In the first
tenth of a second: The front
bumper and grill collapse.
In the second tenth
of a second: The hood crumbles,
rising and striking the
windshield as the spinning rear wheels lift from the ground. Simultaneously,
fenders begin wrapping themselves around the solid object and,
although the
car's frame has been halted, the rest of the car is still going
55 miles per
hour. Instinct causes the driver to stiffen his legs against the
crash.
In the third
tenth of a second: The drivers
legs snap at the knees. The
steering wheel starts to disintegrate and the steering column
aims for the
drivers chest.
In the fourth
tenth of a second: Two feet
of the front end of the car are
wrecked, the rear end of the car is still moving 35 miles per
hour and the
driver is still moving at 55 miles per hour.
In the fifth
tenth of a second: The driver
is impaled on the steering column
and blood rushes to his ruptured lungs.
In the sixth
tenth of a second: The impact
has built up to the extent that the
emblem on the bottom of the drivers shoe is now permanently embossed
on the
brake pedal before the pedal shears off and the shoes are ripped
from his feet.
The car frame buckles in the middle and the drivers head plunges
through
the windshield. The rear wheels, still spinning, fall back to
the pavement.
In the seventh
tenth of a second: Door hinges
rip loose, the doors fly open,
and the rear seat breaks free, striking the driver from behind.
In the eighth
tenth of a second: The inertia
is spent and objects settle back
into the drivers compartment, the drivers head is decapitated
as he reenters
through the broken windshield. He won't know it, because he died
one tenth of a
second ago.
As the pager tones sounded for that dreaded call,
The adrenaline pumped, the fear wound up in a ball.
"Two car MVA with injuries" the dispatcher confessed,
My fears grew worse as I got dressed.
At the station, everyone came,
Firefighters, EMTs, off-duty policemen who were the same.
They all knew it would be bad,
We all prayed that for some family, tonight would not turn sad.
At the scene, steam hissed, people bawled,
We counted five people in all.
Two adults and two kids in one car, one drunk in the other,
Killed on impact were a father and a mother.
We told the chief to come and see,
The police were needed, so was the M.E.
We covered the first two so the kids couldn't see,
Their parents had ceased to be.
The drunk driver had a mere scratch,
The other injuries would be no match.
A boy and a girl, who were both wearing seatbelts,
All we could see were just some welts.
Unannounced to us, because that was all we could see,
Both kids had closed head injuries.
Pulses dropped, blood pressures went sky high,
We knew what that meant, but we weren't about to let them die.
We left the scene, racing down the road,
Lights and sirens, that was our code.
We got to the hospital not a moment too soon,
As we leapt from the rig, we saw the full moon.
We got back to our senses, rushed the kids inside,
Time was of the essence, since two had already died.
The police arrived at the hospital you know,
The drunk driver between them, his head hung low.
The kids went from the ER to the O.R. in no time flat,
The police said the mother was Veronica, the father was Matt.
Paperwork was finished, the rig equipment cleaned,
We hung around for awhile, but hours it seemed.
We waited and waited for news from nurse Able,
Our hopes were soon dashed, both kids died on the table.
When we got to the firehouse, everyone was still there,
They were just talking, saving us a chair.
We all talked, some of us cried,
Over the fact that one was alive and a family had died.
The funerals were held sometime later, we were asked to attend,
We all went, it helped us to mend.
Family was there, friends were too,
They all thanked us, for it was the best that we could do.
…….Author unknown
I went to a party,
Mom, I remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mom, so I drank soda instead.
I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would.
I didn't drink and drive, Mom, even though the others said I should.
I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right.
Now the party is finally
ending, Mom, as everyone is driving out of sight.
As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece.
Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet.
I started to drive
away, Mom, but as I pulled out into the road,
The other car didn't see me, Mom, and hit me like a load.
As I lay there on the pavement, Mom, I hear the policeman say,
The other guy is drunk, Mom, and now I'm the one who will pay.
I'm lying here dying,
Mom. I wish you'd get here soon.
How could this happen to me, Mom? My life just burst like a balloon.
There is blood all around me, Mom, and most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say,
Mom, I'll die in a short time.
I just wanted to tell you, Mom, I swear I didn't drink.
It was the others, Mom. The others didn't think.
He was probably at
the same party as I.
The only difference is, he drank and I will die.
Why do people drink, Mom? It can ruin your whole life.
I'm feeling sharp pains
now. Pains just like a knife.
The guy who hit me is walking, Mom, and I don't think it's fair.
I'm lying here dying and all he can do is stare.
Tell my brother not
to cry, Mom. Tell Daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven, Mom, put "Daddy's Girl" on
my grave
Someone should have told him, Mom, not to drink and drive.
If only they had told
him, Mom, I would still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, Mom. I'm becoming very scared.
Please don't cry for me, Mom. When I needed you, you were always
there.
I have one last question,
Mom, before I say good bye.
I didn't drink and drive, so why am I the one to die?
Buckle Up, It
Saves Lives !!!
Drinking and driving causes needless deaths!!!