The sound of screeching tires, the whirlwind of spinning, and the feeling of a sudden thud changed my perspective on driving forever. On the late night of August 3, 2024, I experienced the most tragic moment of my life: a car accident. My mindset on safe driving has shifted dramatically since my accident, and it is something I hold near to my heart today.
Before my accident, I didn’t pay much attention to all of the safety rules and factors when it comes to driving. These factors are simple things to consider such as slowing down in the rain, no multitasking (yes, even eating or taking off a jacket), or maintaining enough distance from the car in front of you while driving. I broke the rule of slowing down while driving in the rain the night of my accident. At around 11:30 p.m. in the pouring rain, I was leaving a function with friends and was ready to head home and go to sleep. As I approached the highway, I paid no thought to slow down because it was raining. As I got to the passing lane at 70 mph, I eventually ended up at almost 80 mph, as all I wanted to do was get home. All of a sudden, I felt my car jerk to the right and I lost control of the wheel. My car spun in a 360, and my front end crashed into the guardrail. My back bumper piece flew off from how fast the car was spinning. In that moment, which felt like eternity to me, all I could help but think was that it was my time. My life flashed before my eyes, as there was absolutely nothing I could do, but give Jesus the wheel and pray. After hitting the guard rail, my car spun back to the middle lane of the highway facing perpendicular to the lane, not moving. My heart was beating out of its chest, as I didn’t know whether to stay in the car or run out to the side of the highway. I took a few deep breaths and then screamed for help while calling 911. While dialing 911, I hear my name being screamed. It was my friend who was just with me minutes before the incident. She ran across the highway, in the pouring rain to see if I was alive and breathing. Eventually, a police officer sees what happened and pulls over, along with another good samaritan. They move my car to the side of the highway and help me throughout the rest of the trouble I went through that night.
As traumatic as being alone while crashing was for me, I believe that there was a reason this accident happened to me. I learned many lessons that night. But most importantly, I learned to appreciate how sacred life is. At one moment, someone can be alive and well, and the other, gone in an instant. If my side window were to crash into the guard rail instead of my front bumper, I could have been severely injured or even killed. I walked out of my car without any mark or bruise. God purposely made sure that the night of my accident was not my night to leave this earth. He also sent me an angel, my friend who witnessed the accident, who stayed by my side that night, helped me take all of my belongings out of my car, and take me home. I now know how extremely important it is to slow down while driving in the rain, as it can truly save one’s life, or prohibit the trouble of losing a car. As tired as I was and ready to be home that night, I wish that I had just slowed down and taken my time driving, for my own safety.
At this time and day today, I am a strong advocate for safe driving. Anytime that I am riding along with a family member or a friend, I make sure that all of their distractions are at a minimum and that they are driving no higher than the speed limit. I’m not kidding, I will take their phone from them the entire carride to keep their eyes on the road only! I tend to remind my loved ones who are lucky enough to have a car how important safe driving is, and how lucky they are to have their own vehicle. I also remind my younger friends and younger brothers who are getting their permit/license how truly important driver education is. Keeping in mind the smallest reminders of safe driving truly saves lives and reduces the number of deaths from unsafe driving. The biggest regret that I will ever have is not practicing safe driving the night of my accident and many times before it, which cost me the loss of my car. It has been quite the challenge losing my car two weeks before starting my freshman year of college. Receiving this scholarship will be a huge blessing to me and my family because it will help provide us with a portion of money in order for me to get a new car for college. I am extremely grateful to be given this opportunity to share my story and inspire others to practice safe driving skills.