I am so sorry you had to witness such a horrifying scene. I will pray for that family and I will pray for you too. Each day with our families and loved ones is a blessing. You are such a kind person to take other people's trouble to heart.

That's awful, and I can see why it has stayed with you. Yes, fragile indeed. Keep the road conditions in mind, everyone.

Thank you, Rita. That was very kind. The one positive thing from the entire accident was seeing how people helped. Literally within 15 seconds of the crash, there were at least a dozen people around the car trying to help. All the cars nearby stopped, and the occupants rushed out. I saw a few men from the dealership sprint across the street to the scene. There were people on the phone, and trying to open the doors of the car. I saw someone run over with a fire extinguisher. It was really heartening to see how people responded. With such darkness in the news, it's a good reminder that most people really are kind.

Chi, this has been a shock for you, I'm sorry you had to see it...please talk to us if you need or want to. Talking will help you thru this stress. Your in my Prayers as is the families.

Chi, witnessing something like that is very traumatic and it may stay with you for a few days before the memory starts to fade. It is a stark reminder of how quickly life can change and it's very distressing. I'm really sorry you had to experience that.

Perhaps you sharing your story will result in some of us who are reading it slowing down or being more aware of our surroundings when we are driving and out and about. Take extra gentle care of yourself as you try and process what you saw today.

Oh gosh, I'm sorry. Hope your mind eases soon.

30+ years ago, I hit a teenager on a bike, late at night. He wasn't hurt too badly but that accident stayed with me a long time.

I would be willing to bet the teenaged driver was horribly affected.

I have a friend who was a train engineer. On Christmas day, some 15 years ago, his train hit a car stalled on the tracks. Killed the whole family. Not being able to come to grips with it, he had to take a disability retirement.

That image and event could stay with you for a long time. I am so sorry that you had to experience this. I believe that it does highlight the fragility of our lives.

Many, many years ago when I was about 18, I drove upon a motorcycle accident. Tragically the young man died while I sat with him waiting for the police and ambulance to arrive. I still think about it and cry. We found out later that he was a young father test driving a motorcycle and when he wrecked, the helmet somehow came off. I saw the helmet way down the road from where we found him and the bike and wondered why he hadn't securely latched it on.

My position includes scene responses with paramedics. New cars are designed to crumple and keep the passenger compartment intact. IF seatbelted, many people have no serious injuries - despite a rollover crash, and it is not uncommon to find they crawled out of the vehicle by time we get there. Do not assume from the yellow tape and empty stretcher there was a fatality. A better indicator of a fatality is if the car was covered with blue tarps.

However, it is important an important reminder of how fragile life is. Too many days I am confronted with family members who unexpectedly lost their loved one. Many could have been saved if someone started CPR; chest compressions, begun before EMS paramedics arrive, more than doubles the chance of survival.

Seat belts save lives.

Not a movie stunt, amazingly no fatalities. https://youtu.be/irE5z6X2pL0

How frightening, but happy to hear that the occupants of the car weren't badly injured.

What a relief! Happy for them and you!

That's great news, I'm sorry you had to witness the accident though. Years ago, hubby and I saw a guy driving too fast on the freeway, he lost control, and crashed up the embankment. He was ejected from the car. We pulled over and used the call box, (yep, THAT long ago) to call for help. A bunch of other people stopped too. I never found out for sure, but he was badly injured, can't imagine he survived. Very sad. To this day, I just cringe when someone comes speeding up like that.

I'm glad there was a happy ending to this story. I can see why you were so upset. Seeing something like that would affect a person for days.

Hooray!! Thank you Mdln for telling us about your experiences at work- wowzers- amazing to know cars are that well built today.

Oh Chi that is good news indeed. Hopefully it will help ease your mind.

Glad to hear this has a happy ending. I've told all my loved ones that a motor vehicle is a 5000+ pound weapon. When you get behind the wheel, remember that. It will kill you or an innocent bystander. Take your time, give operating it your complete attention.

I'm sorry this happened, but glad they were ok. I had the same thing happen recently in reverse. It was the last day of marching band camp, and the children played the last note. Heard the screeching and impact. Instead of clapping, we all gasped and then ran across the street to help. The elder gentleman was slumped over but left the scene awake and talking. He died later.

Sorry you had to see this, but glad the occupant was ok

A happy ending indeed. I'm glad you don't have to experience bad feelings about it now. But things like this teach us to be aware that cars are powerful forces. We need to be careful with them and keep them in good order.

I saw something this summer in Yellowstone. We were all told to stay in the old lodge until a thunderstorm passed and the rangers gave the all clear. It was a merry scene with people talking, having cocoa and coffee. Kids were sitting in groups playing games. The fireplaces were crackling and people shared pictures on their phones and told stories. I went out on the upper deck where there were chairs under the eaves ( all soaked ) to see the hail storm with some others. We were watching lightning on the horizon moving toward the road that connects Norris with Old Faithful. I turned to look the other way and saw a man with a frame pack with a tiny child running for the hotel as a large bolt of lightning came down maybe a minivans distance from him. He then sprinted faster than a deer into the building as the whole place shook from the thunder causing people to silence. I won't forget the sound of that crack in the air or the large boom afterward. Being used to earthquakes, the building shaking didn't bother me. I'm so happy that man and child are safe.

Glad this accident had a happy ending. Right after Thanksgiving in 1968, my then husband and I were driving from Washington DC, where he had just been discharged from the Army, back to St Louis where we lived. We were driving VERY late at night and came upon an accident. I will go to my grave remembering those two bodies, sprawled on the pavement, not yet covered.

We took this as an omen that we needed to stop for the night and not try to drive on through. Read in the paper the next morning that it was a couple who had been out with friends after the rehearsal dinner and were to have been married the next day. The angle of their bodies was just awful - one knew this was very bad they had been thrown from the car and landed like dolls.

I'll never forget that.

I'm relieved to read that what Chi witnessed did not involve a serious injury or fatality. Think of the waste of time and money for the response teams -- all because a driver lost control of his car, probably going too fast. I hope the driver will be held accountable.

Seat belts can save the lives of people who use them. Will drivers ever realize that using cell phones causes accidents that kill and maim not only themselves, but others?

Glad he's okay.

What a relief it must be for you to know everything turned out okay. Don't think that driver will be speeding any time soon.

So glad the driver escaped. What a miracle. It is good to know so many rushed to help.

One time I was driving to the mall. There was an RV behind me. Suddenly I see a little old lady (truly) wending her way through three lanes of traffice to get across. This was in the middle not at a light or corner. Anyone would have to be crazy to cross the road here on foot anyway. The light changed and the RV started up and ran right over her. They did not know they had hit her because they were sitting up too high. I stopped and jumped out, causing the Rv to stop, too. It was a horrible sight. This was pre-cell phone days. I had two little kids in the car with me. I drove to a bank on the corner and had them call the police and an ambulance. Later I was contacted by the lady's lawyer. She survived but with awful injuries (crushed pelvis). I told him I had great sympathy for the woman but she should never have been crossing at that spot and there was no way for the RV driver to see or avoid her. Never heard the outcome. I am sure the old woman's life was never the same after such awful injuries.

This morning, as I neared the city en route to an appointment with my doctor, as I approached a major corner the cars seemed to be running slow and in one lane ... then it appeared that there was a car occupying the curb lane ... and all that we could see was the bottom of the car.Two fire trucks arrived from the left, and we were able to turn right, just in front of the damaged car. As I passed, I could see that the windshield was broken and the firefighters were right there. As I drove along the major road, two more fire trucks came to meet us.

My route was through town, and I was worried about late rush hour, but traffic was fairly normal and I was only five minutes late.

As I sit here, I'm fairly sure that I could have turned left, travelled a short distance, then made a sharp right turn at a signal light, run a short distance, then made a left turn on to my original route.

Didn't think of it at the time ... and I'm quite familiar with those roads.

May stop at the fire hall en route home to see if I can find any news.

It's important ... that we not get distracted while driving.

ole joyful