The accident
Today is the best sunshine day in Seattle since my arrival. The sun was bright, the delicate cool breeze kept the temperature cosy. The month is April, spring is here! Tulips appear, redeeming it!
The day is Saturday, the weekend begins, errands originate. Family time begins.
Jafar, my elder son was driving the car and I sat next to him on the front seat. Serena my grand daughter and her friend were in the rear seats. They were to be dropped off in front of a Mall. We were moving on the Highway which was clogged with weekend goers vehicles!
The traffic ahead was moving in hiccups! Speeding up when they had movement space and crawling slowly when the distance reduced between the cars.
As our vehicle slowed down, the knockout punch to the car’s rear jerked me from my seat and my cap flew from my head. I plunged forward, the seat belt held me from banging my head on the dashboard. I looked at Jafar, he looked stunned and gradually massaged his head and neck. He was Ok and so were Serena and her friend in the rear seat who fell forward and regained with jerks and pain to their necks.
The vehicle that hit our car from behind was a fairly large pick up truck. The damage to our car is fairly immense. The rear window and the bumper and the side bodies, all shattered and broken.
While the pick truck’s major damage was to its bumper which hit the car.
Sharing the videos showing these.
Our Car
The cars left the accident site to avoid the busy traffic and moved to an exit location from where Jafar called 911 on his mobile; a while later the police man arrived and after examining the vehicles, interrogating the drivers, obtaining the particulars of the vehicle and photographing the incident, he made the police report and handed over its copies to both the owners of the vehicles.
Analysis
This was my first experience of sitting in a car and experiencing the shock and shudder in the car, hit by another vehicle from the rear, in USA.
The aftermath of the accident resonated in me a few thoughts which I wish to put across:
1. All (including the rear seat occupants) were wearing seat belts. No one was injured though shocked and stunned.
2. All the passengers kept their cool in spite of their traumatic experience.
3. Jafar met the offending driver, immediately after his pick up had rammed Jafar’s car and spoke to him politely. The driver mentioned that he had turned back to look at his dog who was sitting on the rear seat and before he could turn, the pick up truck had hit the car. Jafar accepted his excuse.
4. Other cars on the highway did not stop to enquire, they carried on, bypassing these two vehicles. There was no inquisitive crowd!
5. Moving the cars to the exit location was appreciated by the policeman as remaining on the highway was dangerous for everyone.
6. The speed and ease with which the policeman examined and prepared the accident report in a very short period, is indeed commendable.
7. No incrimination or bad mouthing by anyone. The owners of the vehicles shook hands and left.
For those who are residents of USA, my narration would be stating the routine and normal actions that take place in such circumstances. If so it is laudable, however, my experience in my country of birth has been very different. I do not wish to elaborate on this, as most who have lived and living there, are fully aware and well versed.
Normally whenever I travel, I recite duas in the car; I missed it this Saturday !
Shukran Allah!
Impressions, Perceptions and Views. 