Life experiences

14 years ago

I found out something about myself this last weekend from family. In 1966 May 8, Mothers day, a friend and I rode our motorcycles to Big Bear to watch the dog sled races. On the return trip it rained and a car came across the yellow line tagging my foot peg directing me into a pickup truck behind him. The result was a concussion, bruised kidney and compound fracture of the right lower leg.

While laying beside the road with the leg over the guard rail I was aware for short instances and still remember the face of a pretty lady holding my hand. I was out cold the rest of the first week in the hospital in the mountains with short spells of awareness. Then I was transported to a hospital in Whittier where I spent 6 weeks recovering.

Turns out the pretty lady holding my hand left with her family after the ambulance came and they had an accident a few miles up the road. She was in the hospital on the mountain when I was there but I never knew or saw her again. According to my brother and sisters she lost a leg in that accident.

My family apparently visited her and up till this weekend thought I knew all of this. My brother mentioned it last weekend and we were all talking on skype the other night and my sisters said they thought I knew about it. I did not know for over 40 years and still wonder about the face that has haunted me for all this time.

I called this morning to the hospital in Arrowhead and left a message for the records person. So the search begins for closure and an opportunity to thank and connect with some one of significance in my life that I always thought there was no way to contact.

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Comments (15)

Mrobbins
14 years ago
Wow, Don. That's a powerful story.
mawheel
14 years ago
The kindness of strangers can never be underestimated. I hope you're able to find the *pretty lady*. Both of you will be thrilled.
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oscarthecat
14 years ago
If you have to pursue this to the ends of the earth it will be worth it. Do let us know how it comes out. Steve in Baltimore County.
mwoods
14 years ago
Kind of gives you goose bumps reading this. I'm so glad you found out,eventually,the story. Now the rest is in fate's hands.
lilod
14 years ago
Yes, Don, do keep us informed, This is quite a story.
User
Original Author
14 years ago
The lady from records at the hospital called and said the records from 1966 have been destroyed. Next try will be newspapers on the area.
calliope
14 years ago
Don, back in the sixties, hospital admissions were in the newspapers, as were accidents. Most papers have historical archives. Shouldn't take more than a visit or a phone call to locate the papers for that week. You'll have a name, and likely a home of records, anyway. It's a good place to start.

This post struck me rather profoundly. I was the first on the scene of an horrific accident in which a young man managed to wrap his car, almost literally, around a phone pole. I won't go into details, but being a nurse, knew his injuries were of the most serious nature, and doubted he'd come out of it alive. I never knew anymore after the squad arrived and he was transported out of the area to a major trauma center. Two years later, a fellow walked up to my g'house as I was watering. He came to introduce himself, and to let me know it was a long haul, but he lived. I was always grateful that he looked me up. I'd have always wondered.
petaloid
14 years ago
I'll put a link below to a site with newspaper archives:

Here is a link that might be useful: newspaper archives
User
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the link petaloid. Is there a way to get it to show more recent archives? For me it only shows 1879 to 1922, a bit before my time.
Janis_G
14 years ago
Don, what a wonderful story and may I join the others
in wishing you luck in finding the lady who stopped to help.
User
Original Author
14 years ago
Just talked to two different newspapers one in Big bear and one in Crestline and they will call next week after checking the bound books. The down side is that there are many accidents on those highways and not all get reported.
User
Original Author
14 years ago
The fellow from Mountain news called back and said the paper did not report accidents at that time, it is a weekly paper. The other one from Big Bear Grizzly will call next week.
sheila
14 years ago
The other thing is to get them to run a story for you. Of course, many people used that road who didn't live in Big Bear. I used to go up there a lot in the sixties and fish with friends.

How long as police reports kept, I wonder?
User
Original Author
14 years ago
The woman I talked to at the San Bernardino CHP office at closing time last night said they keep records for 10 years. She did seem in a hurry to finish the phone call. I will check with the Lake Arrowhead CHP office this week during business hours.
anneliese_32
14 years ago
I keep my fingers crossed that you will be able to find your answer. What a story.

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