you never know what lifes going to hand ya.....

Dec 30, 2007

You never really know what lifes going to hand you....

On Saturday, December 15, 2007 our limo of ten passengers was returning back to Santa Cruz from a Phil Allegri Electric Company Christmas dinner at the lovely Duck Club in Monterey. We were heading northbound on Hwy 1 going to Santa Cruz... In our eyes, our limo driver suddenly pulls over minutes after a head-on collision. As we pull over I see a figure running after our limo. We slow down after realizing we're running over the bits and pieces of the vehicles that had collided.

Honestly, after waaaaaaaaaaay too much food, I really wasn't ready for this but I jumped out in my jeans, pea coat, and heels to help out the passengers of this crazy situation anyway. One of the ladies in our limo jumped out with me, stated she used to worked as a nurse in the past decided to also help. I figured, the more help the better, right? Anyway, I'll admit I was a little shocked, just from the amount of people walking around and the amount of debris scattered all over the road.... The limo driver kept walking around and asking if I was ok... All I could think was dude... I'm obviously fine just leave me alone and stop staring and standing there!!

I went to the van with the most passengers.... 8 total... all windows were broken and blood was everywhere. All passengers were spanish speaking only... (and I only know a minimal amount) everyone was moaning from pain and discomfort... the driver - completely unresponsive. Checking for a radial, brachial, and carotid pulse, I felt nothing. This man was gone.

The bloody faced passenger next to him was able to get out of the vehicle, hopping around on one leg complaining of severe pain. I told him to lay down flat on the ground and to not move. Four others stood next to him blank-faced and in complete shock, one holding his side with blood flowing out of his mouth like Niagra Falls. He stumbled up to me as I was asking the passengers questions and grabbed both my arms with his blood filled hands, pleaing for help. I told him to lean against a post and to not sit down or move. I turned around and the limo driver again, somehow appears behind me and asks if I needed water... Nice of him to ask but not exactly the best timing.... silly people.

After talking with the gentlemen standing off to the side, I went back around the vehicle to the woman behind the driver. Her name was Emilia. She kept stating how she couldn't feel her legs or feet. Her face was dripping of blood, and her eyes rolling back every few seconds. She looked at me in such pain and agony. I told her to stay awake and stay with me... In Spanish, she kept saying, 'All I want to do is go home... help me. My legs... they hurt.. they're numb..' I kept trying to reassure everyone that help was on the way.

I walked across the street to the other van with one man in it. His face dripped with blood against his steering wheel. He was unresponsive but had a pulse. Not breathing. His legs appeared to be tweaked in a position that I couldn't even fathom. His door was smashed shut along with the others, and his seat pressed him against his dash and steering wheel. I couldn't get into the vehicle and I couldn't get him out. There was nothing I could do for him at that second except keep trying to wake him up. It's a horrible feeling knowing you can't do something for someone thats suffering right in front of your eyes....

BUT, right when I started to feel slightly helpless I heard the sirens of a few CHP, 2 fire trucks and 2 ambulances. I was soooooooo relieved. I spoke with a couple CHP officers, a fireman or two (there were too many) and a Westmed EMT to give a quick story on what I saw and who needed the most care. Soon enough the jaws came out and they were quick to extricate. I asked the EMT if he needed help... he said any help will be great. I grabbed some gloves out and the gurney of their rig and started to help the man on the ground that was initially hopping around with R. Leg pain. The woman from our limo was instructed to hold C-Spine while we moved him over to a backboard. Anyway, I helped strap him to their backboard and lift him onto the gurney. We quickly wheeled him over to the ambulance, hooked him up to the monitor, got some vitals, and wiped up the mass amount of blood on him. A fireman came over and handed him a paper of his info. and then said we'd have to put another patient in the same rig. We moved him over to the seat parallel to the gurney and then took out the gurney again to get another patient... And usually, this never happens where there are two patients in a rig.

As Kristen Stayed with that patient, Emilia was already put on a backboard by the firemen. Strapped to the board with a collar and Oxygen, we wheeled her back to the rig and did the same. Monitor, vitals.... and a quick clean up. After, this the EMT introduced himself to me as ***** and said 'Thanks, you've been the most helpful. You can go, I think we have everything finally under control now. Thank you again!' I was relieved. We jumped out of the rig and walked out of the mess and back into the limo.... back to Santa Cruz...

I hope that these people are receiving the care they deserve and are able to recover successfully... I would also like to add that I am not claiming to have saved anyone.. or to be anyone's hero at all... If anything I feel like I was there for moral support for these unfortunate people to stay strong during that time. I am writing this to share my experience with other people.