While sitting in quarantine, it’s easy to get lost in one’s own thoughts. It’s hard to be optimistic with all the negativity constantly being injected into our heads from the news on the television, Facebook feeds, Instagram feeds etc. but have faith, stay positive and know that, This Too Shall Pass. I wanted to share a story that very few know, it’s one that replays in my head when things seem like they are getting out of control. Below are actual photos and the story that I typed up when I got back to Ramstein Air Force Base.
Life easily gives, Life easily takes away
Today December 11th, 2007, I saw life flash before my eyes. Please give everyone you love a hug and a kiss, because If I could from where I was I would.
Today at approximately 11:59am, Two semi-tractor trailer trucks collided head to head in front of me on the Autobahn in Germany, it could have been me! It was a Tuesday morning; I was driving on the Autobahn on the way back to Ramstein Air Force Base. As I was attempting to pass a white semi-tractor trailer truck, off in the horizon, I saw a blue semi-tractor trailer truck doing the same but on the opposite side of traffic. In the attempt to pass, the blue semi-tractor trailer truck lost control and jumped the median of the Autobahn. Now, the blue semi-tractor trailer truck, which was heading on the opposite side of traffic, was now heading straight for the white semi-tractor trailer truck that I was trying to pass and I. All of this took place in seconds, I reacted by slamming on the brakes, downshifting the vehicle, and pulled the emergency brake. My goal was to slow the vehicle down to a stop while attempting to maintain control. As I was starting to slow down, the white semi-tractor trailer truck to my right was braking as well. As the white semi-tractor trailer truck slowed down, in my peripheral, I see his trailer that he was hauling jack-knifed towards my vehicle. Luckily, I slowed down faster than the tractor trailer because as we were both attempting to stop his trailer jacked knifed completely on the Autobahn and missed my front bumper by inches. Now the white semi, his jack-knifed trailer, and I were just sliding on the Autobahn towards the inevitable. Everything was happening in seconds but felt like an eternity. My vehicle finally came to a stop, the next scene I witnessed was both of the semi-tractor trailer trucks colliding head-on.
I jump out of my vehicle to check on the drivers. I heard a voice coming from the cabin of the blue semi, the one that lost control. I attempted to kick in the front windshield and as I made a hole with my foot, I saw a hand come out through the windshield from within the cabin, the driver was alive. As I attempt to make the hole in the windshield larger to get the driver out, I started to smell fuel. I looked around and noticed that there was fuel everywhere on the ground. I briefly looked for the source of the leak and noticed a small fire on the rear of the white tractor-trailer. I ran back to my vehicle, threw it in reverse trying to back up the small amount vehicles that were starting to build up on the scene. As I was running back to the semi, I told one of the German local nationals that was getting out of his semi to help by grabbing a fire extinguisher. I ran back with two other local nationals to the blue semi; we were able to break apart the front windshield and pulled the driver out. As we were pulling out the driver, the other local national put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. Once the fire was out, we went to check on the driver of the white tractor-trailer. The cabin was completely crushed, could not make anything out. Another local national and I found the driver beneath the dashboard, he had no pulse. By this time, the fire department, news station helicopters, and the police were all on scene.
I went back to my vehicle, closed the door, and just sat there. All the voices, noises and sirens were silenced in my head. All I could think about was the entire event from start to finish. A lot of what if’s were running through my head. What if I didn’t downshift? What if I didn't pull the emergency brake? What if I would have lost control of my vehicle?
I was beyond blessed, the driver that lost control of his blue semi-tractor trailer truck lived, the driver of the white semi-tractor trailer truck that was trying to avoid the out of control semi truck just as much as I was, did not.
The fact was that we never know when it’s our time. I miss my family and friends and wanted nothing more than just to hear their voices.
May God Rest His Soul………
When life seems to be getting out of control, thinking leveled headed can change the course of your future. I hope that the story helps to put life in perspective, it always does when I think about it.
Head Up, Eyes Forward
