Rolled my Tahoe 05/01/08

For those of you that have not already heard I rolled my Tahoe on May 1st in downtown Salt Lake City.

I had left work and was driving downtown at North and West Temple when I realized I was going to go through a red light. (Yes, the accident is my own fault! I was on my cell phone talking with my Mom when I realized what was about to happen.)

Once the car coming South bound made contact with the passanger side doors the next thing I recall is the truck tipping on the driver side and slide . . . all I could hear was what reminded me of a soda can being crushed bare handed. Just about the time I thought I was dreaming I started to open my eyes and that is about the time the truck tipped on it's top and slide somemore.

When the truck came to a stop I openned my eyes and within a few mintues I had an off duty Firefighter talking to me through the passenger side door. I know this is an an awful thing to thing of first hand after having this accident, but my first reactions was to tell the Firefighter to please call my mom. All I could image is the thoughts going through her head during, after or perhaps at the time of the accident.

Considering what I had done to myself, to the other people in the near by automoblies . . . I did not worry about myself or the injuries I could of caused myself. Maybe that is why it took me a few moments before I realized that I was bleeding so heavily from the left arm. (This photo was taken the following day, I had ten stiched in the the elbow and another 5 in a small cut just above the elbow.)

I guess I was still in a stage of shock that when I heard the firefighters who arrived within mintues of the accident tell me that they were going to have to cut me out of the truck; my first reaction was selfish! I thought to myself "No, you can't do that! I worked so hard for this truck, it's my baby!" This was my FIRST accident, what would be my FIRST ambulance ride, my FIRST trip into an emergency room and hear I am hanging up side down in my truck thinking please don't cut the truck! I am more embrassed to say is that the following moments once I realized no one was hurt including myself was that my arm was going to be ugly for Danielle's wedding in June!

I know I didn't touch on all the details, but in all fairness I have been working on putting it behind me. The first three of four days I was not able to sleep, anytime I spent alone or was unable to keep my mind of what happend sent me into uncontrolable crying. The one thing I refused to do since I had put myself into this situation was to to sit around and feel sorry for myself. I next day I put myself together with the help of Micah to brush my hair and I went to the holding lot to view the damage; that was the most difficult thing for me. Not only was this 'my baby' but I was able to look at it and say "you were able to walk away, ALIVE . . and the worst thing to happen to you was some stiches and bruises . . . be grateful you are ALIVE today!"