Criminal Masterminds

Thank You Lord!!!

Ok. So I worked a lot this weekend and basically did nothing for homework (only a little bit of research). So, now to the point as to why I am posting when I have so much to do.

So I was driving from Target to NDSU. I need to take I-29. It's Sunday evening (about 9 PM or so) and it is snowing. I know the roads are icy so I'm driving carefully, not going too fast or accelerating too quickly. I was just getting off the ramp and was in the acceleration lane, which was full of snow (and ice under that snow). I knew it wasn't good to stay on the icy acceleration lane, so I was going to merge quickly, but I thought there were other cars in the lane to my left and didn't want to merge and then go really slow in front of them (because they were going really fast). I guess I accelerated too quickly on the ice before I tried to merge (onto nice road without ice). I started swerving and thought that maybe I could correct it. My truck started heading to the right and then I freaked out because I didn't want to go over the edge (I couldn't tell how steep it was and didn't want to roll my truck). My instinct was to swerve in the other direction (across oncoming traffic). Maybe not the best idea, but...it's too late now to fix it. I swerved to the left and thought I would maybe just hit the concrete divider and then stop, that way I'd be able to get going and go home, even if my truck was a little bit scraped up. Nope. That's not what happened. As I got close to the divider I heard a very loud crash and my truck had stopped. I knew I had been hit and my first thought was "frick, my first accident." Then I realized that it was not without minimal damage to my truck as I looked to my left to see what had happened and realized that there was no glass in my window and that my door was smashed in. I removed my keys and stuck my head out the window hole to make sure the other person was ok. I couldn't open my door (due to the damage) and so I yelled out "are you ok?" He was ok and I was ok, but his SUV was pretty much finished. He was really nice and didn't yell at me and called the cops. My truck had damage to the driver's door (smashed in) and not much at all to the front and nothing to the bed of the truck. I immediately thought "well at least I hadn't filled her up with gas yet."

The ND State Highway Patrol came and I got to sit in the back of a cop car for the first time. Not something I want to do ever again. It wasn't scary, just, the reasons for having to do so are not too good. He took my insurance (which was expired by 2 months, but he gave me a break) and my driver's license. The guy who hit me, Jeff, was also from MN. The cop guy commented, "so what, you to Minnesotans have to come over here to ND to mess up our roads?" They towed away our vehicles and I was told by the guy who towed my truck that it would probably be junked because it's a 1990, and to fix it would be too much money. But we'll see. I was thinking that the paint job alone would cost a lot since it's a custom color that my grandpa had made and cost $2000 to paint in the early 90's. But, if Lucy has to be wrecked, I should be able to get money for the engine (which suffered no damage as far as I know). I don't think the frame was bent, so she should have the chance to be repaired. Anyway, I called Aaron and he dropped me off at the dorm, where I called my parents and broke the news to them. They weren't "happy" but they were happy that I was ok.

So I thank God!!!! Oh my gosh!!! I am so very blessed that I didn't kill the other guy and that he didn't kill me. That it was an SUV that hit me and not a semi. That it wasn't a head-on collision, because I don't have airbags. That my parents didn't freak. That I have AAA for towing. That I do have some form of insurance (though no collision, only liability). That I was able to get a hold of someone to drive me to my dorm. That the guy, Jeff, was really nice to me. That the highway patrol guy was not mean. That I didn't roll my truck or get hit by multiple cars. That it was a Sunday night and not a weeknight. Wow, so blessed.

I'm ok, as I said. I just have a big lump on my left thigh where the window crank hit my leg and one on my left calf where something else on the door hit me. Other than a lump on my head and a back that must be out of alignment, I'm good. If any of you want any more of the story you can call me, but I think I've written quite a bit already! So...if anyone nearby wants to give me a ride home next weekend (Crystal...wink wink). Until then...goodbye!

posted by Elfie @ 12:37 PM