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4,332 Posts
I haven't, but I almost had to tonight. That split-second when you decide if you're going to go in there or not is a real strange thing.
My son and I were driving to a youth meeting tonight on dark, foggy roads. We came upon a few stopped cars. It was so foggy we couldn't tell what going on. We decided to go around only to find a semi stopped lengthwise across the highway. There was a pickup smashed under the semi trailer, which appeared to be a tanker of some kind. The pickup's engine compartment was on fire, directly under the belly of the tanker. I asked a guy if there was anyone in the truck and he said "yep, she's still in there."
Oh crap! I ran around the tanker to find an off-duty officer and a bystander pulling her out of the burning truck. She was in obvious pain but was able to tell us that there wasn't anyone else in there. The driver of the semi was able to tell us the tanker was full of milk products. Double Whew!!!
I've been working as an orthopedic surgeon in trauma centers for a while now, and it takes quite a bit to give me pause. I've seen my share of horrible stuff. This experience was different though - more intense, and a bit surreal, like something out of a movie set. I have a new level of respect for the guys who do that sort of thing as part of their everyday job. Those two unquestionably saved that woman's life. Literally, within a few seconds the cab was engulfed in flames. By the time the fire dept got there there was nothing left of the cab but bare metal.
As soon as I figure out how to suck the photos out of my cell phone, I'll post one here.
BTW, everyone involved should be just fine.
Hug your loved ones. You never know......
My son and I were driving to a youth meeting tonight on dark, foggy roads. We came upon a few stopped cars. It was so foggy we couldn't tell what going on. We decided to go around only to find a semi stopped lengthwise across the highway. There was a pickup smashed under the semi trailer, which appeared to be a tanker of some kind. The pickup's engine compartment was on fire, directly under the belly of the tanker. I asked a guy if there was anyone in the truck and he said "yep, she's still in there."
Oh crap! I ran around the tanker to find an off-duty officer and a bystander pulling her out of the burning truck. She was in obvious pain but was able to tell us that there wasn't anyone else in there. The driver of the semi was able to tell us the tanker was full of milk products. Double Whew!!!
I've been working as an orthopedic surgeon in trauma centers for a while now, and it takes quite a bit to give me pause. I've seen my share of horrible stuff. This experience was different though - more intense, and a bit surreal, like something out of a movie set. I have a new level of respect for the guys who do that sort of thing as part of their everyday job. Those two unquestionably saved that woman's life. Literally, within a few seconds the cab was engulfed in flames. By the time the fire dept got there there was nothing left of the cab but bare metal.
As soon as I figure out how to suck the photos out of my cell phone, I'll post one here.
BTW, everyone involved should be just fine.
Hug your loved ones. You never know......