brown67
Well-Known Member
0230 in morning and I'm heading back to the hub in Denver from my center in Northern Colorado. Pulling double 45's down a two lane highway going to the interstate and I see a car wrecked on the side of the road. Front end is nearly gone. Smashed back to the windshield.
Not much shoulder on the road, but I pull over as far as I can and turn on my hazards and leave my headlights on bright. Trying to light myself up like a Christmas tree so no one hits me parked on the side of the road. I grab my cell phone and jacket and walk/jog back to the car hoping to God that no one is in the car. As walk up to the window with my flashlight on I see a young man in the front seat of the car not moving. His face is smashed up and bloody and his body is nearly completely under the dash of the car. All I can see of him is from mid torso up. I was sure he was dead. I quickly dialed 911 and while I was dialing he moved his head. I was shining my flashlight at his face and I think that caused him to stir, but he was unconscious.
The 911 operator was wonderful and I told her where I was and she dispatched 1st responders immediately. I had no idea what to do. She told me not to touch him or move him. Just talk to him and tell him not to move. She asked me a lot of questions about his condition which was pretty bad. Barley alive, but alive. He would move his head a bit, but that was all. I would tell him not to move and to just lay his head down.
A sheriff arrived very quickly and I could see other emergency personal coming from several different directions when he arrive. The young man had stopped moving which I thought was good, but when the sheriff arrive he looked in the car and radioed for an extraction team to cut him out and said, "possible DOA." My heart sank. Had he died while I waiting for 1st reponders. He pulled his flashlight out and shined it at the young man and he moved his head again. Thank God he was still alive. He yelled some questions at the young man and he didn't respond until he asked how old he was. He said, "19." I don't think he was conscious. He never opened his eyes or said anything else, but he did respond.
By this time there where at least a dozen fire trucks, police cars, rescue units and an ambulance. Wow, they were fast. The first officer arrived in 6 minutes which was great considering I was out of town in a rural area. The rest arrived within a couple of minutes after the sheriff arrived. The road was shut down and they began to cut him out. A State Patrol officer asked me a few questions and got my name, address, and phone number. He thanked me for stopping and said I could leave.
I don't know if the young man is still alive. When the fire department cut off the door I could see the young man's left leg. It was folded up under the dash of the car and I'm sure his feet, ankles, and legs were broken up pretty bad. His nose and mouth were smashed up and I'm sure he will need some reconstructive surgery on his face. Who knows about brain injuries.
From the time I stopped til the first officer arrive about half a dozen cars went by and no one else stopped. I got the impression he had been there awhile. I've seen other cars that have been in front end accidents and normally fluids from the car get on the engine and it starts steaming. No steam, nothing. I'm really glad I stopped, because who knows how long that young man would have been there.
By the way. UPS dispatch was great too. Called down and told them what was going on and they were wonderful. Told me I did the right thing to stop. Take my time. Etc. All in all I'm really glad I stopped and helped out. Say a little prayer for the young man that he will be alright.
Not much shoulder on the road, but I pull over as far as I can and turn on my hazards and leave my headlights on bright. Trying to light myself up like a Christmas tree so no one hits me parked on the side of the road. I grab my cell phone and jacket and walk/jog back to the car hoping to God that no one is in the car. As walk up to the window with my flashlight on I see a young man in the front seat of the car not moving. His face is smashed up and bloody and his body is nearly completely under the dash of the car. All I can see of him is from mid torso up. I was sure he was dead. I quickly dialed 911 and while I was dialing he moved his head. I was shining my flashlight at his face and I think that caused him to stir, but he was unconscious.
The 911 operator was wonderful and I told her where I was and she dispatched 1st responders immediately. I had no idea what to do. She told me not to touch him or move him. Just talk to him and tell him not to move. She asked me a lot of questions about his condition which was pretty bad. Barley alive, but alive. He would move his head a bit, but that was all. I would tell him not to move and to just lay his head down.
A sheriff arrived very quickly and I could see other emergency personal coming from several different directions when he arrive. The young man had stopped moving which I thought was good, but when the sheriff arrive he looked in the car and radioed for an extraction team to cut him out and said, "possible DOA." My heart sank. Had he died while I waiting for 1st reponders. He pulled his flashlight out and shined it at the young man and he moved his head again. Thank God he was still alive. He yelled some questions at the young man and he didn't respond until he asked how old he was. He said, "19." I don't think he was conscious. He never opened his eyes or said anything else, but he did respond.
By this time there where at least a dozen fire trucks, police cars, rescue units and an ambulance. Wow, they were fast. The first officer arrived in 6 minutes which was great considering I was out of town in a rural area. The rest arrived within a couple of minutes after the sheriff arrived. The road was shut down and they began to cut him out. A State Patrol officer asked me a few questions and got my name, address, and phone number. He thanked me for stopping and said I could leave.
I don't know if the young man is still alive. When the fire department cut off the door I could see the young man's left leg. It was folded up under the dash of the car and I'm sure his feet, ankles, and legs were broken up pretty bad. His nose and mouth were smashed up and I'm sure he will need some reconstructive surgery on his face. Who knows about brain injuries.
From the time I stopped til the first officer arrive about half a dozen cars went by and no one else stopped. I got the impression he had been there awhile. I've seen other cars that have been in front end accidents and normally fluids from the car get on the engine and it starts steaming. No steam, nothing. I'm really glad I stopped, because who knows how long that young man would have been there.
By the way. UPS dispatch was great too. Called down and told them what was going on and they were wonderful. Told me I did the right thing to stop. Take my time. Etc. All in all I'm really glad I stopped and helped out. Say a little prayer for the young man that he will be alright.
