This morning, I woke up just in the nick of time to take a friend to the airport. Luckily, she only lives a few blocks away, and I was actually there in time to even need to wait a few for minutes as she finished getting her things gathered. Once she came outside, I took her suitcase and loaded into my little Mazda3 while Bella was excited to see a new face. I put it in on the driver's side, then remembered that we were headed to the airport and that the best and safest way to unload at the airport is through the passenger side, as to avoid getting mauled by a taxi. I laughed when I caught my reflection in the window, as I was wearing plaid pajama bottoms, a triathlon tee, and a Team Rubicon hat. No need to get dressed for a quick trip to the airport.
We started our short drive from Culver City to LAX and I was impressed to see such little traffic southbound on the 405 at 8am. My way back northbound, however, was obviously not going to be so enjoyable, as I could see traffic barely inching along the 405 North. I nearly missed our exit for the airport, and luckily didn't have to go passed it onto the next one and back track. I took a left on La Cienega, and joined the slow moving surface street, with only a block to drive south before needing to turn on Century Blvd. A vehicle was trying to exit a parking lot while I was far down the line of vehicles stopped at a red light of La Cienega and Century. I left a gap so that she could pull forward, she waved thank you and pulled out into my lane, and inched forward to see if she could cross the next. At that moment, a motorcycle locked up it's brakes and clipped the front end of her car and the rider was launched forward into the air, and onto the ground, while his helmet went rolling to the side of the street.
I pulled forward, behind the struck car, had my passenger call 911, got out of my vehicle and approached the young man as he lay screaming in the center lane. As I walked toward him he was reaching out, screaming "Help Me!" I kneeled down next to him and let him know that my friend had called 911 and that the EMT's were on their way. I gave him my hand for him to reach out to and squeeze, he did. I did a quick assessment and it appeared that his leg was the main injury, with a possible break to the tib-fib and ankle, with a 6-8 inch laceration on his thigh. I asked him his name, and told him that help was coming. He was reaching for his leg, trying to see it, I asked him his name again and where he was headed, to take his mind off of the obvious excruciating pain he was experiencing. He started saying "Babe...call Babe." He was searching his jacket pocket for his phone, and I asked him where it was. It was located in his front jean pocket, so I got it out and he gave me the unlock code. "Call Babe." I pulled up his recent calls and nearly every single one was to "Babe" with emoticon roses on both sides of the name. I told him that he needed to not scream while he talked to her, and he took some breaths and calmed down. It didn't last long, as he broke down while trying to explain to her and screamed for her to come help him. I asked for the phone back and told her that he has indeed been in an accident, and though his leg is hurt, it appeared to be only his leg. I gave her the intersection and she said she'd be on her way.
I told the rider that I was going to put her number in my own phone, and before I could look it up, he was cognizant enough to recite both his and her numbers as I put them in my phone. From there, I just continued to ask him to stay still, and when he screamed, reminded him that he could squeeze my hand as hard as he needed to, he did. The Fire Engine showed up and the EMT/Paramedic/Firefighters unloaded and came immediately with a bright orange back board. They used their scissors to cut through his boot, which seemed amazingly effortless, and then his sock. Again, he screamed and tried to look. Once they had taken over the scene, I looked to the young man and said: "You're in good hands, I've got to go, but you're in good hands." He was so focused on the pain, and the professionals helping him, that I'm not sure he even noticed me leave.
My passenger asked if I was okay, and I said that I was fine....but that I also couldn't help but feel some guilt as I was the one who allowed the gap in traffic for the woman to pull out. She replied to me that she could think the same thing, because she is the one who asked me for a ride. Everything leads up to a certain point, and regardless if I was driving at all today or not, that woman would have still been trying to leave that parking lot, and that man would still have been riding his motorcycle. Perhaps it could have been worse, or if it were the same, maybe he would have been left screaming in the street with no one to help.
After I dropped her off alongside the airline, I grabbed the bag from my car's passenger side, still remembering that conscious choice to avoid a run in with a taxi, and told my friend to have a great trip. She gave me a big hug and told me to call if needed, as she would be waiting in the airport for at least an hour. I pulled out of the airport and after taking two wrong turns, made it back to the scene of the accident. There was only one Police Officer present, and the vehicles were moved to the side of the road. When I pulled up to the Officer, he waved me forward, but I slowed and rolled down my window: "I was the first one on the scene, and I had to take a friend to the airport, but I'm back now." He told me that they had 2 witness reports and they had all that they needed.
I called the girlfriend to ask how she was and that if she had made it to her boyfriend yet. They may be married, actually, I couldn't see a ring because he was wearing gloves. Regardless, she had made it to the accident, but he was already en route to the hospital by the time she got there. She asked me how badly he was hurt and I explained "His leg definitely appeared to be broken, and there are a few cuts as well, but he is definitely going to be OKAY." I could hear the relief in her voice, as she wasn't sure how bad that it was, as would anyone when getting a call from your loved one who is screaming "come help me." I asked which hospital that they would be taking him to, and that I may stop by if it would be okay. She said she was on her way there, and I said that I'd go home and put on some real clothes, as I was in my pajamas because I didn't expect to be getting out of the car during this trip.
Once I got home, my mom called and I wanted to tell her about this story, but it hadn't settled in my brain yet. I didn't want her to take on any unnecessary burden and worry about me and how I was doing. I then talked with her about her computer issues for nearly an hour. I sent a text to the girlfriend or wife of the rider and asked how he was doing, which brings us to the present. He has a broken leg that needs surgery, and will be under for 4 hours. I feel that it's important for anyone who is in the supportive role to remain focused and strong, so I suggested that she find something to occupy her time such as a book, and to remember to eat during that time as well. Also, I said that I can be there anytime if needed.
I keep reflecting on this situation, as it just happened a few hours ago, and have had many different emotions stirring within because of it. Circumstance, Coincidence, Fate, and Blame were things that ran through my mind. I felt that those things are so complicated, and I feel that I should process what it was that I was meant to learn by seeing this. What is that I'm supposed to "take away from this experience?" I think, that thing, may be one much more simple, and much stronger, and relevant. That thing, is Love. The Love between these two, no matter how weak or strong their relationship is, was so apparent during these circumstances. At that very moment, all he wanted in the entire world, was the Love of his life. No matter what she was doing, she dropped it to come be with him and be by his side. I feel that maybe that is a good thing for us to think about when asking ourselves who really matters in our lives. Who would you reach out for, scream for, as your life was almost taken from you and you were injured badly enough that you couldn't help yourself? Think of those people today, and hug them if you see them...call them if you can't. Tell them, that if it were you in this circumstance, that they are the first ones you would want to see, to touch, to hold, to comfort. Do this today, if you can, because they just may need to hear it from you.
-Rob K.
