General

[HyePower]

I was going to get something to eat at the local mall. It was dark out, about 6:30 PM. I was at an intersection. it's a T intersection, I was behind a red light. This area has lots of joggers since the intersection is next to a lake. The light turned green, so the car in front of me went into the intersection, and I followed. The car on the right side of the intersection ran a red light, hitting a jogger on the crosswalk, sending him flying about 10 feet. I heard the loud "THUD" and saw what happened. Then I saw something leaking out the back of the pick-up. I thought it was gasoline, but it was just paint. The guy that got hit went into shock as soon as he hit the ground, and was violently shaking on the ground. I pulled up and immediately ran to help him, as did a few other people. I called 911, paramedics came in about 5 minutes. The fire station is only about 3 blocks away, lucky for us.

The guy who got hit, a 19 year old, was bleeding out of his head right in front of me, but he could talk, as we were talking to him to keep him calm and make sure he doesn't fall asleep in case of a concussion. His ankle was completely twisted 180 degrees, and his knee twisted with it.

The paramedics (God bless you guys) did a great job. They arrived quickly, and left quickly, and didn't waste any time.

As for the driver, I left before I saw what happened to him, but I would imagine he was taken to the police station. He didnt really show any emotion, just stood there, looked at his dented bumper, and fixed his crooked headlight. He was an old Asian man, and hardly spoke any English. They had to bring an officer who spoke his language to find out his side of the story.

It was one of the most traumatizing things I've ever seen in my life. I really felt bad for the parents of the guy. They were sitting at home, and didn't know that their son is in a lot of pain. I can't imagine the things they went through when they found out.

What really pissed me off is that there were other cars behind us that didn't stop. It really disgusts me how people see a man get hit by a car, and is having a seizure on the ground, and they just drive on by. The funny thing is, I was the only man that came out to help him. The rest were women, about 3 of them.

Needless to say, I lost my appetite and went home.

[Stuffy]

Oh Wow. I'd probably be a bit rattled from that too. I feel bad for the kids parents...

[heinous]

That's strange. When I flip head first over my bike in a busy street in Los Angeles, in broad daylight, because my front wheel hit the curb, the only people who came to my aid were guys. I remember one girl was actually on the phone and gave me a dirty look as she walked by, still on the phone. Then just walked off without even changing her path. That made me feel like I'm somehow a bad person for falling.... So hats off to you sir, and those women there, for helping him out.

Driver probably thought crossing that light was the worst decision he ever made and the severity was just starting to sink in. I've seen that look on kids before, and on my own. There's no facial expression: the mind has not even begun to realize whether the "really deep crap" feeling is itself overreacting or is actual deep doo-doo. They know they did something bad but they still have trouble believing how bad it really is, so they do something else with their minds to keep the mind off the matter. In this case he was fixing his car.

I can say from experience doing something, thinking it's just slightly bad and then have it snowball into a catastrophe in front of your very eyes is a very scary sight to behold, but I'm sure the poor kid is having a worse day. I'm glad someone went to his rescue. There definitely needs to have more people who will come to someone's aid.

And that's why I don't bike anymore, and only run in public parks.

[mtaylor]

I've seen 5 or 6 car accidents in person. The first one, a 12 year old kid got hit by a jeep. It was one of the more frightening moments of my life. (And fairly random. My martial arts intructor, who I hadn't seen in a year due to him going to japan just happened to be walking down the street... With a sword on his back.). The kid was fine. It's scary though, he was just waiting for a bus and got hit.

[Deus Machina]

Stuff like that is shocking. Most of us see it a time or two in our life. Good for you for handling it very well.

The case I dealt with, I was adrenaline-fueled and analytical during the act, and a couple hours later I just felt exhausted and lied down and cried. Perhaps you're stronger than I.

I want to extend my thanks again, and I think everyone should, to the paramedics.

It's hard to see things like that, that remind us how short life is and how unexpectedly it might end. You'll get over this in a few days, but you'll never be the same.

[EDDAKA]

Originally Posted by heinous

That's strange. When I flip head first over my bike in a busy street in Los Angeles, in broad daylight, because my front wheel hit the curb, the only people who came to my aid were guys.

I had a simlar accident(near L.A.; Santa Barbara.) where i did a flip on a curb and broke my arm so it was pratically sticking out. People were everywhere, nobody cared. Cept this mexican who came up and pointed to my tire to mentioning it was flat and kindly walked away.

Only then did i go into shock and start screaming Everybody walked by even then and i thought i was some silly teenager.

[Moosepatrol]

Where my parents uased to live was out in the country on a flat stretch of highway. We had a motorcyclist hit another car head on and get flipped into a guard rail by our house. His bike was right in the middle of the southbound lanes. I remember so well the cars having to pull onto the gravel shoulder to go around his bike. I was only fourteen when this happened, I was the first person to get to this guy and had no idea what to do. I covered the guy with my jacket, told my sister to call 911 and stayed with him until the paramedics arrived. I thought I had done very well, it isn't until later everyting comes crashing in. I cried for hours straight that night, nightmares for weeks seeing all the blood and broken bones.

[hockeytown]

I have never seen anyone get hit by a car, but I have been hit by one.

It broke my tibia and fibula. I had a compound fracture and destroyed the windshield with my face.

The most traumatizing thing I have ever dealt with.

Hyepower, you are a great man.

[chopper duke]

I've seen more than my fair share of accidents and I've seen a few people actually hit by cars.

In 2000, I was leaving a buddy of mine's house and was stopped at an intersection waiting to turn left. There were cars coming both ways so I just sat there. Next thing I know, a guy riding a bike with his wife on the handlebars rides his bike right into the front of my car, rolls up onto the hood and then off into the street, where he lay screaming.

After three police cars and two ambulances, I learned this was not the first time this guy had tried that. The police who responded knew the guy (never a good thing) and this was his thing. Trying to get money from accidents that he was at fault for.

Not trying to say this guy was faking, just an ammusing little story.

[Jaan]

Did you give your name as a witness to the police?

It sucks, but this guy is probably going to get raped by the insurance company. insurance companies are some of the biggest scumbags on the face of the planet.