Almost Didn't Make it Home

Yesterday evening, I had one of those experiences that I thought I would never have. It was scary and really made me think about my life...

I left school around 6:30 p.m. There was snow coming down and my car had an inch or two on top. Being better prepared than normal, I took out a snow scraper/brush and my big, warm, black gloves. They never let me down. Soon the windows were clean and I was cold. I jumped in, turned on the news, and began home.

I left a bit late in order for the rush hour traffic to die down. I figured my timing would be good. When I got down to the end of Prescott Steet, my car slid across Goss Lane almost striking a small snowbank. I was fortunate the nearest car was a good distance off, but it made me think, "Hey, it is slippery out there."

Langen Road is a backroad, so it is not treated as well as the main road out of Lancaster. Getting onto 117 east took a little time, but everything was under control. And so it continued right straight through the 20 miles to Gardner, Massachusetts along Route 2. Then it happened...

I was in the middle of a line of 10 or 15 cars, all in the same lane packed tightly one behind the other going around 40 m.p.h. I thought it would be wise to get some separation because if anything happened, many cars would be involved. The left lane was very slushy, and the salt trucks were nowhere to be seen. So, I gently began to pass the line of vehicles at about 50 m.p.h. Now, 50 is definitely faster than one should drive under such snowy conditions, but I reasoned that it would be just a quick burst and I would be clear from the pack and slow back down.

Once on my own, I approached the hill leaving Gardner exit 22 and before Templeton exit 21. There is a closed rest area ramp there. Suddenly, I felt the back of my car slide to the left. I tried to compensate with the wheel, but the car then veered back again to the right much further. At that point, I knew I was at the mercy of the physics...

The car took a last spin out to the left. I saw the side of the road passing in front of me. I thought, "Lord, I am in Your hands..." I thought about my wife and children waiting for me at home. Then, I could see nothing but whipping snow and the sensation of traveling blindly knowing an impact was coming soon. Then, with a loud bang, I came to a jolting stop.

I don't remember if I had my seatbelt on, but I stopped facing downhill at oncoming traffic and a set of police lights. I had backed into a large snowbank on the side of the highway where the closed rest area ramp split off from Route 2. I was at a 45degree angle with the tail end of my VW Golf on the snowhill, and my front end down on the ground. (to give you an idea, the above photo shows you the angle, but it was at night and the rear of the car was higher on a snowhill.)

But, I was alive!...

(to be continued)