Please be careful out there... TRAGIC!! Still shook up..

[Snuggles]

So, here's my morning....
I am a drilling fluids engineer so I travel to land drilling rigs every morning here in East Texas (natural gas wells).

I'm travelling south on Hwy 79 out of Jewett, TX at approx 4:00am today when I see a truck in the ditch on opposite side of road. Headlights are still on and it looks pinned up against a tree and fence line so I pull a quick U-turn and double back to see if they need assistance.

Oh, roads are VERY wet, has been raining for a few days here...

As I pull up on the scene, im still in my truck looking around the wrecked pickup for the driver, dont see him in the cab of the truck or in immediate vicinity. Just past the truck approx 25-30 feet I see him lying on the ground next to the hwy. I immediately dial 911, have my bluetooth in my ear so Im assesing the situation while on the line with dispatch. This is a very rural area so ETA for EMS was gonna be a bit.

His breathing was EXTREMELY labored and his pulse was very weak. Massive head trauma with severe bleeding from ears and lacerations on his head and face. Within the first 45 seconds I lost a pulse and began CPR while still talking to dispatch on my bluetooth.

I stayed doing CPR for approx 8 minutes before EMS arrived but never he never regained a pulse. EMS was on the scene for maybe a minute, assisted me with CPR before a second EMT assessed the sitatuon and determined there was no hope, he had been down for too long already and the trauma was just way too extensive. I've honestly never seen that much blood in my entire life, and I'm a redneck! I hunt, do all kinds of redneck sh!t.

Not sure what caused him to leave the hwy, but after going back over to the pickup it became apparent that he was ejected THRU THE REAR PASSENGER side window. And NO, He was NOT WEARING A SEATBELT!!!!

Just needed to vent a bit, still pretty shook up about the whole thing. I understand now that there was really nothing I could have done to save him, I just did what I was trained to do. You just always have the training and always think in the back of your mind "What would I do if presented with the situation??" Well, i was finally presented with the situation, reacted, and it just SUCKS cause you just want the outcome to be different!

Be careful out there guys/ladies. Wear your damn seatbelts!! I am 100% if he had been, he would be alive right now.

[Xmicro_SS]

WOW, pretty heroic attempt on your part, you are to be commended.
The outcome is out of our control and in the hands of a higher power, but you did good, most would panic. I always wear my seatbelt..........always. And I grew up in the error of seat belts optional when cars only had lap belts mostly. How could you not put it on, sad story!

[Banshee]

Happened to me at work October 2006 after a Lions game. Had a heart attack at a light, rolled through intersection and came to rest on a light pole.

Hardest thing I ever had to do. Give CPR without a mask, middle of the day, middle of an intersection, people looking on.

It was rough...I almost threw up three times (brats and beer).

With ya brother....with ya.

[tones2SS]

WOW! That's some stuff right there. You did the right thing and did what you could do. I applaud you for doing the right thing.

[Indpowr]

Wow

[Snuggles]

Thanks for the props guys.
ya know, im younger, 27 y/o, and never thought I would ever be put into a situation like that.

Sad thing is, and what has hit me the hardest today is this is someones, son/father/husband. Just got to keep prayin.

[Sir Nuke]

you did the right thing, thats for sure, as far as seat belts go, CLICK IT!! I personally have been in two accidents, both times the fault of someone else, and both times, the investigating officers told me straight up, they were ammazed I was still alive. The first one I didn't have a scratch on me, my car had ended up going airborne and rolling, the second one, I woke up after 12 days, stayed another month in the hospital. Do yourselves and your familes a great service, use you seatbelts.

[jayson71]

Seat belts people! My wife survived a somewhat famous 2010 Camaro total as did the guy in the truck. My son and daughter both survived a 50+MPH accident in my Volvo S80 and I have been in a high speed accident in a Ford Ranger. All of us were in our seat belts and all "walked" away (wife still has a limp).

Snuggles, you did the right thing trying to help I am proud to be associated even in a slight way with honofrable people like you.

[jayzwife]

Thank you for doing the right thing, you truly are a hero in all our eyes. We are proud to know you. It stinks for the man who passed away. Hopefully this tragedy will save many lives. Seat belts everyone.

[manimsoblack]

Been in two major accidents and both times i was told by the EMts that were it not for my seat belts i'd've been a goner.

Seat Belts Save lives.

[PQ]

I hate wearing a stupid seatbelt, and hate even worse that they make it a law. But you won't catch me Ina car without it strapped on. 35 mph and one solid surface can kill you. Good thread, I missed it the first time.

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by PQ

I hate wearing a stupid seatbelt, and hate even worse that they make it a law. But you won't catch me Ina car without it strapped on. 35 mph and one solid surface can kill you. Good thread, I missed it the first time.

I know many woman who don't wear seatbelts because it will wrinkle their clothes.

Please oh please everyone use the seatbelt, make it automatic.

[LiveGr8]

You did everything you could do. It is important to take care of yourself at this point. Even trained responders around here go through post accident trauma debriefing. You may want to go to a counselor to debrief from the event.


Watch your eating, sleeping and take notice of any nightmares. It is good that you shared with the board as they guys on here are great support.

Take care of yourself

[Hicompression]

Did you smell alcohol on him?