This is copied from a local forum that I am on, and this person that wrote it was in the car with me.

Chris G. and I witnessed a terrible accident on J.Clyde Morris Blvd. tonight. I can't sleep because I keep on thinking about the driver. We were first to get to the scene and I can't get the sights out of my head. Here is the story in hopes of me getting some sleep after telling it.

We were traveling south towards Jefferson Ave. when we saw a red mid 1990s Ford Probe swerve around a gold Ford Escort wagon and start sliding across three lanes. The car hit the starbucks driveway/curb and went airborne until it hit the traffic light pole. The impact was directly on the drivers door. The pole went about halfway into the roof.

The young guy driving the car was knocked out and was sitting in the rear seat with his legs hanging in between the front seats and his feet towards the driver footwell. His head was leaned back with his mouth wide open. He was breathing but there was no steady rythm to it. One eratic breathe followed by 10 seconds of nothing. Then a gulp for air and nothign for 15 seconds. I was the only one standing by the car when he stopped breathing. At this time blood started pouring out his mouth and an extreme alcohol stench took over. Chris was standing 30 feet away and the group he was with could smell it.

At this time the EMT/NNPD/NNFD showed up. I think only one other guy came up to the car the whole time. The EMT/NNFD removed the door got him out. They strapped him to the back board and were attempting to resuscitate him, but I don't think they ever got any strong vitals. He was spewing blood up as the EMTs were over him.

After the cops were cleaning up the accident site and we had filled out all the paper work I asked the officer who took my report if he was alive when they loaded him in the ambulance. He told me they are not supposed to release information, but that it didn't look good for him. I had honestly thought he was dead in the car when he stopped breathing. He didn't take any breaths that I could see for three to four minutes at one point.

The elderly woman in the Escort wagon was very shooken up over the accident. He nearly clipped her and started to slide after avoiding her. She cried on the scene for at least an hour. It was terribly sad to watch. She was so affected she couldn't stand up.

Like I said earlier, I needed to tell this story in hopes of getting the sites out of my head. I'm not a person who has a weak stomache at all, but the images of the blood pouring out his mouth are hard to get away while laying here in the dark.

Also, if anyone happens to see any news about this on the Daily Press or anywhere else, post a link please.

 

damn, a highschool buddy of mine just passed away last friday, one car accident.. his 21st b-day. I don't want to speculate on how though.. Terrible.

 

Sorry that you had to witness that. Were you the only person brave enough to get closer to the car? You mention that there was a group standing further away.

Sometimes I wonder what I would do in such a situation. Stand back? Help? Will I regret that I didn't help? Will I regret that I got too close and will never get those images out of my head?

You did what you had to do and what you are feeling is what you are supposed to be feeling after witnessing such an event.

 

My friend and I were the only ones to get close enough to the victim. We were so close that we had to back away because he was spitting blood.

 

Not to bring up bad memories but Im curious here, as from your description it seemed like the person was speeding? or racing?...the whole airborne thing into a pole ....... what did it seem like?

 

He wasnt racing, he was drunk and I believe he either passed out, or woke up and realized he was about to hit another car.

 

I felt bad for the guy till about here.

Darwinism!

I'm just glad he was the only one hurt, and im sorry that you had to see that Chris, its never easy watching someone die/ get seriously hurt.

 

Have to agree with Ricepuddin here. Granted I don't know the full details from the cops and or investigators. But if he indeed was drunk, my sympathy goes out the window for him. I am glad he was the only casualty. If anything the only person that deserves sympathy is you for having to experience the accident and I hope you get through it. As for drunk boy (if indeed he was drunk), too bad, so sad, one less idiot on the road. He took his life into his own hands by drinking, then driving. I have no sympathy for drunk drivers and street racers.

 

Chris,
That was a painful experience. I saw an accident on the highway. No blood coming out of anyones mouth but what I saw was painful enough. It can happen so quickly. I'm glad the guy didn't hurt anyone else. That section of the highway still spooks me whenever I drive it. I turn off the radio. I don't talk. It just seems like I should be quiet.
Another thing that struck me was the response/lack of empathy of other drivers at the accident I witnessed. There were a couple cars that stopped and the driver that caused the accident was even honest enough to come back but so many other drivers just seemed impatient. They thought *they* were inconvenienced--someone's life was at stake! Although police had the situation under control, the helicopter had hardly lifted from the highway before people were trying to push through. I think it is so easy to get in too much of a hurry sometimes. It seems like such a shame when people think that their clock and appointment book are more important than someone else's life.
If you need to talk, talk. I will never judge you or think any less of you.

 

Stopping isn't always a good idea or the best thing you can do. If you've never had 1st AID/CPR, CLS, PARAMedic courses you may just get in the way. Now not saying you shouldn't stop and see if you can help but too many hands in the cookie jar can hinder the real life saving help.