An adrenilin rush of the wrong kind...My morning

[RickM]

Getting to work this morn, about 8. Looking to get into the underground parking as it may snow later today...it's a beautiful 5 degrees outside. Since I'm going to the garage I take a slightly different route.

As I come up to the driveway I see a car stop short in front of me, a pedestrian crossing the road and a car traveling in the opposite direction. The car in the opposite lane has sun directly facing them. Need I say more?

My guess is that the poor young lady was hit at about 25 mph. Hit at knee level, into the windshield and then into the air...it was a heart stopping experience. Luckily she survived and was in relatively good condition...at least externally.

As you can imagine many people stopped afterwards to offer help.
"You call 911"....."Anyone have a blanket ot extra coat in there car?....can you direct traffic?"...."Can someone get her relatives number so we can call?".... The cooperation of all was great! Aside for the few people who wanted to move her or apply direct pressure to a huge swollen lump on her head it was a heart warming display of calm, collected help.

The woman who hit her was obviously compromised by the direct sunlight but I saw no sunglasses or unfolded sun visor.... perhaps a lesson learned.

I just had to vent for a moment here. It has kind of been building up in me all morning.....I hope she's ok.

[motion]

Nice to hear a good story... the media would have you believe that people commonly ignore situations like that. I hope she's ok, too.

[vash]

oh man, that is hideous! she will feel it for years to come. boy i hope she is ok.

in a situation like this, how much responsibilty is the pedestrians? on paper the driver is at fault, but as a regular foot walker in the bay area, you need constant vigilance to keep safe. you know, eye contact with the driver...

[RickM]

I can say that it's not the safest place to cross. Just a busy spot as people rush to get to work. The young lady was waiting in the center of the road to cross...you know, walking to the center...wait for traffic to clear and complete the crossing. This is probably considered Jay walking.

I'm just glad that the driver wasn't with cell phone in ear. I would have freaked. Well, maybe not as my main concern was to keep the young lady alert, calm and for no one to touch her....freaking wouldn't have helped her.

[vash]

good job rick. glad you have the common sense to stay calm. freaking definately wouldnt have helped her.

now what about the driver? i bet she/he was freaking?

[Zeke]

I hope she was RUSHED to emergency for a scan. A dear friend of mine was hit and seemed OK for the first half hour while the internal bleeding/swelling in the brain went undetected. He ultimately died later that day.

Something similar happened to a construction worker here in LB that fell into a 20' hole. He was fine all the while they were looking for him and getting him out. He died later the same day.

[RickM]

Like nobodies business....out of control freaking. She was a very "straight laced" type of woman. Probably never did anything wrong in her entire life....well intentionally at least. I felt bad for her as well. Ikind of stucjk up for as the sun was an issue and she obviously didn't do this intentionally.

[vash]

the guilt must be unbearable. poor lady.

[RickM]

Me vs Car = I lose. No matter the law.

Jeez, Zeke I know where you're coming from. I was very positive with her..I kinda convinced myself she was going to be ok....but God knows what kind of internal damage was done. I'm going to have to do a follow-up on her.

BTW, the Ambulancae arrived about 15-20 mins later...seemed like hours.

[speeder]

Originally posted by RickM

BTW, the Ambulancae arrived about 15-20 mins later...seemed like hours.

My God, that's an eternity in situations like this, literally the difference between life/death sometimes. This was in a major city or suburb??

It was good that you were there, however, I dread witnessing this very event. It happens too often.

[JavaBrewer]

Man head injuries are really scarey. I suffered a halo skull fracture 5 years ago in a fall - took me out for a good 3 months. So little is known about these types of injuries. Hope the pedestrian's outcome is positive. New York minute right

Ever since getting a drivers licence one of my biggest fears has been driving over a little kid in a neighborhood. I've had nightmares where a kid would pop out from behind a car chasing a ball. Even in my reckless youth I never sped or raced in residential streets. I can't even begin to imagine the pain if something like that happened.