Bossnass

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

amonkie

So glad to hear she's ok. Yikes! You did probably everything I would have gone ... soooo glad this story has a happy ending.

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The_Jazz

Wow, a scary start to that story! I'm happy that this one turned out ok. I think that I'm going to make a better effort to keep in contact with my wife when I travel...

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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin
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abaya

Life changes fast.

Life changes in the instant.

You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends.

-Joan Didion, after witnessing her husband's sudden death


I'm glad to know she's okay. Those kinds of stories freak me out... if you had been my mother, she would have had a heart attack before finding out that I was okay in a situation like that. When she lost my father in a sudden accident, it changed her whole response to these kinds of things... she has to hear from me nearly every day, and if not, she has a panic attack. And by watching your thought process, I can understand more of why.

All those what-if's... I know I could lose my husband in a simple accident every day, if one small thing goes wrong somewhere beyond his control (e.g the truck overturning on the highway). He could lose me the same way. Things like this are what remind us to be grateful for each day that passes without tragedy... and yep, what The_Jazz said, to keep in better touch when we're away.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

Bossnass

I'm still pretty surprised at how worked up I got myself. I'm normally a pretty steady, logical, 'not jumping to conclusions' type of person.

She retrieved her voicemails this morning and then phoned me just to say hi and to appoligize for not phoning sooner yesterday. I'm guessing my messages sounded alarmed. I'm still going through the 'what-ifs'. Like if they hadn't gotten out of their car to help out at the first collision, they would have been the ones trapped under an overturned burning tanker. I think they must have been going through the same line of thought... they decided to head out to the local bar (with cash wired from her friend's parents) until they were kicked out at 3 in the morning.

zkara

I held my breath reading your story..

I am so very, very, very glad that your wife is safe.
Not knowing, and wondering about all the what-ifs could drive anyone over the edge.

Drinks are definitely called for

ngdawg

Sheesh...my heart was pounding reading because I didn't think it'd end there....
Things like this bring it all into perspective and I'm glad it turned out ok.
And a salute to your wife and friend for helping where they could. In their giving, they saved themselves as well. A rose to each.

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shesus

I can't even imagine all the crazy thoughts that were going through your mind. I'm glad that it turned out ok.
It's amazing what you will do when in a situation like that. I once was at the wrong place almost at the wrong time too. I was out of the car and helping people before it registered that running across an interstate without looking probably isn't the smartest thing to do.

Wow, what an experience...for both of you.

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Whatever did happen to your soul?
I heard you sold it

Choose Heaven for the weather and Hell for the company

ShaniFaye

I'm so glad to hear she and her friend were ok.....I was going thru my own panic attack sunday nite when trying to track Dave's flight from Korea and the only thing any of my programs would tell me was that I needed to contact the airline...normally they show if its taken off/been delayed/cancelled etc....all that kept flashing at me was CONTACT AIRLINE

/not trying to take away from your story...sorry

but I know those "thoughts" that go thru your head when you're totally out of contact

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hagatha

I actually felt chills when i saw that story on the news....what a relief your wife is okay.

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Thats the last time I trust the strangest people I ever met....H. Simpson

Bossnass

When I was initially typing it out, the title didn't include the "Relief" part. Then I realized that I didn't want to be misleading, at that the feeling of relief was the most important thing.


By all means, people could/should post similar experiences. I didn't really know what my intention of this thread was, maybe its a bit of a cathartic post. I was sitting with the computer beside me when I finally talked to her on the phone. I felt like I should tell somebody, but I didn't think that I could phone up my buddies. "Hey man, some hockey game huh? Well, anyway, I had convinced myself that the love of my life had died a terrible death, but it turns out she is alright. Yep, see you at wings tomorrow night. Later"

Pip

Aw, man. This is exactly why the first thing I do after being in an accident is calling my family. But unless it's a conditioned gut reaction like in my case, finding a phone and call home is probably not a top priority in a situation like that. I mean, shit, a burning fuel tanker! If your wife makes it to the interview after going through all that crap she truly deserves the job. She probably deserves the job anyway, what with being sensible enough to start early because of the snow and kind enough to stop and help people. I hope things go smoothly for her from now on, it can't be fun to be stranded without ID or anything there.

tinfoil

Whew, that was one hell of an accident, and I was supposed to be going through that stretch of highway as well but decided against it because of the weather.

Glad to hear your wife is OK!

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CookieCutter

that story really freaked me out. I would have gone crazy if I had been in your shoes. I'm so glad everything is all right!!!

Jinn

Just got chills reading that..

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