What a Horrid First Day

I got in a car accident today. Out of all days, it had to be on the first day of school. My mom was driving the van (a 2005 Honda Odyssey). We are driving across the road to this other road. We are stopped in the middle of the road, as there's this car in front of us waiting for this other car to go. I look out the window, and I see a Hyundai Accent hatchback, gold in color, racing towards us. It swerved to miss one car, and I was thinking, "wow, he's going pretty darn fast. He better stop soon..." It was like in slow motion. I see his car going towards us. I then see the hood. Then a loud shotgun blast sound, then the side airbags appear. I see the sky, and I can feel the van jerk to the side. My mom's whimpering, and we pull over to the right side of the road we were gonna go on.

The Hyundai Accent driver, a man with a beard and round-framed glasses with a neon shirt, had to be in his late 40s, pulls over behind us. This woman, who was driving a grey Chevy Impala, pulled over too. She tried to comfort my mom. I was scared out of my mind. It all happened so darn fast. My mom asks the woman if she can drop me off at school. They then exchange numbers, and I get in with her kids. I did have a good conversation with them. The woman/mom told me and my mom that the man who hit us was crazy. He wouldn't stop. I still remember him accelerating. He had so much room to stop, but he kept on going. He had at least 75 feet to stop. So anyways, the woman drops her kid off to school, then me. I had a good conversation with her and her kids.

After school, I learned that my mom had to go to the hospital. She's a bit bruised, but she's just fine. The worst part is, the van, it meant a lot to me. I found out that the side bar of the frame is twisted, which declares the van totaled. I almost cried. I've done so much with the van! Why did this happen to me?! Why on the first day of school? That road never caused us any trouble. We've crossed it countless times. But why didn't that driver stop? He didn't see us apparently. I don't know why... The witnesses say that the man is completely at fault. The cops say mom is at fault because there was a stop sign at the intersection. And I even looked at the van an hour ago at Canby Motors. The Hyundai came at an angle. He had to be going above 40 mph.

I'm still having flashbacks. For some reason I think it's my fault. Was it the shoes I wore, or some sort of thing God wants from me?! What have I done?! I feel so sad right now. I'll never be able to drive in the van again. But in a way, God meant this somehow. I sat in the right seat as usual. I always sit in the right seat. Never the left seat. The Hyundai impacted us from the left. Only the side curtain airbags deployed. I can still smell the fumes and smoke. I can still hear that loud crumpling noise and the popping noise. I feel so empty. Something inside me just died. That van was part of me. I've been in it since I was 2.

But, school was great today. Because of my "intense math vocabulary", my table won the competition for the team with the most geometry-related words. There were a few 10th graders in my class. I made friends with two of them. Both of them sat at my table.

But last year at the first day of school, some kid had a seizure. Now today, there's a car accident. Why oh why?

I want a break.

a reply to: lazyfortress
A 2005 Honda Odyssey is nothing to get upset about, now if it was a 1967 GTO.....

Be glad you and your Mom didn't get badly injured. Study hard.

Good lessons for your first day.

1. There are drivers like your mom who are in a place they shouldn't be ... when they shouldn't be. Almost inexcusable.
2. There are drivers like the meathead who rammed you ... people who think that's fair ... and they're not overly obligated to avoid an accident.

Now go do your homework. See you when school's out.

a reply to: lazyfortress

Sometimes life happens like that, there's no rhyme or reason. There are a lot of crazies out there! Glad you and your mom are okay. Here is the best part:

school was great today. Because of my "intense math vocabulary", my table won the competition for the team with the most geometry-related words. There were a few 10th graders in my class. I made friends with two of them. Both of them sat at my table.

It sounds like you still had a productive day and are excelling in school, and making friends. In your past threads worrying about Day 1 of 9th grade, you were worried you wouldn't make any friends. It's day 1 and you've already done this. Look at the positives and understand that life will throw you curve balls.

Welcome to the big leagues my friend, life will never stop throwing curve balls. It's best to learn from them, become stronger from them, and take care of yourself. The trauma and flashbacks will pass. none of that is your fault. Glad you had a good first day bro.

a reply to: ugmold
I am sentimental. This van isn't just any van. It is part of my childhood.

a reply to: Snarl
I have no homework.

I fear that sound. That loud crack, then the crump, and the pop of the airbags...

Don't keep obsessing about the fricking van. Your mom and you survived a bad accident. Lots to be grateful for-including a great first day at school. Look at the positives-it was just time for the van to go. A day of new beginnings-first day at school and tomorrow a new car. Take care of your mom. Tell her you love her-she needs your thoughts and comfort NOW. And do your homework.

Just thank God you and your mom are alright. I don't think God sends messages via automobile collisions. Sometimes things don't make sense because they are just random occurrences.

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Ecclesiastes 9:11

a reply to: Justso
I'm thankful that I rode in the van today, though. The accident would've been much worse if it were to have been the car. My dad says we wre gonna get rid of the van anyways. We're gonna get a BMW probably. I wish this accident would have never happened. I am sure gonna miss that van.

a reply to: Justso

glad you 2 are okay...you are having flashbacks...if this doesn't go away you might consider talking to someone..a therapist...just something to keep in mind....

No one wants an accident to happen. Just be thankful that the most important things in the incident came through safely: you and your mother! Who cares about the van? Yes, it has sentimental value, but unlike either you or your mom, it can totally be replaced. It is a thing, not a person!

Now, go tell your mom you love her and start to focus on the positives about the day ... like how good the first day of school which sounds like it went well.

Remember how worried you were about that? Now you don't have to be scared of it anymore.

originally posted by: lazyfortress
a reply to: ugmold
I am sentimental. This van isn't just any van. It is part of my childhood.

I totally understand this. I cried when I had to sell the Camry
I brought my son home from the hospital in.

I'm glad you're both ok.

Sometimes bad things happen for no reason.

I don't understand why I'm having flashbacks. I keep remembering the car approaching the door, the crack, the airbag, and the car jerking.

a reply to: KTemplar
Oh. Aww, sorry to hear that.

I guess it's pure coincidence today. I do thank the Lord for saving us from serious injury.

a reply to: lazyfortress

It is not your fault. Remember that. I know flash backs. I've experienced something like them before. I wish you the best of luck. Maybe try to find ways to distract yourself from it. It seems like that van gave you many years of fond memories.

Please don't let it take your mind off of more important things like your schoolwork. I would like you to stop blaming yourself and feeling bad about it. Those feelings will do you no good and I promise you it's not your fault.

Congratulations!

On completing the first day. And you had a major event happen in you life (the accident). I bet that drove any fear about your first day out of you (hehehe). Sorry you exchanged one fear for another! But that too is a life lesson.

Sometimes the best thing to happen is to face the fire with a hectic day. I started my first, flying solo, day of work (first job too) that way--the entire data center shutdown! How is that for a first day story share! Now, nothing really excites me much at work because it does not get much worse than that day.

Hope your ma's not hurt too bad. Hope the flashback settles back down a dull roar (it is pretty intense when adrenalin starts to flow).

a reply to: lazyfortress

At least the gym teacher didn't cram everyone into a toilet stall naked...

a reply to: lazyfortress

The only thing that is your fault...is insisting that you believe its YOUR fault. Stuff happens. Get over it...youve got to realize life happens...to all of us.

Every-day, every-place and every-where. Get rid of the guilt. Time heals all....

Well, all I can say is be thankful that you are ok, and glad that you were in the van because it is built well and did its job.

No it is not your fault in any way whatsoever.

To answer your other question of why it happened. It happened because your mom illegally pulled into an unclear intersection. The other driver shares some fault, probably inattentive driving, but your mom put her child at danger because she was in a hurry and there is no excuse for that.

Like stated before, good lessons on first day.