Have you faced certain death? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 08-26-2011, 09:17 AM

B's thread about soldiers and soldiering got me to thinking about facing certain death if you make the wrong move and I thought of a time when I did (sort of).

When I first came to Lafayette there were two sets of train tracks running right through the downtown. Lafayette is old enough that when it was building up having a train track right through the downtown was sortof a status symbol of how progressive the town was. One used to run right by the largest Hotel in town (come to think of it it may have been the largest in the state at the time) and stopped right outside. I believe Lincoln actually may have stayed there once or at least stopped and made a speech.

The other set of tracks ran along the edge of the raised ridge of land which I refer to as the "ancient river bed" which was carved out when the massive glacier from the ice age melted. On this second track there was a place where Main street crossed. There was (and is) a two story residential structure which was built right up against the ROW which limited visibility with regard to the track.

One evening after having a couple of beers with some friends I was headed home in my '62 mb 190c and came to this railroad crossing. As I approached it the red lights came on and the arm came down blocking one side. Since there were often trains which moved very slowly and blocked the tracks for extended periods I decided to creep up on the side of the one way street which was not blocked by the arm for a look to see how far the train was away. As I did so the view was blocked by the house until I was in a position that if a train was to come by I would be collected by it. At that point I saw the train. It appeared from behind the house not creeping along but moving at a good clip, maybe 30 mph and only about 50 feet away.

My heart leaped into my throat!

The only possible way to avoid it was to put the car in reverse and back up. I managed to do so without missing a gear or killing the engine and missed the train by inches. Any hesitation or the wrong movement on my part would have likely resulted in death by freight train.

Well, that is not combat but probably the closest to death I have been which required the correct action on my part to survive.

Anybody have other stories to share?

spdrun · #2 08-26-2011, 10:06 AM

If it was "certain" death, I don't think anyone would be sharing!

chasinthesun · #3 08-26-2011, 10:49 AM

Padre Island ,as a 12 yr old fearless kid , I ventured out 4 sand hills into the open water ,an undertow took me out even further without warning.Your adrenaline is a powerful friend.I now enjoy every sandwich.

t walgamuth · #4 08-26-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

If it was "certain" death, I don't think anyone would be sharing!

".....I did (sort of)".

It was certain but not unavoidable.

mgburg · #5 08-26-2011, 12:30 PM

When I came to, following my head-on crash in January of '83, I remember the first thing I felt was a cool breeze on my face and yet, I had a "warm, glowing sensation" all around me...and the smell of anti-freeze.

I didn't open my eyes, but yet, at the same time, I didn't really feel like I needed to.

Then...I heard some people, to the left of me, walking through what sounded like gravel. They were talking, but I couldn't make out what they were saying...so I called out "Hey! What's going on? Where am I?"

Then next thing I heard was this male voice going "OMG! He's alive!"

Then all hell broke loose...

They managed to pull the door open and I felt my left arm drop out and down.

I then said to whomever was there "Be careful of my right leg...my knee "pops out" and I can't tell you if it's out right now or not."

Well, they managed to get a back-board behind me (I was still in the driver's seat) and they eventually got me into the ambulance.

But the part that didn't make sense to me, at the time, was the statement "OMG! He's alive!" But, as I pieced together the events as I remember being told them was this...

The folks that were on the scene right after the accident had determined that I HAD to be dead because of the way my face was tore up. (No details for the weak-of-heart...

) And...since the other car had a "small fire" going on, they decided to take care of that first...and they also had to extricate him...his legs were trapped under his dash...and they could only get him out of the car through the rear hatch...so he was the center of everyones' attention.

I was not the center of attention until I spoke up...and by the time-line that I was told...it was well over 30 minutes that I must have been out.

What's odd about it all...I must have been breathing VERY SHALLOW...'cause I apparently wasn't making enough of any kind of sign of breathing in the cool January air that morning...

Needless to say...I'm feeling much better now...

Aquaticedge · #6 08-26-2011, 12:37 PM

Does a story of a seat belt life save count?

pj67coll · #7 08-26-2011, 01:10 PM

Nope.

- Peter.

Stretch · #8 08-26-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Nope.

- Peter.

Why shouldn't a seat belt incident count?

They say there are 100 ways to leave your lover - perhaps the same is true about death?

pj67coll · #9 08-26-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

Why shouldn't a seat belt incident count?

They say there are 100 ways to leave your lover - perhaps the same is true about death?

Sorry, I meant nope in relation to the OP.

- Peter.

Stretch · #10 08-26-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Sorry, I meant nope in relation to the OP.

- Peter.

Oh fair enough - it is nice to have had an exciting life but not too an exciting one!

sfloriII · #11 08-26-2011, 02:00 PM

1986: I was riding my motorcycle on the capital beltway on a cold December morning during rush hour in heavy rain. I was on the way to the car dealership to pay them the $50 I owed them after they determined my '83 Ford Escort was dead due to a timing belt breaking....
The beltway has several bridges with metal seams running through the middle of the lane. I was behind a UPS double trailer and getting a lot of rain thrown into my face, so I decided to speed up a bit and get in front of it.

Just as I was alongside the cab of the UPS truck, my front tire got wedged between the two metal seams and skidded out from under me. I only remember thinking, "Oh God, I'm actually wiping out!!" I went down on my left knee, shattering my fibula and tearing the tendon. I then did a series of summer salts. Next, I was on my butt sliding like the old Levi pants commercials and noticing the UPS truck's wheels wizzing by me about 3 feet away! The driver of the truck had seen me go down in front of him and quickly moved out of the way, but broadsided a cement mixer to his right. If he hadn't been paying attention, I would have been flattened under his wheels.

I landed okay and began to access my condition when I noticed that I was still in the middle of the right hand lane. I had started in the third lane over and had traveled across two lanes in front of the UPS truck.

I quickly slid over to the emergency lane and waited for emergency personnel. Long story short: I was in the hospital for a week and had to have two pins in my knee for six weeks. It was four months before I stopped limping and I have a ten inch scar for life. Luckily it hasn't kept me from doing what I love best: ride my bicycle.

I haven't been on a motorcycle since....

Stretch · #12 08-26-2011, 02:08 PM

I've got a not really at all dangerous one but the motorcycle one (post 11) reminded me of a bicycle incident. Some dopey bint pulled out in front of me when I was on a round about (strange English custom) and my only reaction was to brake into a sliding skid and flip the ***** my middle finger - I guess if I go out in a ball of flames I'll giving someone the bird...

...point being you never know how you'll react in a "dangerous" situation until you are there.

MS Fowler · #13 08-26-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfloriII

1986: I was riding my motorcycle on the capital beltway on a cold December morning during rush hour in heavy rain. I was on the way to the car dealership to pay them the $50 I owed them after they determined my '83 Ford Escort was dead due to a timing belt breaking....
The beltway has several bridges with metal seams running through the middle of the lane. I was behind a UPS double trailer and getting a lot of rain thrown into my face, so I decided to speed up a bit and get in front of it.

Just as I was alongside the cab of the UPS truck, my front tire got wedged between the two metal seams and skidded out from under me. I only remember thinking, "Oh God, I'm actually wiping out!!" I went down on my left knee, shattering my fibula and tearing the tendon. I then did a series of summer salts. Next, I was on my butt sliding like the old Levi pants commercials and noticing the UPS truck's wheels wizzing by me about 3 feet away! The driver of the truck had seen me go down in front of him and quickly moved out of the way, but broadsided a cement mixer to his right. If he hadn't been paying attention, I would have been flattened under his wheels.

I landed okay and began to access my condition when I noticed that I was still in the middle of the right hand lane. I had started in the third lane over and had traveled across two lanes in front of the UPS truck.

I quickly slid over to the emergency lane and waited for emergency personnel. Long story short: I was in the hospital for a week and had to have two pins in my knee for six weeks. It was four months before I stopped limping and I have a ten inch scar for life. Luckily it hasn't kept me from doing what I love best: ride my bicycle.

I haven't been on a motorcycle since....

I have to wonder if the "lesson" is one of " perseverance in spite of setbacks", or "quit now before you die".