Yesterday driving to Galveston on I-10 I very nearly lost my life. A Jeep driving Eastbound lost control and veered across both Eastbound lanes and slammed into the median divider (short 3 wire divider) flipped up and over the median and flipped again into my lane (Westbound fast lane) and would have landed on top of my car (going 80 mph). I was able to get into the slow land but not before several parts from the vehicle hit my car, nicking the paint and cracking the front window. I drove on for about 5 seconds then I pulled over, that is when the reaction set in. I called 911 and saw the occupants of the Jeep get out of their car, I sat for a further 5 minutes allowing myself time to recover.
I first saw the Jeep in the Eastbound lanes and noticed it was sideways in the lanes, I saw it was heading toward the median and figured the barrier would stop the vehicle from coming into the Westbound lanes of traffic. When I realized the barrier was not going to stop the vehicle I did a quick calculation in my head that the trajectory of the vehicle was going to put it on top of me. At that point I braked hard and got behind the 18 wheeler who was in the slow lane and prepared to swerve out of my lane, by this time I was very unsure if I was going to have enough time to get clear of the 18 wheeler before the Jeep impacted me. Thankfully, with seconds to spare I was able to clear the 18 wheeler and swerve around the Jeep.
Once I got to Galveston I proceeded to get very drunk! When I sobered up at 2am I started going through my meditations...
LOVE:
The first thing I realized is that the divine has a plan for me. At the very least I have every reason to be thankful for my belief in them as it saw me through the accident. The feeling of unending divine love is such a comfort to me.
GOAL:
When I started thinking about my career goal of saving lives I realized I had been handed a beautiful opening for any talk I give on safety. Accidents happen all the time but the different outcomes are a result of prior plans. I always drive with open space around me. The 18 wheeler not withstanding, I had a good bit of clear space around me which gave me options when the time came.
I was most definitely not on autopilot in the midst of the accident but I also was not aware of anything other than the Jeep and the 18 wheeler. I don't know what the cars behind me were doing, I don't know what my passenger was doing and I don't know what the status of my car was. Had my car failed to operate in the expected manner at the critical moment the outcome could have been very different.
There are still things I think I can learn from this accident that will help me reach my career goals, but that will have to wait for another time.
INVENTORY:
While going out and getting really, really drunk was not my plan it is what happened and while it wasn't particularly a plan it didn't impact my long term career goals, it did disrupt my short term plans for the evening. Which I would like to not have happen again soon! Something to work on and ask the divine for some assistance there. I made better food choices yesterday and for that I am grateful! It is still something I want to focus on.
MOTIVATION:
Realizing how accidents impact me and what impact my death or my injury could have had on friends and family I am even more committed to making this goal of saving lives happen. Zero accidents isn't possible, but I do think accidents which end up with less sever consequences is possible. And that is a goal worth working for with all my heart and soul!
"I save lives and property through solid design engineering principles and a core understanding of human nature. I educate others about saving lives and property while setting the goal of accidents with minimum consequences."
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