My weekend was very relaxing and uneventful, so there really isn’t much to write about…however, for the first time in a long time, I got to witness a wreck on the interstate on Saturday. I did stop to assist…and here is the report I submitted to our REACT Board of Directors.
At 11:45 am, I was northbound, in the right-hand lane on I-44, approaching the SW. 44th exit, when I saw a vehicle do a complete spin around about 4 cars ahead of me. After the car spun around, it slammed hood first into the concrete wall in the left-hand lane. The vehicles behind me were hitting there brakes and swerving, trying to miss all the stopped traffic. I almost got rear-ended twice and almost got side swiped.
I headed towards the shoulder to keep from getting hit and then turned on all my emergency lights, stuck my hand out the window to stop traffic and then drove over to the wrecked car. I grabbed my cell phone and ran over to the wrecked car. The elderly lady didn't appear to have any injuries, but she was pretty well shook up. I stepped back to my truck, got my reflective vest and called OHP while directing traffic. I advised the OHP dispatcher that I was a member of Central Oklahoma REACT and gave her my location and requested OHP, EMSA and fire. I explained to her I was directing traffic and checking on the victim.
To my surprise, I looked over to the right shoulder and saw another damaged car. I had not realized there were two cars involved. I stopped traffic once again and went to check on that driver. She was a young lady and she was crying, but no apparent injuries. I advised both ladies to stay in their vehicles in case they were injured and didn't know it. I went back across the interstate and directed traffic. EMSA arrived at 11:55 am. I filled them in on the accident victims and proceeded to direct traffic again.
At around 12:00 pm, and OHP trooper arrived on the scene and pulled in behind me. I walked over to his car and was about to give him the details of the accident and let him know who I was, when he told me to leave. Once again I tried to tell him about the accident and he told me to get in my truck and leave.
I had promised the younger lady that I would check on her again, but while I was in my truck getting things arranged in my front seat, the trooper once again approached me and told me to leave immediately. He stepped out on the interstate and stopped traffic so I could leave. I left the scene at 12:10 pm.
After I assisted in the accident, I headed over to around SE.29 & Bryant. That was the location where the funeral was being held for the three children that perished in a fire a couple of weeks ago in Del City. Rumors spread quickly that a group from a church in another state would be protesting at the funeral. This is the same group that protests at the funerals for service men and women that are killed in combat. They are not welcome anywhere they go. We were concerned they would be at this funeral to demonstrate, so several members of my REACT team members arrived to be on standby in case the group showed up. We had already informed Del City police we would be there to assist them in any way.
Fortunately, the group did not show up, so everything went very well. Our team did not actually attend the funeral, but we stayed outside in standby mode in case we were needed. After the funeral, they had the graveside service, which was next door to the funeral home…so no procession was needed. When they headed to the graveside service, the REACT team left.
Today is a busy day, but all of our personnel are actually here. Our mid-shift dispatcher is leaving at 4 pm, so I volunteered to stay until 8 pm tonight.
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