Just recently I was in a car accident and it was among the most traumatic experiences of my life. I have been in several of car accidents before but none ever shook me the way it did today.
My friend Mayra and I were just leaving from church. I was pulling away from the curb along the street from where I was parked, double checking to see if it was clear for me to go ahead. My car was already in the next lane over and before I knew it, I heard a deafening BOOM and felt glass shatter onto my body. Another vehicle plowed into my side and like a ping pong ricocheting off a paddle, my car veered into another parked car along the curb. It happened so fast and yet in slow motion. I remembered my body being flung to the passenger side toward Mayra as my car crashed into the back corner of the parked car. I was in a state of shock, I couldn't move...then I saw that there was an elderly woman in the parked car. In my mind, I prayed to God, "Please let her be alright, please let her be alright...." People rushed to the woman in the car and she was knocked out. Mayra was holding my hand. My body was stiff and I was shaking. Tears formed at the corner of my eyes. "You're bleeding Ames, " Mayra said. My hands had a few cuts from the glass. Someone from the crowd gave me a washcloth to put over my cuts. The entire window of my driver’s side had been gone. I was more concerned about the lady in the parked car. The fire department and the police came. “She is fine,” I heard someone say. The paramedics took the elderly lady on a stretcher. A group of three or so firemen came to my car. “Are you okay?” one of them asked. I nodded. Mayra said her back was beginning to hurt but said she was fine. The paramedics asked me if I needed to be taken away in an ambulance, and I said that I was just shaken up. The vehicle that plowed into me--it was a '95 Toyota Previa. I didn’t know who the driver was right away…it wasn’t until later. I saw who she was. The driver turned out to be a middle aged woman. I remember her saying sorry to me but the entire time I was in shock and I wasn’t in the state of mind to speak to her. The police filled out her contact information for me. The only damage her van had was her front right side of her fender where her headlight was torn. Though she was not arrested, I saw her get into the police car. I wanted to ask her what happened? Did she not see me? Where was she coming from?
The entire left side of my car is gone… With my whole left side taken out, I guess you can say that my car was ALL-RIGHT…(okay, enough with the corny jokes though laughter is the best medicine in serious times like these). I had my car towed back to my apartment and is now sitting there in my parking space with the entire driver’s side concaved. The impact was great enough to get my key jammed that I cannot get it out of the engine. The damage is greatest that I have ever experienced in a car accident. My car looks like a crushed sardine can.I’ve had my “ROLL” mobile (it’s a ’99 Toyota Corolla) since my senior year of high school. I loved my car dearly, but I think now is the time to let it go. I’ve decided I will take a break from driving for now.
People ask me how I am doing. I want to let you know that I am doing okay. Every time I would drive, I’d always say a little prayer for God to protect me. This morning my prayers had been answered. With an impact so great, it is a miracle that I was able to walk away with just a few scratches. I could have died right then and there, but God was really looking after me. A car is just a car…it is a machine that can always be replaced, but LIFE cannot be replaced….This morning’s accident is my testimony of God’s protection.
Instead of looking at this accident as a punishment, I am seeing it as a real blessing. You may think I’m weird for saying this but I truly believe so. It showed me the true compassion and empathetic humanity of people. People who I never spoke to before made sure I was okay. A group of passer-bys, parishioners and even the priest from the church came by and comforted me in my distress. One lady told me she and a group prayed the rosary for me. I have the greatest friends ever. (Thank you Anthony and La for going out of their way to visit and make sure that I was okay). People at work were understanding—even though we are at a deep crunch, they told me I didn’t need to go to work though I chose to go today (Thanks Debbie!). Thank you for your calls and messages. I want to thank you all for your cares and your support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am truly, truly blessed and I am happy to have people like you in my life. It is because of you, I know God lives among us and I would not have gotten through this day without you/.
