Yesterday the bus ride to work included
an unplanned stop in the middle of a very busy intersection when the
bus and a Ford pickup truck wanted to be in the same place at the
same time. Yesterday it was all I could do to post the photos and I
am sure you are wondering what in the heck happened.
It goes something like this...
There were seven passengers on the
morning bus. Two of the passengers I do not see frequently but the
other folks ride the bus often and three of which work at the
university also which makes the ride to work normally filled with
light conversation about one thing or another. I normally like to
sit in the first set of lower seats on the right (passenger) side of
the bus as this allots a good view out the front windows and keeps
any motion sickness away that might, on rare occasions, make itself
known. Yesterday, luckily for all of us, Marcus had this spot so I
sat on the left side and one seat away from Jake.
At the aforementioned intersection just
as the bus started its turn to the left on the green light Marcus
stands up, grabs the support rails above me and next to where he was
sitting and yells “WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!” I look up to see the head
lights of a truck heading right for us.
The bus swerved to the left. The truck
swerved to the right and I brace myself. My left hand on Jake's
shoulder and my right hand on Marcus's back-pack as he is now
standing in the middle of the isle. I put my head down so that the
brim of my hat covers my face and close my eyes.
Ker Slam
Bang
Grind
And with a jolt we all come to a
grinding stop. A few brief seconds of personal inventory of my senses
tells me I'm okay and we all start turning to each other. You okay?
I'm okay! Are they okay?
Everyone on the bus is okay and the bus
driver opens the back door because the front door is now blocked by
the Ford truck. Then he goes out to check the folks in the truck where
we see the young man, no more than 18 years old, and the young girl
beside him nod their heads acknowledging that they too are okay.
One of the folks on the bus called 911
for emergency crews to come to our aid while we are all sitting
calmly still, a bit stunned but no one is hurt or hysterical. We are
just sitting there listening. Waiting. I am sure we were all doing
what I was doing, thinking about the last minute or so and playing it
back in our minds to be sure our brains have recorded the events
correctly.
Then... we hear... the squeal of
vehicle tires.
Screech! Bang!
What? What in the world was that?
700 yards down the road another vehicle
accident. We are sure it was someone pulling out of the coffee shop
stand gawking at the accident we just had and were in one themselves.
When the emergency vehicles showed up
with their flashing light it was as if the lights snapped me out of
my daze and I remembered that I had brought my camera to work with me
to take photos at our staff luncheon. I looked down at my lap, where
I had placed my camera bag when I got on the bus, it was still
sitting there safe and sound. I turned to Jake and said “I have my
camera I should take a few photos, its not everyday you're in a bus
accident”.
As I got my camera out of the bag and
ready to take some photos I exchanged nervous laughter with the lady
who was sitting to my right then got up to take the photos that I
posted yesterday.
Once the emergency crews and the State
Troopers assessed that everyone truly was fine, took our statements
and a second bus had arrived to take us passengers on to our
destinations, they escorted us across the street to the other bus and
away we went away. Away from the flashing lights and away from the
carnage in the middle, and I mean dab smack in the middle, of the
intersection and back on the road to work none the worse for the wear.
...
