Irony of the Incident

Have you ever been in a bad car accident? Surprisingly, my recent experience is a testament to how irony can play out in the most unexpected ways. On a back road in Tennessee while driving my 2015 GMC Acadia Denali AWD, I was doing 74 mph, exactly one mile under the posted speed limit, when a driver-side rear tire blew out. According to the computer information downloaded by the police during their investigation, that moment of irony placed me in the middle of a right-hand curve in the road.

The Impact and Aftermath

When the tire failed, it set off a chain of events that could have been much worse. I hit the ditch, and my truck tumbled and flipped nearly 200 feet. Fortunately, all airbags deployed except for the one on the driver's side. I remember hitting the steering wheel in the initial impact but suffering no severe injuries. Beyond that, I have no recollection of the accident at all.

As paramedics arrived, they found me slumped over the steering wheel with no pulse. I was declared dead and my wife was rushed to the scene. However, as they extracted me from the truck, reality hit me. I asked, 'What the hell happened?' and tried to get out but was trapped. I remember being knocked out for approximately 20 to 30 minutes, but no one knows exactly how long I was without a pulse. The officer did not check right away because my body may have been in a state of shutdown due to the extreme trauma experienced.

Doctors at the hospital performed a full body CT scan. As mentioned, my right hip was in significant pain, which coincided with the location where my sidearm was placed against my body. The belt tensioner, explosive-driven like airbags, jammed the firearm into my right hip, causing a minor chip in the bone. Apart from bruises, scrapes, and the minor hip injury, I had no serious physical injuries.

Survival and Reflection

My guardian angels were there, ensuring that I survived the incident. GMC SUVs have been praised for their safety features. They play a crucial role in saving lives in such situations. Reflecting on this incident, it is clear that even minor infractions can lead to life-threatening situations. My survival was a result of several factors, including the deployment of airbags and the potential duration of unconsciousness where my brain was unaffected by oxygen deprivation.

Key Takeaways

This experience taught me a valuable lesson in prioritizing safety and being vigilant on the road. Drivers should always follow speed limits, maintain vehicle maintenance, and be aware of their surroundings. Additionally, I am grateful for the advanced safety features in modern vehicles, such as airbags and emergency response systems, which significantly increase the chances of survival in a car accident.