Thursday, December 3

SEATBELTS SAVE LIVES!!!!!

Please wear your seat belt EVERY TIME you get into a vehicle and don't move an inch until all are buckled up.  Bill and I were both working from home today and this afternoon witnessed something very awful, another accident at the intersection south of our house.  I was mixing up a cake in the kitchen when I heard a loud noise and the power went out. I looked up and saw out in the field a huge billow of snow and dust and a pickup.  I knew the pickup had left the road and taken out the electrical box.  I didn't see the other vehicle yet.  We were there within minutes.  Three men were involved, two were thrown from the vehicle and were lifeless when we approached them.  I placed my blankets on the men.  Our neighbors were also there.  We felt incredibly helpless while we waited for emergency workers to arrive.   Bill was able to talk to the one man who was responsive and was able to call his daughter and let her know what was happening.  We are most certain the two who died were not wearing seatbelts.   What a very sad Christmas it will be for their families.  A similar accident happened at the same intersection about two years ago, someone ran the stop sign, and one woman died that day too.  I'm not sure when the knot in my stomach will go away but it has put life into perspective once again for us.  Please drive carefully and BUCKLE UP!!

4 comments:

Rachelle said...

Oh Laurie, you poor dear! How devastating! I'm so happy you were able to go to them and offer blankets. That alone will mean more than you ever realize. So sorry dear sister.

Connie said...

Laurie, How very very sad! It must have been so stressful to witness this tragedy.

Kristi Pohl said...

Laurie, I just read the bit on Rachelle's blog and went to yours, I knew it had to be my classmate Laird, a friend had linked to the Bemidji Pioneer story on Facebook. I have been thinking about this all weekend-even though we did not stay in touch after high school, my heart is breaking for his family. I simply can't imagine what it was like for you to be first on the scene, but thank you for everything you did for them. Most importantly, thank you for posting on seat belts - I am amazed that there are people who still don't wear them.

Wisconsin Farmgirls said...

Laurie, wow! What a tragedy! How traumatic for you. I feel so bad for their families.