I was working under the 6th Street bridge today in Downtown Los Angeles when our commercial shoot was interrupted by the sound of squealing tires and the sound of an immense and violent impact on the bridge; and the hood of a car and debris falling from the surface of the bridge down to our location below. I and two other crew members went up with a first aid kit to the scene to find one victim with a broken femur writhing in the middle of the road and another victim unconscious halfway up on the curb with severe internal injuries judging by the blood draining from his ears. While I was trying to find his pulse he let out a calm, gurgling sigh, and I knew that he had given up the short fight for his life; covered in blood, oil and diesel fuel.
The impact had caused the engine block on the 350Z to split it's contents and I remember seeing the alternator rotor lying amongst the debris minus it's housing. There were also transmission cogs scattered in the street. I estimate the speed of the Z to be about 70-85+ miles an hour when he hit the Kenworth virtually head on.
I can't adequately explain the feeling of watching a man's life dissipate before one's eyes nor do I want to make it a habit, but I can tell you it was crushing to be so helpless in the face of the inevitable and I will never forget it.
Please use care with yourselves and keep an eye out for the guy next to you. Every day is a gift.
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2001 996SPS #1548
2001 748RS
2007 BMW R1200GS Adventure
"May the bridges you burn light the way."
-Mcsorleys Old Ale House
Last edited by twowheelcossack; 06-06-2009 at 08:23 PM.
It's amazing the impact when a small car can do that much damage to a semi. You are correct.....EVERYONE should slow down and pay attention. You should feel a little better knowing you were there and tried to help someone injured.....good luck.
I'll never forget the 16yr old boy who I held waiting for an ambulance whilst he was dying, again internal injuries from crashing a field bike in the wood near where I worked.
I aslo had to face him mum as the ambulance drove off, didn't have a clue what to say she knew though.
I seen a lot of bad things in my time but that has stayed with me above all of them.
It give me little comfort that I had been telling them all to wear saftey gear or at least a helmet the week previously, Kids don't listen though do they. I don't think a helmet would have a massive difference as he was frothing blood.
I watch a guy on a moped get run over, literaly buy a drunk driver several years ago. He dragged the guy 100'+ before the car kicked him out and into a ditch. Several of us stopped to help and ran down into the ditch. He was so badly mauled, he wasn't going to make it. The driver tried to run away tried to run away before the police showed up, but one of the witnesses tackled him and in the process snapped his arm.
I'll never forget those sights or the sounds.
You really feel safe in your own little world, that these things can't or won't happen. How easy is it for our lives to be snuffed out. It only takes a spit second and poof! All of us here pushed the envelope, I'm sure. These instances serve as a good reminder as to our mortality.
I watched a guy get run over by a dumb soccer more in NorCal on the front side of Hwy 9. She cut the corner down by the winery because her SUV was simply "too big". She ended up dragging him and driving over him a couple of times has she back up over him trying to get something "unstuck" from her truck as she said to the cop. Guy died with all of us watching and her kids.
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Current Ride:
2006 Ducati 999S Mono in black.
That's some sobering stuff you guys experienced. I'm trained in first aid and I just hope I have the strength of mind to get into action if the time comes.
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"For sure we've understood that to make the Ducati turn, you need a bigger effort than what Valentino was used to, physically too, and we didn't expect that. This bike is a lot more physical, the way to make it turn with the required precision is certainly the thing we must focus on at the moment."
- J Burgess
Sorry for the heaviness guys, I didn't want this thread to go there; that is my fault and yes, I was about to post some tits of my own to lighten the mood (I met Mary Carey last week and have photographic proof) but didn't feel it was appropriate. Maybe in another thread. I more posted this to remind myself and others to be thankful for the friends, loved ones and strangers we have yet to meet in our lives, and the last two lines of my post were really the most important.
I have not suffered in this at all compared to others, and I didn't want any sympathy but have been feeling rather down for the last 24 hours. I'm glad I learned that at 39 years old I'm courageous enough to help someone in need, despite what discomfort I might encounter.
I'm working in the same place today and decided to walk up the street to the LA Gun Club to find some good deals on ammo, when I happened to look up to the bridge where the accident happened.
Standing there were about 15 people all dressed in black (big hispanic clan) and I realized with a certain sense of dread what my task was. I walked the 10th of a mile to them and with trembling hands asked if they were friends of the deceased. They affirmed my assumption, and I introduced myself and told them I was among the first on the scene. I told them I was sorry for their loss.
They motioned me to stand in front of the mother and father of the man and as they gathered around me I told them that their son died without pain and surrounded by people that cared for his well being. I explained the very moment of his passing (the sigh or "death rattle") and that it was peaceful. I also told them that their son/brother/friend/father was a fighter by virtue of the fact that despite the graphic head injury he suffered, he hung on for the time that he did.
I told them that there was nothing anyone could do. They told me he was estimated to be going 100 miles per hour. I could only stand there and cry with them as they thanked me; and I felt the same crushing feeling of helplessness and sorrow that I had felt the day before. I hope it goes away soon.
__________________
2001 996SPS #1548
2001 748RS
2007 BMW R1200GS Adventure
"May the bridges you burn light the way."
-Mcsorleys Old Ale House
They motioned me to stand in front of the mother and father of the man and as they gathered around me I told them that their son died without pain and surrounded by people that cared for his well being. I explained the very moment of his passing (the sigh or "death rattle") and that it was peaceful. I also told them that their son/brother/friend/father was a fighter by virtue of the fact that despite the graphic head injury he suffered, he hung on for the time that he did.
I told them that there was nothing anyone could do. They told me he was estimated to be going 100 miles per hour. I could only stand there and cry with them as they thanked me; and I felt the same crushing feeling of helplessness and sorrow that I had felt the day before. I hope it goes away soon.
When I first got to Edwards, the first assignment I had was a search and rescue. A small Cesna had veered into restricted airspace, and has involved in a midair collision with a T 38. When we found the wreck site, it was very bad, I won't go into the gory details, but that shit sticks in your head forever. The worst thing was having to help his young pregnent wife pack up all their belongings, as she was being shipped back home. Tough stuff dude, I'm glad you had the guts to go and talk with his family and friends, most people wouldn't...
Hey folks, slow it down a bit okay?
Sobering stuff Cossack!
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