A little bummed

MacHete

MacHete

Hair Cropper & Chipmunk Wrangler
Joined
Apr 7, 2000
Messages
2,559
Last night, Kathy was talking to her best friend over the telephone. They were finalizing arrangements to go out for the friend's birthday this weekend. During the conversation, the friend asked about the route Kathy and I took when travelling back-and-forth from Cincinnati, where my family lives. She said her husband had gone to Cincinnati on business and was a couple of hours late getting home. She heard a news report about a traffic accident and wondered if that was what delayed him. She couldn't get an answer on his cell phone. After some pat reassurances, Kathy hung up and tried to learn some details about the accident. She didn't feel right about, and she didn't think her friend did either. Kathy found a news piece online about the accident that had recently been updated. One fatality, no name. Kathy's feelings of foreboding grew and she called her friend back. the line was busy, but as soon as Kathy returned the handset to the receiver, it rang. It was her friend calling. It was her husband. He was gone. The State Police had arrived just moments before Kathy called back with the bad news. Kathy made a few critical phone calls amid a lot of heartbroken sobs, and then I took her over to her friend's. By the time we arrived, there were rallied a good number of family, friends, clergy, coworkers and neighbors. Some expressing their grief through action by doing their best to handle immediate, practical logistical issues such as talking with the Trooper, finding out where her husband's remains and the remains of the car were being taken. Some where taking over the "hosting" duties of trying to attend to the physical comfort of all those gathered to share the emotional and spiritual discomfort of this shattered family. Most of us there, though, just stood or sat quietly, pensively, sadly struggling with our own helplessness.

This was a wonderful family. A loving couple with two great kids in elementary school, living in a nice home in a nice neighborhood surrounded by friendly people. Things will never be the same for them.

He was driving a section of road locally known as the "death stretch". A long, unlit two-lane state road that follows the Kanawha river to the Ohio. It is heavily travelled by semis and heavily traversed by deer. Accidents are all too common. The report we received from the Trooper described the events as a chain-reaction collision. He hit a deer, which sent him into the opposite lane, where he hit a semi, which spun him around into his original lane, but facing the wrong way. An oncoming truck then hit him head-on. There were no other reported injuries, and his passing was swift, if not immediate.

Kathy has called me a couple of times from work today. It is hard for her to be there . She and another friend will be going over to visit after school this afternoon.

Sorry for my lack of structure or proper paragraphing. Thanks for letting me unload, guys. I guess I just wanted to share a very vivd reminder of how fleeting our lives are, and how important it is to appreciate everything you have, and let those you love know how much you love them constantly.

Here's a link to the news story: http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/39170987.html
 
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Wow...
'Tis so very true that One does need to show in words and actions how much We DO love and appreciate One's Loved Ones.
Ed
 
Smoke up. The sudden loss of a loved one is never easy to deal with. Just terrible:(
 
So sorry to hear this. I am glad you shared, we are sad for the family.
Smoke and prayer from Me and Holly.
 
Route 35 is so flat it lulls people into complacency.

I used to live on Valdacourt Farms which is right on the end of Hurricane Creek Road, where it joins 35.

I have 3 stories.

First time I came up over a rise to encounter a car passing another a near head on- I shot the gap between the two vehicles.

Second time same thing happened and I whipped off the berm and then yanked it back on as they flew by.

Third time I was heading up 35 to work and heading toward the intersection of 34 and 35. I think there is a restaraunt there now but at that time there was s bait shop/ service station/mini mart on the corner. Anyway I see this truck start to ease out onto 35 from 34, so I slow down. It eases back so I speed back up.

About 50 feet to the intersection it pulls out on me. I slam on my brakes but slide cause it's close and it's raining. I'm in this full slide so I release the brakes and try to turn to where I'll "donut" onto 34 at a 90 degree angle to the truck but I'm hydroplaning and keep going straight.

Finally right before impact I duck and when I stop the top of my VW Rabbit roof is about 2" above my head and the crushed windshield is dangling in front of my face hitting my nose.

The busted glass made me bleed all over but I washed off in the restroom of the bait shop, and the little cuts stopped bleeding, the ambulance checked me out and I was OK. I called my dad and he drove me to work.

I've been hit before but that was probably the closest call.

Glad I moved though cause the rep of 35 is well deserved. Now I go up 60 to Hurricane and take 64 all the way to Quarrier and work.

Too bad about your friend. Husband of my wifes co worker was killed going the wrong way on 79 near Morgantown a couple days ago. He had his son in there too and we're all puzzling how he ended up going the wrong way???:confused:
 
Lighting a candle for Stanley... love one another, y'all. It can be over just like that. :(


Mike
 
Damn! :( ~~Smoke~~ and ~~Song~~ for everything the family needs in a good and gentle way....



.
 
Thank you all. We're heading over to visit in a few minutes. The viewing (don't know if it's open casket or not- that's not the kinda thing you ask about) is tomorrow from 3-5 and the interment is Monday at 11.

It is so agonizing to watch as, with every minor decision, every step in the process, the reality of his loss just sinks in a little deeper. We thank God the family has a very large and very strong support system. Thank you all for being a part of it.

You guys are great.
 
Smoke from Southampton, UK. I am lighing up now.

Its really sad that most people I know who have died, have done so in a car. Its tragic and at the same time so commonplace so to de-sensitise us. The whole situation carries a dense depression. I am glad there is an afterlife, or it would be even worse
 
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