Prius vs. Pedestrian: car saved my life.

I'm sorry you had to be there....almost as sorry as I am for the family of the pedestrian - my condolences to them.

I would not want to be in your place.

 

My condolances to all those who have suffered a loss. Unfortunately this sort of thing happens everywhere. You will need to find your own way to deal with tradgedy. If talking to us helps, then I'm glad we're here to listen.

 

It is common to grieve for the deceased in a situation like this. And that is how it should be. What often is forgotten or ignored, is how these situations affect the *other* party - the party that must live with what happened. That's the side we are hearing now, and it is not the side that uninvolved people hear about very often.

The emitions it brings about for me are quite new and strange. I feel for *everybody* involved. I am glad that you are physically OK, Bjorn. I can only hope that the rest will heal with time.

 

For some reason I feel like if I was in your shoes I would want to talk with the families. I really don't know if that is appropriate or productive, however. It just feels like something I would want to do.

I remember seeing a story on TV once about a teenage girl who decided to ride on the roof of her SUV while her boyfriend drove. She ended up falling off and dying. The amazing part was that the father of the girl decided that the only way anyone was going to be whole again was for him to come together with the boyfriend and support him like a son. They appeared on the program and were remarkably well-rounded. Both of them appeared to be people that had healed. I was absolutely struck by how both of them had decided to find peace in this unorthodox manner.

Bjorn, I hope that you also find peace through whatever means feels right.

Nate

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Sep 19 2007, 10:37 PM) [snapback]515107[/snapback]</div>

Good point. I think the most innocent side of the two is the driver who was put in this situation by careless people. He was on his way home, minding his own business till two people with no regard for safety or common sense endangered not only their lives, but also endangered the life of an innocent person - it could've been any one of us.

My neighbor across the street works as a heavy machinery operator and he cut a man in half because the man wanted to kill himself and placed himself where he wasn't supposed to be, so now my neighbor, an innocent man has to live with the horror of something he could not prevent and never asked for.

 

That's very sad news, Bjorn. I feel for the families' losses, while recognising that you're not without injury, either. I hope you would be welcome to attend the funeral, if you can bring yourself to do that. People will be very sensitive, and emotions will be raw, but you may be able to bring some sense of closure to yourself and to the families.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hyo silver @ Sep 19 2007, 11:12 PM) [snapback]515120[/snapback]</div>

I believe this could quite possibly be the worst advice I have ever heard being given, though I know you mean well. Though it is not his fault at all for what happened, I'd most definitely not want him at the funeral, if I was a relative of those who died. He has no business there; this is a private affair and would only hurt the families even further. And as for him, I'm sure being at the funeral would only deepen the pain and would leave a more permanent and dramatic emotional/psychological wound.

Just try not to think about it much and eventually try to forget it, though I know you can't really forget it. Try to block it from memory.
You didn't want this, it wasn't your fault, you were put in this situation by two irresponsible people, who put your own life at risk, and you can forget about them without feeling guilty that you're trying to forget them. I know it's easier said than done, but you gotta try.
This is so surreal, that I think you could detach yourself from it, if you think of it as a movie you once saw...

 

Hyo meant well. Bjorn, how very tragic for you even though you didn't know the girls. You're probably still in shock. Maybe grief counseling could help? I can't imagine what your going through. I too am glad you weren't physically injured.

Bonnie

 

Accidents such as this affect everyone involved in ways that can forever change their lives.

Two years ago this New Year's Eve my oldest daughter was a passenger in a truck that ran over a man on the freeway. The man (an off duty policemen) had stopped to help at another accident and with the low visibility due to foggy conditions, was struck by another car and thrown into the path of the truck my daughter was in. My daughter and her friends didn't even know they'd run over someone until their truck stopped it's spin out and they came to a stop and got out. I will never forget the call from my daughter and what she said. She will never forget what she saw and experienced that night. She still can't watch car crash scenes in movies and still gets visibly upset driving past the spot on the freeway. The one good thing to come out of it is that she will never go out on New Year's Eve again.

You are not alone Bjorn. Thank you for sharing your story. Talking does help process and work through feelings.

My thoughts go out to you and to the families of the girls.

 

Wow...
I am so sorry to hear that you are dealing with such a tragedy. Time will heal all wounds... and having friends like those here on priuschat to share times like this with is a very good thing. Not a week a go there was a similar accident here http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?...5&ran=77384 A blind exit turn on a 55 mile passage road (we have a lot of those here... they are not interstates but passways often near residential areas and w/ lots of intersections). The young lady was exiting... and a 58 year old man deicded to cross the busy, dangerous street right at the curve. There was nothing that could have changed what happened. This can be an important lesson to us all. I think it is all to easy to feel impervious to being hit by a car while crossing a busy street (let alone an interstate that is not meant for pedestrain travel). You MUST use crosswalks, never run across any street with traffic (I see that all the time... think about it if you fall, you won't get up in time) and never assume a car can see you... because they likely cannot. I hope that your Prius will be back on the road again soon. Hold the ones you love... and smile because you have the foresite to drive a car that is helping change our world for the better place to live a pound of smog at a time.
Spence

 

Thank you for sharing. I am sure that it was hard to do so. Please keep sharing and talking. It's the only way I know to 'process' this terrible event.

My thoughts go with the families who lost loved ones as well.

Art

 

Bjorn, I'm so very sorry this happened to you. One of my sisters was killed by a drunk driver a couple of years ago--that woman deserves to live the rest of her life knowing she killed someone. You, on the other hand, are completely blameless, but you will always have the memory of what happened that night. There was nothing you could have done to avoid this tragedy, and I hope you (and the other drivers involved) will be able to get past this very painful time. Please do consider counseling to help you work through this.

 

Very sad, sorry for all concerned.

 

One thing I would add is that it is ok to be angry at the pedestrians. Be furious with them.

 

I am really sorry to hear this, I have tears in my eyes reading the article. I will be in a complete mess if anything like this happen to me. You are very brave to take time and write about your experience in PC, I understand it must have been extremely difficult talking about it. As many people already said, there was nothing you could do to prevent it, you did the best you could to save yourself and succeeded. The damages to the car is minimal compared to what could have happened, I am glad you didn't get hurt. I feel sad for the girls and their loved ones, but they were completely at fault. May be you should take a break and go on a vacation with your family once the car is fixed. Again, it's not your fault.

 

I too think if possible try to meet up with those relatives, they too will be looking for closure on something which they are seeking understanding. It wont be easy though. No one expects it to be. But better to meet now with shared loss than leaving it for years. Maybe ask the officer in charge.
If you need to talk I'm at the end of a PM

 

I feel myself at a loss for words, and yet I feel I should say something...

Thank you for sharing your story with us, and I hope you (and the other drivers) forgive yourselves completely for something that was not your fault.

I also offer my condolences to the families of the girls.

Very sad. :-(

 

Doc:
in times like this, there are no words. you are supported in out thoughts and prayers.

once again, i feel that my Prius is the best in multiple areas besides gas mileage, thanks for sharing

 

Man, that's one tough situation to deal with. Don't know how I'd handle it myself. Hope you'll ride it out OK.

Forensically, have you been able to retrieve any data from the car, like speed at time of crash, etc.?