My wife is traveling around Ontario right now attending interviews, I'm here at home in Alberta. I've spoken with her almost everyday for about the last 8 years. A few years ago when she was with her family in mexico, I think we missed a day.
She did phone today. A quick call at 1:00 (her interview was scheduled to finish today at 11 EST, she left me a voicemail saying that she was going to drive to Toronto early because they had heard of some snow that they wanted to beat).
That was the last I heard from her. I didn't really think too much of it until about 7 local time. I was watching a news station while I ate my supper, and the leading story was about a 20 car massive burning crash scene on the highway she would have been driving on.
So I call her cell phone, leave a voicemail. Call her cellphone again 15 minutes later. I read similar reports on 4 different websites about the accident scene. I use mapquest to determine the distance/timing, and as far as I can tell, if they left shortly after she left the voicemail, she would have been at the exact wrong place at the exact wrong time. This is about when my panic starts to kick in.
Still no answer on her cellphone. I phone one of her friends, trying my best to sound 'casual' to get the cell number of the girl that she is traveling with, and then phone it. Also no answer, but her voicemail box is full.
I google the hospital mentioned in the articles and phone them. No patients with the names I provided... "but there are 4 unidentified people... well 2 unidentified patients, and we know the patients are both female". I ask for more details, but the woman on the phone says 'well, I've probably already said too much." At this point, I'm having a hard time keeping my voice on track, and I try explaining myself better. She takes my number and promises to phone me if she learns anything new.
That was about 8 oclock. I realize that I'm totally freaked out. I don't know who to call or what to do. My breath is hissing through clenched teeth. I phone her cell phone another 3 or 4 times. I log onto her side of the computer, sort through her emails and find the name and number of the hotel that she is supposed to stay at tonight in Toronto. I call the hotel. And they confirm that no, she has not checked in. The hotel clerk notifies me that it is after 10 pm and that she will be charged regardless of if she uses the room. I hang up.
I watch the same news stories every fifteen minutes. I'm probably catatonic. I'm not sure how long I sat with the phone in my hand, contemplating the worst. The phone rings. Caller ID places the number in ontario, but I don't recognize it. The caller is a stern sounding man, and asks me who I am. I thought it was "the call". My voice breaks as I identify myself. He explains that he is the father of the girl my wife was driving with... and that I should give her a call at the number he provided.
Ah. Relief. I literally felt my neck and shoulders relax.
They were at the wrong place at almost the worst time. They had come across an accident, parked on the shoulder, and were rendering aid to the multiple car pileup. A few minutes later, a car spun out just before their car, and was parked there when a fuel tanker overturned, blocked the highway and ignited. Fortunately, they were at the far end of the first accident. Unfortunately, their rental car, with their purses, wallets, and cellphones, was within the burning range of the tanker. They don't know if it actually burnt up, but the fire was way too hot to approach even if they wanted to.
They had no money or ID, and I wasn't home to accept the collect call charges, then things moved pretty fast for a few hours before she was able to get in touch. She doesn't know how she will get to (or what she will wear) her interview in Toronto tomorrow, but doesn't seem terribly concerned. I'm still riding the relief feeling now, although for a while I really had no idea how I was going to manage.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/sto...h-highway.html