Goodbye to a horrible '25

Been probably the most trying year of my 44 year old life. Broke my shoulder in July, was off work three months. Lost a couple friends and loved ones. Been a tough year. But 2025 still had one last surprise...

Just the other night, New Year's Eve to be exact, I was doing some short runs, so I could have Friday off and have a long weekend. The weatherman was calling for snow showers, and then possibly a heavy band of snow around 3am. No big deal right? That's what I said.

Around 930pm I left our customer to go for another load, and it was snowing very lightly. I get on the highway, roads just wet at this point. Maybe some slush here and there but nothing crazy.

About 10 miles down the road, I'm in the right lane just enjoying the night, roads were getting a little greasy at that point, when I get passed by a Toyota Tundra doing probably 85 mph. I immediately thought 'this isn't going to end well for him'. And by that, he's sideways and heading for the median. He goes in the median, up a hill and barrel rolls about four times, coming to rest in the left lane of I-81, in an area where people tend to really fly, as it's straight and flat.

So, I pull over and call the law, another truck pulls over and we go back to check on this fellow. He's sitting in his truck, on the phone with 911. We get him out and to the shoulder. Having no road flares, I set up a flashing light on the shoulder (best I could come up with) .

We're on the shoulder chatting and I see a car coming down the left lane, not slowing at all. I'm waving my flashlight at this car but to no avail. They hit the disabled Toyota pickup in the front right at about 55 mph i'd guess. Truck spins around, launches me and the Toyota driver further into the median. I flew probably 20 feet I'm guessing.

I get up, look around for the other guy and he's laying motionless. Apparently he got knocked out, but eventually regained consciousness. But he was in pretty bad shape after that. I felt ok though.

So the law and the ambulance shows up, I give my statement and leave. Go on about my night.

Two hous later, around midnight, I'm dizzy, upset stomach, and hurting . Mostly in my tailbone area. So I call it a night and go home. Pretty sure I had whiplash or a concussion, but whatever. I'm off until Monday and I'm feeling a bit better as I write this.
Oh, and my father in law also fell on ice and broke his ribs, puncturing his lung. He's currently in surgery.

Yeah 2025 was just great....

 

I try and remain positive in all situations, and look for any good to be found.

And I've learned a thing or two.

1. If you're going to stop and help someone, make sure you can do it without getting hurt in the process. Sounds silly, but I somehow needed reminding.

2. Being kind matters! While we may not have known each other, I was his only friend in that moment when he was laying on the freezing ground, covered with my coat while I'm shivering. Doesn't matter how he got there, but he was glad I was there. And I knew that.

3. Some people are just ########. In the time we were waiting for help, only two people stopped to actually help. Countless trucks passed, some without slowing at all. Couple of them slowed and asked if we needed anything, but seemed uninterested in anyone other than themselves.

4 Dash cameras are very helpful....

 

Yeah, not getting far enough away was our biggest mistake for sure. Had we done that, he would've probably been home New Years day sometime, but he's still in the hospital, according to the police. And I wouldn't be dealing with a mild concussion. But hey, we're alive yet and we'll get to fight another day.

 

I've thought of that. But I'm probably not going down that road, for two reasons. One, I'm not the type to sue someone unless I lose money because of their actions. Maybe I'm old fashioned or whatever. But they suffered enough damage after totalling their car and the injuries they sustained. That's enough of a punishment for me. And number two, I don't need their attorney finding something I did wrong without realizing it and having that held against me