On Sunday I went with my High-School friend Jhon to see “Moon”, a pretty good indie sci-fi flick. We went to the Angelika film centre in Plano. I had sat for a moment lost in thought while the light turned green, and joked that I should probably figure out how to drive at some point. We had turned on legacy, and in front of us was the Dallas North Turnpike and the bridge.(Where the road crosses over the Dallas North Turnpike) “Have you ever been in an accident?” asked Jhon. I started to reply “Well, kind of, that one time -”
“Holy shit.”
Not too far ahead of us, a car was crossing the intersection between Legacy and the Side road. As if on cue to Jhons question, it got hit. HARD. A car had been speeding along the side road at full speed, and it slammed into the front of the poor car which was crossing. Debris went cascading into the air, shattered bits of glass, metal and tire littering the road, as the car which had struck careened to a halt, front battered. I immediately stopped the car, and we jumped out along with a lot of other people to help. A sad sight awaited us as phones called 911 and people rushed to the wreck to help.
The front of the car – everything in front of the passenger compartment was just GONE. The front had been ripped clean off the car, engine and tires a memory. Broken glass was everywhere. The Driver of the shattered car, a blond girl of college age, had safely gotten out. She shakily walked a few feet then just collapsed to the ground, shaking violently and crying loudly. She wasn’t harmed, but as I looked toward the car, I saw hair.
There was another girl in the passenger seat. She wasn’t moving. I had difficulty seeing, but several other onlookers had beaten me to the scene and seemed to be talking to her. I didn’t hear her voice but they seemed to be getting a reply, in any event the girl was trapped and she didn’t move a muscle. I’m not sure what trapped her, though the windshield was scarcely holding together, cracked in a hundred places inches from her head. It wasn’t long until police and a fire-truck arrived, and it was then that we decided we were only getting in the way. As we pulled away, firefighters had a stretcher next to the car, and were trying to free the trapped girl. I can only hope that she will be alright.
It was stunning and unreal, as if on cue we saw it happen. It was one of those accidents you always know happens but never see – until now. I was astonished at how cleanly the front had been ripped off – and also of the fact that if it had struck a few inches farther back, both of the girls in the car would probably be dead. I was humbled by the whole affair, and it definetly made me think of how transient life can be sometimes. Thankfully nobody was killed (I hope), but it was close.
