A Hard Truth Realized

So, I'm sitting at a rest area in Delaware shutting down for the night when I get a phone call saying my son has been in a wreck, condition unknown and he is in the ambulance heading to the hospital (Tennessee). I get on the phone and call everyone I know to get some info, but all they could tell me was basically the same. I am doing all I can to keep myself together and start rolling through options on how to get home. A few hours later I get a call from my oldest son saying (my second oldest was in the wreck) he is hurt pretty bad but is talking and alert.

He was in the back seat of a car that pulled out onto the highway and got broadsided on his side. He has a few broken bones, needed a lot of stitches for a big gash in his head and, of course, is real sore.

The two girls in the front were not seriously injured but the boy in the car that hit them broke his femur.

I left out this morning still a bit worried until he called to let me know he was going to be okay.

I don't think I can explain how helpless I felt. What a reality check.

That's horrible! Man, thank God he's going to be ok. That must have been one heck of a hard hit. Wow.

RT, so glad to hear your son was not more seriously injured. I will keep all of you in my prayers for a full and speedy recovery.

I would be lying if I said something like this is not my worst nightmare out on the road. I thank God that your son is ok RT! Prayers for a speedy recovery

My prayers are with you RT, and your family. I hope your son makes a speedy recovery, nothing worse than watching your child suffer, I have a handicapped daughter and know what its like first hand. Always remember to not be afraid to ask for help if you need it or an open ear to talk to.

RT, wish your son a speedy recovery!!

Thank you all. I am back home now and will see him in a bit. His spirit is high and his sense of humor is back. Could be the pain meds...

I do thank god that no one lost their lives. He is pretty sensitive and that would have hurt him more than anything.

RT, so glad to hear that he is going to be ok. Hope the same goes for the other kids.

In this instance, what can a driver do to get home? You are under load and most likely out of hours, at least for the day. I imagine you call your DM as soon as you can but what options are out there if you need to get home?

RT, so glad to hear that he is going to be ok. Hope the same goes for the other kids.

In this instance, what can a driver do to get home? You are under load and most likely out of hours, at least for the day. I imagine you call your DM as soon as you can but what options are out there if you need to get home?

Good question. I was supposed to pick up by 3pm local time but, the consignee in Baltimore kept me until then so I didn't get to the shipper until after 4. i was told I would have to come back in the morning. I got the call around 6. I actually did not call my FM because I didn't know the severity of his injuries and once I was told he was going to be okay I just kept to the plan. I had to be here (Tennessee) this morning anyways for my divorce hearing so my FM already had me set up to arrive at my domicile last night. Pretty lucky I guess.

I ran on line 5 (off duty driving) back to the shipper (it was legal because I went there first then to the rest area) and did not start my clock until I was ready to leave in order to conserve hours. It was a hazmat load that I was taking to our Knoxville yard and dropping so I ran it completely legal to that point. My get home load was already ready so I went to the shipper, did a drop and hook then hauled butt to Clarksville (home). I was about 1.5 hours short on time but did not stop (not recommended) which could have gotten me bit if I was inspected. Of course,, I knew there were no weigh stations along the way.

I do know, however, that my FM would have done anything to get me home if the scenario was different, loads be damned.

OK, kinda messed up the quote thingy there, anyway...

...thanks for the reply RT. I understand your plan there and you know, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. I have come to understand the importance of a good relationship with your DM/FM/Dispatcher (or whatever they may go by) besides being a good person in general.

Can we explore this a little further; either drivers wishing to relate actual accounts or those wishing to chime in on "what they would do"?

How about if things hadn't worked out where you were able to get turned around...what things might you try to make it home as soon as you could?

One of the things I enjoy most about this site is learning from the real life experiences of those out there doing it every day.