The day had started much like any other. My daughter was sitting in her high chair eating cheerios while she watched Sesame Street. My cell phone rang. I smiled as I noticed my husband’s name in the caller ID. That in itself was odd. I thought he would be delivering his load this morning and wondered why he would be calling me at that hour. I answered bracing myself for a long tirade of complaints about how many trucks were ahead of him, how long he might have to wait, and how slow they were.
Even though the caller ID said it was my husband, the voice that greeted me was unfamiliar. I was confused. Who was this?? How did they get my husband’s phone? In an instant terror filled my heart as the voice explained he was with the state police and there had been an accident. My husband was going to be OK, but he had been transported by ambulance to the local hospital. My mind shut down. How could this be happening?? My husband should be at his destination delivering his load!
According to the officer, he never made it. He had been traveling down a two lane road early that morning. The air was thick with early morning fog. All of a sudden he came upon a slow moving pickup truck with utility trailer traveling ahead of him with no lights on. With oncoming traffic, there was no where for my husband’s semi truck and trailer to go. None of the options were pretty. The first choice to continue and ram the pickup truck and trailer from behind was unthinkable. The second choice to veer around to the left and hit the oncoming car head on wasn’t an option either. He did all he could do. He sacrificed himself and took the ditch. The truck flew off the road, lost control, and rolled finally coming to a stop.
I asked directions to the hospital which happened to be over 3 hours away from home. By the time I hung up, I was beside myself. I did the only thing I could think to do. Crying, I called my Dad. I had to get to my husband! I had to get to that hospital! Within the hour my daughter was strapped into her car seat and we were on our way. Tension hung in the car. While in route my cell phone rang again. This time it was my husband. He was at the hospital and reassured me that although he was banged up, shook up, and sore he was essentially OK. I had never been more relieved to hear his voice.
Hours later we left the hospital and took my husband back to the scene of the accident to retrieve his personal items from the cab of the truck. I was horrified to find the twisted wreckage we discovered and was thankful that my husband had been able to walk away. Being a trucker’s wife, you always live in fear of getting a phone call like that. I come from a family where many of the men have driven truck. When I was about 3 years old my uncle was killed in his semi truck and that day the family lost a husband, a brother, an uncle, a son, and a friend. I can’t imagine getting a call and being told that my husband had been killed. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. They are unexpected, terrifying, and often lethal.
For those that choose to become an over the road driver it is always a possibility. For the family that is left at home it is a reality that one prays will never come to pass. It was hard to watch my husband go back to work after the accident. Still, away he went. Ever since thataccident I will always have a gnawing fear in my gut that he may not return. All one can do is put him in G0d’s hands, let him go, and hope for the best until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
Jennifer, this happened about 8-9 years ago. Most of the time I don't worry much anymore and the fear has eased over the years. I just put it into G0d's hands which is the only thing you can do. I always pray he is brought safely home to me, and so far he has been. For that, I am truly thankful. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!
Holy moly...what was he hauling? My Dad, his brother and all of his brothers-in-law were truckers. All of my male cousins on Dad's side were truckers too. When I was in school, two of Dad's coworkers were killed in trucking accidents. I went to school with their kids and I cried, both for them and with my fears. When I was really small, my Dad's truck slid off an ice covered bridge in NY. I knew Daddy's truck went into the river, but he was okay and that's all a little girl needs to know. Well...I was in my 30's when I found a newspaper clipping in my Grandmother's belongs with the story and a photo. OMG! It was shocking and the fact that my Dad got out alive is nothing short of a miracle. The truck was completely upside down in the river. My Dad must have had to open a window (cranks back in 50's, thank God) and then swam out of that icy river. There were HUGE chunks of ice floating in the river!!! Well, Dad lived to be 75 and my hair greyed early... I completely understand the fears...
How horrifying for you. I am so glad he wasn't more seriously injured and that you have never gotten "that" call. I have often wondered and am now going to ask, why do you always type GOd in that particular way? I am sure there is a reason and can't figure it out.
Darlene, if I remember right he was hauling a load of doors at the time. It is amazing what a body can go through and survive! Thank you for stopping by and for your stories and kind comments!
Jo, you and me both!! I hope to never get "that" call. My mom got a pretty scary call once from a hospital across the country saying my Dad had suffered a massive heart attack and he was in surgery. It took us something like 16 hours to drive there scared senseless whether he had come out OK or not. Very scary stuff. He had the heart attack at a truck stop and walked inside to get some medicine from the store when he collapsed. The reason why I type G0d that particular way. A long while back someone in the know about how Google crawls told me that certain words like that should be modified or Google would pigeon hole my site as strictly religious which it is not. Although I have a pretty deep faith, my site is more fun instead of hard core religious. So, that is why I do it. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!
Oh, Kathy, that was an amazing story and it proved that your husband is a "real" driver when he chose to hit the ditch. So very glad that he made it out OK. As you know, my husband was also an overtheroad truck driver for over nine years. He had a few minor problems like a blown tire and breakdowns. The calls home would be prefaced with his words, "I'm all right, but I'm stuck alongside the road."
There was also a period of nearly seven years when he was a distributor for a cookie bakery that had him driving to grocery stores to put his product on their shelves. That meant several hours of driving between stores on these West Virginia roads. And, they really are hilly, curvy and many are so narrow that he had to pull in his side mirrors. I worried a lot (in the back of my mind) because he was driving with very little protection against what your husband experienced in this story. I felt that the underground coalminers had more protection than he did on those horrible roads. And sometimes he had to leave before daybreak or didn't get home until after dark in the winter months.
But, as you said so clearly, we have to leave it in G0d's hands. Again, Kathy, this is quite an interesting post to me. Do keep writing.
Betty, I am so pleased you enjoyed my story. I was so glad my Dad was still here at the time because we had to drive through Chicago to get to him. I let him do the driving since he was an ole pro. My nerves were shot. My husband has driven truck most of our marriage, so I should be used to it by now. :D Thanks for stopping by to read and comment!
Being a dispatcher--I've had many of these kinds of calls come in. Many from the state police trying to identify the drivers who had died or were severely injured in the wrecks. I hate those calls. I knew these drivers personally, spoke to them daily, they become like family. I won't share those stories with you, because as a truckers wife--you do NOT need to hear them. I don't dispatch drivers anymore--but got a courtesy call right before Thanksgiving one of my former female drivers died in Iowa...she and I spoke daily for two years. I was heartbroke.
My Uncles and my Grandfather were truck drivers. They have all been in their share of accidents when the "state troopers" called the house. Thankfully, none of them were hurt too badly. The one uncle rolled a mobile home trailer (Wide Load) with a NY Trooper and his wife escorting (front and back) because his dispatcher told him "he wasn't allowed to stop rolling during daylight hour and they had a deadline to meet" even though my Uncle and the Trooper warned of dangerous crosswinds between the mountains. A few hours later--my Uncle barely scathed out of the truck with a few broken ribs, a broken jaw, and broken arm. The only thing that saved his life is that he was short, just 5'3" and he somehow was squished in 16 cubed inches of airspace. Just two inches taller and he would not have survived.
So happy your husband made it out just fine. Equipment and cargo can be replaced. Drivers can not! Drive Safe and say you love him often. Cheers, Jenn
Jenn, I was awful glad he was OK. My dad went through his whole career and never had an accident. My husband has just had that one. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your contribution to the conversation!
I can't imagine how scary that phone call was for you. I am so glad that he has been protected on the road and you and your family were blessed to have him be ok.
I'm so glad that he's okay! It's very hard to live with that kind of fear. Hopefully, it will ease as time goes by.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, this happened about 8-9 years ago. Most of the time I don't worry much anymore and the fear has eased over the years. I just put it into G0d's hands which is the only thing you can do. I always pray he is brought safely home to me, and so far he has been. For that, I am truly thankful. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!
ReplyDeleteHoly moly...what was he hauling? My Dad, his brother and all of his brothers-in-law were truckers. All of my male cousins on Dad's side were truckers too. When I was in school, two of Dad's coworkers were killed in trucking accidents. I went to school with their kids and I cried, both for them and with my fears. When I was really small, my Dad's truck slid off an ice covered bridge in NY. I knew Daddy's truck went into the river, but he was okay and that's all a little girl needs to know. Well...I was in my 30's when I found a newspaper clipping in my Grandmother's belongs with the story and a photo. OMG! It was shocking and the fact that my Dad got out alive is nothing short of a miracle. The truck was completely upside down in the river. My Dad must have had to open a window (cranks back in 50's, thank God) and then swam out of that icy river. There were HUGE chunks of ice floating in the river!!! Well, Dad lived to be 75 and my hair greyed early... I completely understand the fears...
ReplyDeleteHow horrifying for you. I am so glad he wasn't more seriously injured and that you have never gotten "that" call.
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered and am now going to ask, why do you always type GOd in that particular way? I am sure there is a reason and can't figure it out.
♥
Darlene, if I remember right he was hauling a load of doors at the time. It is amazing what a body can go through and survive! Thank you for stopping by and for your stories and kind comments!
ReplyDeleteJo, you and me both!! I hope to never get "that" call. My mom got a pretty scary call once from a hospital across the country saying my Dad had suffered a massive heart attack and he was in surgery. It took us something like 16 hours to drive there scared senseless whether he had come out OK or not. Very scary stuff. He had the heart attack at a truck stop and walked inside to get some medicine from the store when he collapsed. The reason why I type G0d that particular way. A long while back someone in the know about how Google crawls told me that certain words like that should be modified or Google would pigeon hole my site as strictly religious which it is not. Although I have a pretty deep faith, my site is more fun instead of hard core religious. So, that is why I do it. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!
ReplyDeleteOh, Kathy, that was an amazing story and it proved that your husband is a "real" driver when he chose to hit the ditch. So very glad that he made it out OK. As you know, my husband was also an overtheroad truck driver for over nine years. He had a few minor problems like a blown tire and breakdowns. The calls home would be prefaced with his words, "I'm all right, but I'm stuck alongside the road."
ReplyDeleteThere was also a period of nearly seven years when he was a distributor for a cookie bakery that had him driving to grocery stores to put his product on their shelves. That meant several hours of driving between stores on these West Virginia roads. And, they really are hilly, curvy and many are so narrow that he had to pull in his side mirrors. I worried a lot (in the back of my mind) because he was driving with very little protection against what your husband experienced in this story. I felt that the underground coalminers had more protection than he did on those horrible roads. And sometimes he had to leave before daybreak or didn't get home until after dark in the winter months.
But, as you said so clearly, we have to leave it in G0d's hands. Again, Kathy, this is quite an interesting post to me. Do keep writing.
Betty, I am so pleased you enjoyed my story. I was so glad my Dad was still here at the time because we had to drive through Chicago to get to him. I let him do the driving since he was an ole pro. My nerves were shot. My husband has driven truck most of our marriage, so I should be used to it by now. :D Thanks for stopping by to read and comment!
ReplyDeleteBeing a dispatcher--I've had many of these kinds of calls come in. Many from the state police trying to identify the drivers who had died or were severely injured in the wrecks. I hate those calls. I knew these drivers personally, spoke to them daily, they become like family. I won't share those stories with you, because as a truckers wife--you do NOT need to hear them. I don't dispatch drivers anymore--but got a courtesy call right before Thanksgiving one of my former female drivers died in Iowa...she and I spoke daily for two years. I was heartbroke.
ReplyDeleteMy Uncles and my Grandfather were truck drivers. They have all been in their share of accidents when the "state troopers" called the house. Thankfully, none of them were hurt too badly. The one uncle rolled a mobile home trailer (Wide Load) with a NY Trooper and his wife escorting (front and back) because his dispatcher told him "he wasn't allowed to stop rolling during daylight hour and they had a deadline to meet" even though my Uncle and the Trooper warned of dangerous crosswinds between the mountains. A few hours later--my Uncle barely scathed out of the truck with a few broken ribs, a broken jaw, and broken arm. The only thing that saved his life is that he was short, just 5'3" and he somehow was squished in 16 cubed inches of airspace. Just two inches taller and he would not have survived.
So happy your husband made it out just fine. Equipment and cargo can be replaced. Drivers can not! Drive Safe and say you love him often. Cheers, Jenn
Jenn, I was awful glad he was OK. My dad went through his whole career and never had an accident. My husband has just had that one. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your contribution to the conversation!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how scary that phone call was for you. I am so glad that he has been protected on the road and you and your family were blessed to have him be ok.
ReplyDeleteLaura, it was pretty scary. The worst part was it took so long to get to him. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!
ReplyDeleteFor every day, every person, every occupation, we just never know... That is why it is so important to love each other when we have the chance.
ReplyDeleteKaren E, how right you are! Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!
ReplyDelete