic came to look at it, and told me I was one lucky girl. He was the guy who sold me it in the first place, and I actually felt
guilty for wrecking "his" car. I take what people give me (or sell me on a really good deal) very seriously. I miss that car still - I almost feel like it gave itself for me so I could walk away from that accident, and I will never forget.
The aftermath: The other driver was issued a citation on the scene, so obviously I bore no fault in the accident. The insurance companies, believe it or not, have all been remarkably reasonable. They totaled my beloved Subaru, but I got a check 10 days later. It's not clear from the pics, but the oil tank was ripped open and the Fire Department had to mop up the spilled oil. And the whole front axle was bent. I've already been reimbursed for missing work and the hardk0re Motrin I got from the hospital. The only thing I'm waiting on is the $150 for the tow and to get the car out of storage.
And wait till you see what I got now :) But that's for another post.
In closing: I feel very lucky not only to be alive, but to not have any serious injury resulting from this. I had been going through a rough patch before this - depressed to the point of being mildly suicidal. I think that this was God's way of saying, Cut The S*it - Be Thankful For What You Have.
You know what?
It worked.
