Thoughts On A Fiery Wreck

Yesterday’s fiery wreck on I-85 has been haunting me all day today. I don’t know why it affected me so much. And its not like we witnessed the wreck or anything. But it hit close to home, regardless.

Three generations of family died after their stopped Jeep Cherokee was rear-ended on the merge lane of I-85: Joyce Holt, 66, her daughter Patricia Allen of Wake Forest, and Allen’s four-month-old son, Ricky. Frantic passers-by were unable to rescue them from their burning vehicle. No one knows why they stopped in the merge lane. It was a fatal mistake.

We usually drive through Creedmoor on our way back from Kelly’s parents’ house in Virginia, though we never take the I-85 exit. While we took a different route back this time, it was possible that we could have been driving right by that spot at the time of the wreck.

So I’m both happy and sad I took that route. I’m happy we got home safely and swiftly, but I’m sad I wasn’t around to potentially save those people. Crazy, isn’t it? First responders feel gut-wrenching grief when a person dies in front of them, and I’m feeling grief for not being anywhere near them. I just feel for what they and their would-be rescuers went through.

So from now on, I’ll drive a little more carefully. I’ll make sure that every day, my wife and kids will know I love them. And if I ever get a chance to help someone in need, I’ll be ready.