Three in the morning, “The William Tell Overture” just pounding all gauge needles pointing up, nothing in the mirrors, tires and lights look good. The only thing I’ve seen ahead within the last hundred or so miles is the occasional glare of west bound highbeams just before they are turned down. I have run this stretch of Montana I-90 so many times I could do it in my sleep but this won’t be a problem tonight, I am in my element and this is where I thrive. I was born doing this, what more could I ask for? Sure the schedule’s a little tight for this one but as long as I stay in the saddle and keep my next fuel to 15 minutes, I can run the speed limit to a legal on time delivery. Damn, I love this music, it drives me. There’s a gentle curving rise to the left with a bridge at the top coming up, I love the way this beast just lays into ‘em, I split a gear, just to make it interesting. A slight smooth pull on the wheel to the left and she……
THERE, someone waving a flashlight, pull the flashers, foot off the gas, cover the brake, what’s wrong, don’t look at them, look ahead, THERE, OH GOD DAMN… an overturned pick-up crossways on the bridge, don’t lock ‘em up, stab release, stab release, stab release, I’m not gonna get her stopped. THERE to the left, between the bridge rail and tailgate there’s a space, TAKE IT, it is gonna be tight, I know something is about to get tore up, PLEASE HELP ME, bearly inches but there IS enough space, NOOOOOOO……..
There is somebody laying in the road, DEAR SWEET LORD PLEASE NOOOOOO, I have nowhere to go, go off the bridge or run them over, hot tears, I DON”T WANT TO DIE…. It is done NOOOOO… I JUST KILLED SOMEBODY! STOP, PIECE OF SHIT STOP. I don’t want to see this, I don’t want to see this, I’ve got to, I don’t want to see this, I’ve got to go back there, I’ve got to, I’m shaking so bad that I can’t breath and I can’t see through the tears…. “HEY, YOU RAN OVER MY TOOLS!” WHAT, who who who are you you? “YOU RAN OVER MY TOOLS!” What are you talking about, I just KILLED somebody, OH GOD I JUST KILLED SOMEBODY! “No body is dead, my back hurts but nobody is dead” [I have to see, I have see for myself, I know I ran over someone, I felt it, I heard it, I know I did. Breath, Breath, Breath Walk back there and see for yourself.] It was a roll of fucking carpet pad, a fucking roll of carpet pad, it looked like a body. I was deciding between killing my self and running over a roll of fucking carpet pad………..
OK, have you called 911? “It just happened and….” Don’t worry I got it, is there anybody else in the truck? “No, just my friend up there with the flashlight trying to warn everybody” Ok, go sit down on the curb on the west side of the wreck… “I need to…” You NEED to sit down before you hurt yourself any more than you all ready are! [Get the triangles] Hello yes there has been a rollover accident on I-90, eastbound, at mile marker 278. The two people involved are out and walking around, one of them is complaining of back pain. No the vehicle is blocking both travel lanes. Alright, please tell them to hurry this can turn really bad, really fast. Thank-you. [click]
Are you alright? “Yah, I’m ok, I guess. I’m just shaken up.” Ok, we need to put these triangles down around the other side of the curve… HEY HEY HEY SLOW DOWN STOP STOOP STOOOP!!! {the young girl in the passenger seat stares wide eyed, mouth agape at me as the car slides sideways to a stop.} GET THOSE SET UP!! {As I run up to them the boy driving, maneuvers through that horrible space and speeds away.} “HEY STOP STOP HEY, OH SHIT, LOOK OUT!” {Seeing the only triangle that had yet been set up, the tour bus driver slowed down but when he saw the way was blocked he slammed on the brakes and fish tailed the behemoth to a stop thirty feet from the wreck as I jump the guardrail and ran down the berm} GET THOSE FUCKING TRIANGLES SET UP!!!
Sirens wailing and I can see lights, highway patrol, rescue and fire… “They’ll take care of traffic control.” THANK GOD. “Is there anybody still in the vehicle?” No. “Is anybody injured?” That guy there was saying his back is hurt. Ok, is there anything that you need from me? “Were you involved in the accident?” [NO, she wasn't, she was driving the big truck, we were the only ones, she came up right after it happened.] I didn’t see it, until I was right on it, I thought I… {shut up and keep it together} “Is there any damage to your vehicle?” I don’t know, I haven’t checked. “Go check it over and let me know.”………
There is no damage to my truck, {the bugs were brushed off the air dam, where I hit the…hold it together.} Is there anything more that you need from me? “No, I have your statement and info. thank-you for your help, have a safe rest of the night” You’re welcome, I am going to try… I can still smell the brakes. My leg is shaking as I let off the clutch pedal, I had to decide whether to kill myself or run over a roll of carpet pad, Pull off this exit, I can’t see through the tears and I can stop shaking. Off the road, pop the brakes. I thought I killed somebody, I had to decide between killing myself and running over somebody and I chose to run over somebody… what does that say about me? I thought I killed somebody….. I don’t want to do this shit anymore…. [shake and sob]
