My Fist (and Hopefully Last) Car Accident
11/2014
Anybody who knows me at all, knows I am one of the worst drivers in the world, otherwise known as a distracted driver.
Distracted Driving: Noun
1. Driving a vehicle while engaging in an activity that has the potential to distract the driver from the task of driving.
Yes that is my Honda.. yes I was so soo sad when I flipped her into a ditch and yes.. Ava and I are okay.
I was headed to the Dairy Queen in Carrollton for a frozen treat when I had the brilliant idea to take Centerpoint Rd.
"I'll be fine," I tell myself "Tanner takes this road all the time and he nothing has ever happened to him."
All is going well and I'm starting to think my fear of Georgia backroads and their lack of shoulders is unjustified. I decide to take Hog Liver Rd, (at the Fire station) mostly because the road splits this really pretty lake that has houses lining the outside, and it's so picturesque. In any case I am driving along at a normal speed coming around the curve and being the distracted driver that I am look into the rearview mirror to gaze upon my darling daughter.
BOOM. Mistake #1
Wrong decision. I didn't account for the curve.. didn't adjust my steering wheel. Too late though for that though. When you realize your driving off the side of the road you think Oh crap.. I can fix this and then...
BOOM. Mistake #2
Apparently I way overcorrected. I sent the car fishtailing onto the opposite side of the road to which I overcorrected
AGAIN. At this point I am thinking
OH CRAP! I remember looking at Ava in the rearview mirror and seeing her scared little baby face, and her hands in the air trying to grab onto anything near her, while I held onto the steering wheel for dear life. I remember everything in slow motion. I feel like the whole accident happened in slow motion but I know that can't be true. Slow motion doesn't flip your car into a ditch.
The car drove off the right hand side of the road and flipped trunk over hood. The glass didn't shatter until after the initial roll when the car was rocking back and forth. I remember excessively blinking, to get the glass out of my eyes and then looking back at Ava who was hanging upside down by the straps of her carseat. I have to get her down and make sure she okay! I unbuckle my seat belt and fall onto the roof of the car with the rest my belongings and am trying to wiggle into the back seat. No such luck as my leg is bent under the dashboard of the car and I can't get it out without opening the car door, which at the moment was impossible.
Luckily I remember seeing a neighbor working on a shed in his front yard. At this point I am rendered helpless and begin honking my horn. I mean really laying on the horn for what felt like 5 minutes. I watched the gentleman run up to the car and I am yelling for them to get Ava first. They were able to open her door and pull her out and then came around and opened the driver door at which point I rolled out. I must have had a serious adrenaline rush because I remember trying to stand up and not being able to. With the assistance of my rescuers I was able to make sure Ava was okay and call my husband.
The fire department showed up, A State Trooper arrived, Tanner had finally gotten there and the rest was taken care of for me. My car was towed, a report written up and I was taken home. (Sans Ice cream, I might add..) That was the most expensive Blizzard I never had. My favorite and first car was a complete loss.
In the end, everyone was okay. I am eternally grateful that the car seat worked, that it was strapped to the car properly, and that I had Ava's buckles in the right spots. For the neighbor rescuers, I made Cinnamon Rolls and took them back as a thank you. I learned my lesson that day. The road
ALWAYS comes first.
Take it from me, it's not worth it to be a distracted driver.
Be safe, watch the road guys.
