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http://www.minibuggy.net/forum en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:10:33 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.minibuggy.net/forum/images/lustrous/misc/rss.jpg http://www.minibuggy.net/forum http://www.minibuggy.net/forum/good-stories-crash-burn/11811-not-entirely-off-road-related-but-why-im-here.html Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:34:34 GMT You ever had a bad day? this tops it. I had been working full time for one shop, and also had a shop building hot rods on my own. As with all of us,... You ever had a bad day? this tops it. I had been working full time for one shop, and also had a shop building hot rods on my own. As with all of us, at one point in time or another, I put sleep low on my list. I had worked 10hrs at my job, another 6-7 at my shop. I was supposed to work for another guy at his shop the following morning. In my infinite wisdom, I thought I'd just sleep at his shop, so I wouldn't be late in the morning...see where this is going?
I remember some of the drive, but the part that I can still hear in my head is this, gravel hitting my wheelwells. That's what woke me up. Then it was black. When I opened my eyes, I was looking at my crewcab on it's lid, on the bottom of a steep ravine. Turns out it was about 70 feet down. Apparently the road had curved and I did not. I knew where I was, so I just figured I'd get up and walk to the next offramp and get a cup of coffee, call a ride. That's when things started to get ugly!
I couldn't get up. I tried but something took all my strength. I was bleeding from my face and side of my head. I later had to explain to the doctor that I had "threw dirt" in my cuts to stop the bleeding. Not fancy, but I'd remembered my friends grandpa telling me it worked. The wreck was saturday night, I figured somebody would find me after sunup. I watched the sun both rise and set, all the while hearing traffic pass me. Nope, not going to lie, I was scared, really scared.
The sun rose yet again. I thought of my family, and mostly of my daughter. She was just over a year old at the time. I scooted army crawl fashion to my truck, tucked in the shade, and then blacked out. I had been awake for nearly 36 hrs at that time, but I think I was too tired and hurt to try much more.
The next thing I remember was footsteps, and a booming voice yelling not to move, and "We're here to help". You ever been so excited that you couldn't stay still? I road in a helicopter that day. Turns out a truck driver had met with a buddy at some docks on the other side of this quary I was in. They had taken one of the tractors out to get something to eat, and from the drivers seat they could see down to the bottom. Saw a wrecked truck, and a body. God bless truck drivers!
I spent a month in L.A.'s general hospital. Not as bad as the stories make it sound. Here's the list: 8 broken ribs, shattered shoulder blade, broken collar bone, punctured lung, my face was cut up pretty good, my right ear was half cut off, and the prize winner: 2 shattered vertebrae (4and5) in my neck. They spent 13 hours in surgery to try and fix it. All said and done, 4 surgeries on my back. I beat their odds. Severed nerves to my left arm somehow healed, after 3-4 months, and I can walk. I still have some pain, and my arm won't ever be quite the same. Not bad though, not bad at all considering.
That's why I'm here now. They said I shouldn't be riding dirtbikes, so I figure this is a compromise. I have since added 2 more kids as well. Too young for bikes, so a buggy is a good solution.
Things I've learned1) If you're tired, sleep. 2)Sometimes a grease-monkey can surprise doctors. 3) Life is fragile, so don't take anything for granted.
Be safe all of you! ]]> Good stories - Crash and Burn kevin quesenberry http://www.minibuggy.net/forum/good-stories-crash-burn/11811-not-entirely-off-road-related-but-why-im-here.html