The Crash

I had begun driving early in high school --- actually got my learner's permit at age 14. I didn't have to drive to school; it was only a block away. So I used my car to run errands for my mother (she owned and operated two restaurants) and haul my friends around.

I distinctly remember driving five different cars during high school and college, but my favorite was a '56 Ford sedan. I don't remember the models of any of my cars and have carried that stupidity through to my current life --- although I think I'm now driving a Ford Ranger XLT pickup.

Florida was famous for sudden thunderstorms with a significant downpour. I had taken it upon myself to transport other kids my age to and from the Youth For Christ Saturday night rallies, as well as to other Christian functions. David B. was my regular co-pilot. One Saturday night following a rally, I was in the process of taking a bunch home. David was in the front seat with me. There was a cute, young girl between us (she had just “gone forward and accepted Christ” at that evening's program). In the back seat were David's younger brother and the son of one of my Mom's waitresses.

I will already confess at this point that my car had faulty windshield wipers. Actually, they didn't work at all. I was pretty irresponsible, and my mother didn't get around to fixing them (my Dad was overseas --- again). We were driving in downtown Orlando after dark. It began to rain hard. I recall turning left at a traffic light, having seen no other traffic. Suddenly, out of nowhere, my car was slammed on the passenger side by a city bus. The bus seemed to continue hitting us, maybe two or three times, until the car was lodged against a telephone pole.

I will also confess that we weren't wearing seat belts, even though two were installed in the front seat. Seat belts were just starting to be installed in cars then; they weren't required by law, and nobody was using them. Still, it was noted in the police report that we had been sitting on them.

The car was resting against the telephone pole at the rear passenger door on the driver's side, and the bus had backed up a few feet. I was able to get out of the driver's side and began quickly assessing the situation. David's passenger window was shattered, and there was blood on his face. The girl next to him was crying, and her foot seemed to be jammed into the floorboard. David's brother was upside down in the back seat, and the boy next to him was relatively unharmed.

The rain had stopped, but the engine started smoking. Fearing that the car would catch fire, I frantically tried to get my passengers out. Both passenger-side doors were jammed, the left rear door was against the pole, and the girl couldn't move to get out of the driver's door. I recall getting very frustrated that a crowd that had gathered would not give assistance. They kept telling me to wait for the ambulance. I was frantically pulling on David's door, but to no avail.

All were transported to the hospital. I was also told to go in order to be checked out. I don't even remember who drove me. Three were admitted. David, with a broken collar bone, our female passenger, with a broken foot, and David's little brother, with a busted knee-cap. The other boy was released with minor scratches, and I was released after a lot of window glass was removed from my hands.

Life was a blur for several weeks.