The day I had the accident it was heaving down with rain. I was heading to the GP with my youngest lad to see if he needed antibiotics for a painful ear.
Driving uphill on a familiar straight stretch of road, down through winding rainforest, a route i’d taken hundreds of times before, was comfortable with.
That complacency was my downfall
I wasn’t in a hurry but not paying best attention as events will show. I’m a patient driver, no speeding or tailgating, no propensity for road rage like many. Sometimes I inadvertently creep above the speed limit, don’t we all?
So there I was, trundling along in the big black Landrover Defender a cumbersome noisy beast with shit heater and no AC, I’d been driving it for a few year’s by then, commuting back and forth to work in the city, my car by default, a result of zero interest in vehicles, the buying of them, the look of them, no headspace to give them , no enjoyment in their purchase
My 12yr old lad was sitting in the front seat beside me nursing his sore ear , windscreen wipers swishing at top speed, rain hammering on the roof, the shhhhhhh spray of wheels on the road
Next memory, imprinted on my brain forever, was approaching a big familiar right sweeping bend, road camber tilted down to the right too, rain waterfalling from the rock wall on my left streaming horizontally across the road in front.
I touched the brakes a little as I approached (obviously too late 🤦♀️) thought I was in complete control, next thing the most AWFUL sensation of the back wheels slipping, the car losing it’s rear end, me screaming “oh no!!” and gripping the steering wheel, holding on for dear freakin life.
Next memory is banging down hard onto my right side , thud THUD, then silence, hands still rigidly grasping the steering wheel, asking my boy if he was ok, having visions of spilling petrol and exploding cars I told him to climb through the shattered windscreen which he, thank gawd, was able to do.
Then assessing my body for damage and range of movement while I lay bizarrely on my side, still seatbelted in
This all witnessed by the driver of an oncoming vehicle (a dad from school) who’d watched the car slide and spin around, roll then land conveniently in the roadside ditch
He appeared hovering above me holding an umbrella over my head, giving a cheery commentary reassuring me Ben was ok, someone else appeared (a nurse❤️) “bloody hell, you’re lucky” and commenting on the blood in my ear “thats not good.”
Any pain masked by adrenaline and endorphins, later felt like I’d been kicked by a horse
Next the lovely nurse chatting to me, checking me, again reassuring that my boy was ok
Then in succession, a local paramedic, more paramedics, fire-fighters and police (I was breathalized, fair enough) all cheerful, reassuring, professional, I was in safe hands
Conversation ensued about how to extract me without moving my neck or spine, quick decision made to cut the roof off the Defender.
A unique position to be in, my ears were covered, loud drilling, a CRACK, off it came, then finally lifted by many careful hands onto a stretcher, into the back of the ambulance
Calm lovely paramedic multitasking like a pro, sorting me out, helping me contact the husband who was away for work, having that “now don’t worry but … ” conversation, then contacting a dear friend who went to the children’s hospital to be with Ben and one who would collect my other son from the school bus
My back ached, my ear buzzed, so uncomfortable, neck rigid, IV cannula inserted “need painrelief?” no thanks (no way!) ask any mum, if her kid is in potential danger, she’ll instinctively think of them before herself, clear head needed, only a bit of pain, freakin miracle we were both alive
Then, into the emergency department of the hospital where I work , straight to resusc, efficiently assessed top to toe, poked and prodded rolled side to side, pronounced not seriously injured, CT scan recommended, check neck and back. Sure 🤷♀️
CT bizarre, quick, radiologist friendly, chatty. Had the warm sensation in my nether regions from the dye, slight worry I’d be one of the awkward ones who WOULD pee their pants or have an anaphylactic reaction? Thankfully not.
Back to wait for what seemed like an interminable time on the trolley, collar still on in case I was pronounced Christopher Reeve (can you imagine 😭) constantly wiggling all extremities, no pins or needles, felt pretty reassured within myself
During this long wait, still tucked in a corner near the resus bays I could here an ambulance siren, preparations for an seriously injured person being made, wheeled in, loud voices of staff, some of them flustered, an obvious emergency. I was moved to another spot, left lying there feeling relieved once more, could’ve been me.
So many thoughts, much to be grateful for. So much luck. The time of day. The quiet road. No one else involved, SHUDDER to think what might have been if i’d ploughed into another car.
My boy and I escaping without serious injury, not like the person i’d just heard. Could have crashed down the side of the mountain Could be dead.
How random life is, terrible things happen to some, others get off, scot – free.
People i clearly remember, the social worker my age, kind face, gentle voice, contacting everyone (my phone as dead as the Defender) the childrens hospital, the husband, friends. She was perfectly suited to the job, imagine the traumatised people she deals with everyday?
The wardie who wheeled me to and fro, friendly and chatty.
The Consultant who gently removed the collar, gave my diagnosis, dislocated collarbone, fractured rib, probable concussion, a small cut on my ear, (wasn’t cerebrospinal fluid or brain tissue leaking out ) advised sit up slowly, i’d be dizzy. I was.
How random life is, terrible things happen to some, others get off, scot – free.
People i clearly remember, the social worker my age, kind face, gentle voice, contacting everyone (my phone as dead as the Defender) the childrens hospital, the husband, friends. She was perfectly suited to the job, imagine the traumatised people she deals with everyday?
The wardie who wheeled me to and fro, friendly and chatty.
The Consultant who gently removed the collar, gave my diagnosis, dislocated collarbone, fractured rib, probable concussion, a small cut on my ear, (wasn’t cerebrospinal fluid or brain tissue leaking out ) advised sit up slowly, i’d be dizzy. I was.
How random life is, terrible things happen to some, others get off, scot – free.
People i clearly remember, the social worker my age, kind face, gentle voice, contacting everyone (my phone as dead as the Defender) the childrens hospital, the husband, friends. She was perfectly suited to the job, imagine the traumatised people she deals with everyday?
The wardie who wheeled me to and fro, friendly and chatty.
The Consultant who gently removed the collar, gave my diagnosis, dislocated collarbone, fractured rib, probable concussion, a small cut on my ear, (wasn’t cerebrospinal fluid or brain tissue leaking out ) advised sit up slowly, i’d be dizzy. I was.
Later I had to visit the local police station, explain in detail again what I remembered about the accident, was told they wouldn’t charge me with dangerous driving (gulp.)
I put a thank-you post on our local FB community notice board, debate ensued in the comments, , many commiserating, commenting on the traumatising site of driving past my hapless Landrover lying on it’s side in a ditch (school pick up time) complaining of the danger of that particular stretch of road (lots of accidents there over the years) others commenting on the thousands who traverse it over and over with no issue, a drive to conditions lecture was given. I absorbed it all
Terrible things happen to good people, life can change horribly and heartbreakingly in an instant. I know how lucky we were having an accident like that and being ok. Stops you in your tracks, gives you perspective, confirms again (I already know, work in a building full of them) how many good people there are in the world
Drive safe, and be extra careful in the rain, don’t think it won’t happen to you.
Lindsey Crossan Registered Nurse and Midwife
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