Lifesaving advice
from a tired driver
I repeat a one-sentence message to your readers in the hope that a few more people will be alive instead of taking a direct route to heaven. Falling asleep behind the wheel brings death to the driver and possibly to others. Judge J.D. Mondry tells of a relative of his who recently fell asleep at the wheel. Four days later his family gathered for his funeral. He said with passion: "When you nod behind the wheel, pull off the road." I now take his words very seriously.
At 2:02 p.m. May 26, about a mile west of Park Rapids on Highway 34, I began to nod, fell asleep and was awakened by the sound of my front wheels on the shoulder. Too late to return my vehicle to the road, I steered into the ditch, hit an access and soared through the air, high enough to drive into the box of a large gravel truck.
Bringing my car to a stop, I noticed four vehicles already stopped on the westbound lane with their windows open. All asked, "Are you all right?" Rolling down my window, I assured them I was. As I spoke, two EMTs were on their way through the ditch. As witnesses of the accident, they treated me as if I were injured. In four minutes, a Park Rapids ambulance arrived and I was on the way to the ER to be examined. No injuries observed.
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Staff called the towing company who took me to my car. After changing a bent wheel, I was on my way home with a new lease on life.
As one who survived "inattentiveness" and experienced such incredible compassion from EMTs, paramedics, hospital staff, a highway patrolman and towing company people, my thankfulness in being alive becomes the first new reality in my life. That gratitude soared ahead of me on the highway as I drove, into the trees and into the heavens. I am most blessed!
Please heed Judge Mondry's words and avoid an early journey to heaven.
H. Arthur Dale
Tower
