Tonight I was involved in a fairly major car accident. I want to write as much down now as I can because I know how bad human memory can be.
First, the injuries. They were fairly minor, thanks to the seatbelt and the airbag. I have first and mild second degree burns on my face, mostly my left cheek, and a mild first degree burn on my right lower arm from the airbag deployment and a slight friction burn from the seatbelt. In addition, I have contusions on both lips and minor abrasions on my face and lips. The good news is that I have no airway difficulties, didn't go into shock, have no fractures or major burns. The seat belt and airbag did their jobs and kept me safe(r).
As for what happened...
Today was Ditch Day, a Caltech Institute Holiday. You can find out more
here. As part of the bribe, the seniors, John and Emily, took us underclassmen to dinner at Nova Express, a pizza/sandwich/salad place with a strange look and sci-fi theme. The collision occurred on the way back from dinner. I was in the front passenger seat.
We were almost back to Caltech. I was pretty tired from all the days events. (We made a movie after all). We were traveling at a normal speed, probably around 30 mph: definately not excessive speeding. As I was dozing off, I awoke to notice that our car was drifting right, towards the side of the road, right into two parked cars. One was a dark colored (black I think) sedan, and in front of it was a white SUV. I don't remember the actual crash; that second (or two) happened too fast. I looked around... Both airbags had deployed. John, the driver swore, "Shit!". I felt a strange tingly sensation in my face that was quickly turning into pain. I pulled out my cell phone and in a daze dialed 911 and pressed send. I told the operator what happened and where we were and had them send the paramedics.
I tried to open my door to get out, but it wouldn't open more than a few inches. I let John get out and exited the driver's side door. The other two passengers, who were in the back, were also exiting. I noticed I was bleeding, and since there was nothing else around, I took off my T-shirt and pressed it against my face, applying pressure to slow the bleeding.
About two minutes after the crash, another car in our party arrived on the scene. They stopped to see if we were alright. Everyone but me had no injuries. Then a helicopter flew over and shined a light at us. About one minute later, a police cruiser showed up, then another and another. A minute after that, the paramedics arrived. After surveying the scene, they determined that a fire engine was unnecessary. They asked me a few question, which I answered as best I could through my shirt, which was now clotted to my face. After detaching the shirt, they looked at my injuries and recommended I go to Urgent Care for more treatment, but offered to take me to the hospital. I refused, and Kathy and Emily took me to Urgent Care, a five minute drive away.
After an exam, X-rays, and urine sample, they determined that the injuries were superficial and should heal on their own pretty well. As a Health Ad, I have plenty of supplies, but they sent me home with a bunch of bandages and Bacitracin. I am in my room now icing my face, for the burns and the swelling, which is going down now. My lips were the diameter of hotdogs, but now the edges are "deflating". In a few days, I will see Dr Miller at the Health Center to follow up medically.
The police called me to get my statement, after taking statements from everyone else. I told them pretty much was I wrote here, but each time you remember anything, you remember it differently, which is why I'm writing all this down.
As for the cars...
In my opinion, they are worse off than I am. While my damage was superficial, our car was badly damaged. I remember noticing that the front passenger side wheel, the one right next to where I was sitting, conspicuously missing after the crash. Emily says the front axle is pretty much shattered. The windshield was webbed. The webbing could have started where my head hit the windshield, but I can't remember that part of the crash. I was wearing my SpaceX hat that Tina gave me a few months ago. I think it helped protect the top of my head and face from debris and the windshield. The parked cars didn't do so well either. The dark sedan had to be towed along with the car I was in. It managed to get its rear passenger wheel up the 12 - 14" curb and about a foot or two onto the grass. The SUV had some damage, and may or may be driveable. It was not towed, though.
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
free