Seventh Entry

I awoke at 6:30 to the blaring noise of talk radio this morning. Another day of substituting ahead. I got a call from the "substitute lady" Karen at around 6:45. My assignment was to teach 2nd grade at Madison Elementary. Pretty fun, I thought. After today, the only grade outside of High School that I had not taught would be fifth grade.

I hop in the shower and shave and do all the other necessary morning stuff. I wake up my brother, who is sick, to move his truck so I could get mine out. Done. By 7:40, I am on the road to Madison.

I head down the street to Fairway, make a left. I get to Merced, make a right. I was slowing down because there was a stopping School Bus in front of me between the RR tracks and West Ave. 140th.

SLAM!!! This idiot in a tiny Dodge Neon rear ends me. He must have been going full speed because he hit me really hard. Not realizing what was happening, I accidentally let my foot slip onto the accelerator and BAM!!! right into the rear end of the School Bus. Airbags deployed, smoke all over the place. I realized that I still had my foot on the accelerator because my engine was revving a lot. I let off, applied the brake, and turned off the car.

I, by some miracle of God and seatbelt, was fine. I did not hurt anywhere.

Immediately I looked for my Cell Phone to call 911. I couldn't find it. The truck cab was full of the airbag smoke, I couldn't breathe. I pried open the door and got out for a breath of fresh air. I somewhat surveyed the damage. I didn't really care though because I was in shock. I walked over to the Neon behind me. I heard his engine still on. I yelled at him to turn it off. He did. I could tell that the two in the Neon were OK. There outside the car walking around. I went over to the School Bus and asked the driver if she was OK. She was in shock and mumbled that she was OK. She was on her Cell Phone too.

I squeezed into my truck again and found my Cell Phone on the floor. I immediately called 911. Apparently, noone had called yet and this was a good 5 minutes after the collision. I told her the situation. She asked if everyone was OK. I said "yes, as far as I know". I went back to the School Bus and asked the driver if the kids were OK. She said that they were.

The next person I called was the School District and told them that they were going to have to find someone else to take the class. She completely understood. Karen is really nice.

Then I called my brother. It seemed like the logical thing to do at the time. He had nothing really to say about it.

The first authorities on the scene were the SLPD. They came, asked everyone if they were OK. They directed traffic. They did real good. Soon there after, the CHP got there. They asked me to move my truck into the parking lot of the building we were in front of.

It wasn't until I actually moved my truck that I noticed exactly how much damage had occured. The truck bed was buckled. The front end was all smashed. At least the engine ran and I was able to drive it into the parking lot. I called my dad on the recommendation of the SLPD. He came and said that because the truck was still running, and could basically still drive, the damage was probably mainly to the body and not to the engine or other more expensive things.

I gave my report to the CHP. I was so confused that I didn't know what to tell the nice and cheery CHP lady. And then the tow truck showed up.

I got home and immediately called the insurance. They called back with a quickness. My part is done for now.

Summary:
I am not hurt except for a little neck pain and a little sprained thumb which made itself apparent after I got home. I was worried about all the hassles involved with the insurance and tow companies, but everything has gone smoothly so far.

Praise the Lord!!!