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The Scene Of An Accident

     About two month ago, sometime in the month of August 2012, I was at work and feeling ill due to fumes I was breathing in all morning from oil burning off the springs as they were going through the heat treating process. I was in the bathroom throwing up right after lunch and thought it be best if I just went home for the rest of the day. I went looking for my boss to tell him I wasn't feeling well but couldn't find him so I just left. On the way home I wasn't paying much attention while driving, until I was exiting the freeway. That's when I noticed a Motorcycle Cop sitting on his bike in the driveway, at the corner gas station. He was just sitting there on his bike, observing traffic. Then I realized, I didn't have my seat belt on. As quickly as I could I reached over my shoulder for the strap of the seat belt and threw it across my chest, pretending to have it fastened as I passed him. Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough. Evidently he saw my motions of haste and now his attention was focused on me. As I passed him he put on his helmet, started up the bike and began to follow me. I knew he was going to pull me over so I turned into the driveway of the next shopping plaza and parked in the nearest vacant parking space. Sure enough, he followed me pulling up to the right rear side of my van.
     While he parked, I pulled out my wallet to get my drivers license and proof of insurance. My drivers license was there but no certificate of auto insurance. At that moment, I remembered I had a warrant for my arrest from an unpaid fine, I got when I was unemployed for not having a current state inspection sticker. I thought "Ain't this my luck. I leave work early sick and go to jail." I didn't go to jail but that's what I was thinking was going to happen. As the officer approached my door, I rolled down the window and following normal procedure, he asked for my drivers license and proof of insurance. I told him sure, while handing him him my license. I was fumbling around looking for the proof of insurance when I heard him say, "You are supposed to have your seat belt on before you see me." I said "yes sir, i know that but I am sick and just left work, not thinking about much more than getting home to lay down. He asked me why I was ill. I looked at him with a "I'm dying and about to throw up again" kind of look and told him I had been at work vomiting and had to leave early. I think my acting was worthy of an Oscar and hoped iy was good enough for him to just let me go with a warning. He might have too, if I could find the paper proving I had insurance on my vehicle. I told him I couldn't find the proof of insurance. I thought I had a copy of the Insurance Card in my wallet but it wasn't. He asked me to stay in the vehicle and walked to his bike. I assumed he was going to call in and check for any arrest warrants on me. A few minutes went by before he returned. He handed me my drivers license and told me. Never mentioning the warrant for my arrest. He said since I didn't lie to him, and I was sick he would be easy on me. He said he was going to only write one ticket. He said I could choose which one of the two infractions he would write me up for. Either a ticket for no proof of insurance or a ticket for not wearing a safety belt. That was a no-brainer. I chose the ticket for not having proof of insurance, because I did have insurance and could get it dismissed. Not costing me anything but time. Whereas the ticket for not wearing my seat belt was going to be about $150. After he wrote it up and handed me a small high tech clipboard like device to sign, he pressed a button on the device it and the ticket fed out from a slot. Pretty cool stuff. I grabbed the ticket and he told me I had 30 days to go to court. I told him thanks, buckled up for safety and went on home, thankful I didn't go to jail.
 
     The matter was taken care of at the court house within the alotted time, and all was well. Except, I still forget to wear my seat belt. Oh yeah, and when I went to the courthouse to get the ticket dismissed the clerk reminded me about the warrant and told me how much that would cost.
     Believe me, that wasn't the first time I was pulled over for not wearing a seat belt. It probably wont be the last either. You see when I learned to drive wearing a seat belt in a motor vehicle wasn't mandatory and a law. Some vehicles weren't equipped with seat belts back then. So, I never got in the habit of putting on a seat belt and fastening it before starting a vehicle. 
     Now jump forward a couple months to Friday October 26 2012.  The date of my automobile accident. A cold front had come through the night before and with it came overcast skies and cool temperatures. It wasn't supposed to get any higher than 60 degrees that day. I had forgotten to pick up my phone off the bed before I left for work but didn't realize it until I was commuting to my job. I thought about turning around and going back for it but then I would be late for work so I decided to go home at lunch time to get the phone. It was a windy, cool morning with 20 MPH winds from the north at about  11:30am. I was exiting the freeway. This time paying attention. Low and behold, up ahead was the same Motorcycle Cop. Except this time he already had someone pulled over. 
     He was facing away from me so he couldn't see that I wasn't wearing my seat belt. I still put it over my chest real quick like and pulled into the gas station to get some fuel and a drink. Afterwards, I got in my vehicle and immediately fastened my seat belt. I was planning on driving by the Cop to wave at him so he could see I had my seat belt on. But, he was gone and out of sight. Oh well... 
     I heading west toward home and got in the lane cut into the boulevard to make a left turn. There was a van stopped opposite me facing east waiting to make a turn to the north on Legends Road. I hate that my full view is obstructed by that van. I didn't see any other traffic coming so I eased on out to cross  Mayfield Road and get onto the apartment complex driveway opposite Legends Road. I never made it. As I turned and drove about halfway into the inside lane, just past the other van, I saw a little car, to my right, coming at me fast. I could see a passenger covering their head with their arms. I slammed on my breaks and braced myself for the impact. Preparing for the little car to hit me. I like to think if I was driving that little car I could have swerved and avoided a crash. But he didn't swerve enough to avoid me. The little car hit me in the front. Near the front passenger side. I bounced forward and then back. Then up against the door. The whole van tilted. Although I remained conscious, I wasn't sure if This was my last few minutes on earth. I unbuckled my seat belt, limped out of my van in a daze, with my chest, wrist, knee and foot hurting. I saw a woman who appeared to be in the same condition that I was in. Stumbling around, saying her chest hurt and she was having trouble breathing. I looked in the vehicle that hit me but didn't see anyone. Then I saw a man, who appeared to be the driver of the little car that hit me. He was frantically talking to someone. Demanding for an ambulance to get there quickly. I looked around some more and saw a school bus. It was parked on the other side of the driveway I was turning into. I assumed the driver of the bus was a witness. Later on I found out the school bus was also involved in the accident. Evidently after the driver of the little car that hit me, lost control of his vehicle and hit the bus in the middle of the drivers side. Barely putting a dent in it. I looked at my van. It looked bad but still was drivable. Except the drivers side front tire was flat. The guys little car appeared to be totaled. Two ambulances a firetruck and four Arlington Police vehicles came to the scene within five minutes. They took the woman to the hospital. I think the man rode with her in the ambulance. I didn't notice him gone until later. A paramedic asked me if  wanted to go to the hospital. I told them I thought I was OK and refused medical treatment. Then a good looking female police officer questioned me about what happened. She asked me for my drivers license and proof of insurance. She questioned me some more, about personal information and then asked me if I was wearing my seat belt. I told her of course I was wearing it. I looked for my proof of insurance but was in such a daze forgot I put it in the little compartment below the ashtray. When I told her I couldn't find it, she turned into the wicked cop of the west with no compassion. Unable to understand why I didn't have proof of insurance. I asked her if I could go to my apartment and get it. I pointed to the building and told her I live right there. She agreed and told me to hurry. 
     As I limped away I thought to myself “Hurry my ass. I'm hurting bad. I will go as fast as I can.” Which wasn't anything close to a hurry up pace. I got to the 
apartment but still couldn't find proof of insurance. So, I got on the internet and looked in my email for the insurance policy information. I wrote the policy and phone number of the insurance company on a piece of paper. I grabbed my phone and on the way back, to the accident scene, I called my boss to tell him I couldn't make it back to work. He acted like he didn't believe me. 
     I handed the insurance information to the officer. She said "What's this?" in a snobby tone of voice. I told her its my insurance policy number and the insurance company phone number, so she can call to verify I have insurance. She asked who my insurance company is. I told her Elephant. She repeated it back, “Elephant Insurance?” with an unknown tone of voice. I said yes, Elephant Auto Insurance. She made a comment about being to busy to verify insurance of accident victims. She said she is going to tow my vehicle. She handed me the piece of paper with the numbers on it. I begged her not to call for a tow truck. She ignored me as I told her I'll call my insurance company. So, I called as she went to question the bus driver. I got my insurance company on the phone pretty quick and saw the police supervisor at the scene. I asked him if he would please verify my insurance so the female officer wouldn't tow my van. 
     Thankfully he did. While he was busy doing that, I needed to change the flat tire. So I went to get the jack and spare tire. I tried  to jack up the van but I was hurting too much and couldn't do it. I asked the police supervisor to help me jack it up. He said he 
shouldn't because he can't be responsible if something goes wrong. I told him I understood. Then begged him to help me. Telling him I was hurting too much to do it. He didn't want to help me and commented. "Do you need an ambulance?" I told him no, what I need is help jacking up my vehicle. I told him I would be there for a long time if somebody didn't help me. He reluctantly helped me jack it up. I got the spare tire on as a tow truck driver was hooking up the little car. I saw my front grill under the little cars' tire. I grabbed it along with other large plastic parts and my hubcap. Then threw them in the back of the van. I drove off and parked at my apartment wondering if I was dying. I got out and took some photos of the van with my phone so I could send one to my boss. As I took the photos I thought...
Now my van looks more like a Popeye than a Casper.
     Maybe I’ll change the name. My chest was hurting bad. I thought maybe it was from hitting the steering wheel. Then I realized it was from wearing the seat belt. I think that fastened seat belt saved me from slamming my head into the windshield. As I was limping towards the apartment, I recalled a jingle from a TV commercial

     So, now my dilemma is undecided as of yet. Mainly because of the repair expenses coming out of my pocket since I was at fault and only had liability insurance coverage. Do I try to sell it or fix it. I wonder if I could sell it and get enough for a down payment on another vehicle. GRRRRR! I hate driving. I know a guy who owns a body shop. Maybe I can work out something with him. I sure love Ol’ Casper. I mean Popeye. I hate to give it up. I’ll bet it will cost a lot to fix.
This was a spontaneous adventure I wish had not of happened. What if I didn't stop and get gas and fastened up my seat belt? The timing would've been off and... who knows? Although I am grateful for the Motorcycle Cop being there and glad I had my safety belt fastened when it mattered the most. This is one spontaneous adventure I wish would've had different results.
For now... I’ll just think about it and drive it as is. Trying to remember to Buckle Up For Safety, Buckle Up!

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