I decided to leave town on Friday, December 20 and make the drive from Spokane to Tri-Cities. At Wishing Star, we have a Christmas giving program, and we find sponsors to help our families in need during the holidays. I loaded up presents for 3 different families and made my way out of town. It was starting to really snow in Spokane, but I checked the webcams and talked to my step-dad who said all the snow had melted back home. I figured once I got outside of Spokane I would be fine. WRONG. I even had a gut feeling that made me not want to leave town that day, but I decided to just go and get on the road while it was still light out.
I was going between 40-50mph on the 70mph highway. I would say that in an hour and a half I passed 2 cars. Other than that, I had every car in the world (including semi-trucks) flying by me going at least 15-20mph faster than me. The snow was still very loose and every time a car passed it kicked up a snow storm and I could hardly see where I was going. SCARY! I don't know what it is about people that makes them think they can go a regular speed in those conditions! Anyway, as I was getting close to Ritzville where the Tri-Cities turn-off is, I was actually getting excited because I knew that once I took that exit, the roads would be a lot better! I was 8 miles away, and I began noticing cars slowing down and saw a wreck about a quarter or half mile ahead. I took my foot off the gas and started to slow down, when I touched my brakes however my car started pulling me slightly to the right. Normally, this would have been okay, however there was a semi pulled over on the shoulder and I was headed right for it. So in order to avoid the semi, I had to steer to the right and drive down an embankment on the side of the road. My car came to a stop about 20 or 25 feet off the highway.
I was a little shaken up, but called my step-dad right away and asked if he could come get me. He asked if I could drive my car up the embankment and I told him that even if I could, I wasn't driving anywhere after what happened. So him and my mom made the normally 1 hour journey (about 2 hours with the snow and collision) to get me. As I sat in my car I checked the news and learned that it was a 9 car pile-up in front of me and 1 person was killed. I was so very lucky to avoid the pile-up. Probably only missed it by 30 or 45 seconds. I had to laugh because as I was driving I prayed for God to keep me safe and to not let me wreck. He granted those prayers! But I should've added "and keep me on the road". :)
As I wait in my car, the police began to divert traffic off the highway behind me and through the town of Ritzville. When my parents arrived, they asked permission to pass and come get me. Thank God my step-dad has a winch on his jeep, because my car wouldn't have budged without it! We made the long and stressful drive home, and I have never been more happy to be out of the car!! I topped off the night by meeting up with one of my wish families to deliver presents. A crazy night indeed!!!
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| I remember these cars passing me shortly before the wreck (there is another car in front of the jeep). I remember thinking that they were all following WAY too closely. Not surprised they ended up this way. :( |
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| There is a car in-between the tractor and the semi on the right. I would imagine this was the fatality. So sad. |
I spent the week with my family lounging on the couch, reading, playing Words with Friends with my mom, and EATING. I also got to deliver presents to another wish kid, Quinn and his family on Christmas Eve day. He is just the sweetest little boy. 5 years old, and non-verbal, but you can tell he knows what you're saying, and he is just a complete doll!!!
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| Quinn |
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