Crash

The rumor is that this section of I-95 is one of the most dangerous sections of road in the country. Like anyone that makes this drive daily, seeing a crash is practically a daily event. Usually they are in the other direction from me, as that is the direction of most commuter traffic. Most accidents involve two or three cars that have run into the back of each other. Accidents in my direction are usually worse, consisting of trucks or cars travelling or colliding at reasonable speeds and resulting in more damage and injury. Most people think that the most spectacular accident on this stretch of road was the bridge collapse over the Mianus River near Greenwich, CT back in the 1980's. Since I have been driving this road, I would elect the fire in Bridgeport, CT in 2006 that shut the road down for a week. No one was seriously injured and this gave us a chance to reflect on what an incredible artery of life this road is for many people.

When you drive this road you play a memory game, understanding and recording who is travelling near you and where will they be in 30 seconds? The funny thing is that during the one crash that I had, I did not see the vehicle coming up behind me. I was driving home in the middle lane, about 6 pm in the evening, and was hit from behind by a truck travelling at a high rate of speed. The driver was drunk. Before I realized what was happening, my car was hurled forwards into the central cement median and there was nothing I could do to stop it. After hitting the cement barrier, the car spun backwards and continued to spin around making multiple donuts across the highway, clipping a few fellow drivers on its way and ending up in the ditch on the far side. My car was damaged on all sides and both bumpers had been torn off and were lying in the road. Needless to say, my car was a total loss. Luckily, I walked away from the accident and bought another car the following day, so I could resume the daily grind. The truck that hit me immediately left the scene, but was picked up at the next rest area by the state troopers who confirmed he was drunk.

The crash cost me about $10,000 in cash and three months of physiotherapy to try to get my neck straightened out. I still have the neck issues, eventhough the insurance quack was convinced it was fine--sure, I love going to physiotherapy for no good reason. The driver that hit me is on probation and running around somewhere. I was just happy to walk away from this accident. However, I do look a lot more in my rear view mirror, way back, to see if a speeding truck is back there.