Last week I wrote about my 16 year old son being in an automobile accident. “The Call” came from the Payson Regional Medical Center, where James and one of his friends were transported.
Thankfully, James and his friends that were riding with him were all OK. They were banged up, cut up and bruised, but we were all thankful it wasn’t worse.
James is, understandably, a little leery of driving. But he’s gotten behind the wheel, and is “getting back on that horse that threw him’.
The car finally made it back to Phoenix today, and Francy and I went to see it for the first time.
The photos don’t really capture extent of the damage, or the emotions that run through your head knowing your 16 year old son was behind the wheel. Seeing the car for the first time actually freaked me out worse than The Call. If the main point of impact had been 12 inches further down the car and hit the drivers door, I suspect we’d have had a far far different outcome.
It’s a testament to seat belts, and the crash-worthiness of the Infiniti.
And some samples…
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WOW! Thank god everyone is ok. By the look of it that was a real close call. I can imagine he’s pretty shaken up.
Scary! I am so glad James and his friends are well after that. I can see why he is intimidated. It’s not bad to have some fear.
Yikes! That does look bad. I’m glad to hear all is well – I didn’t know you had a 16 year old son – does he go to GHS?
Dear Jay & Francy,
Someone is looking out for your family. I know you count your blessings, the fact no one was seriously hurt must put this near the top of your blessings list. As a parent I know how distraughtful this accident must be and can empathize with what you must deal with emotionally. I know it sounds strange but if your son can forgive the other driver the emotional damage can be minimized.
Our hearts go out to you and your family. God bless you, Raymond.
Those are incredible photos. I am so happy that your son and his friends were okay. A lot of folks forget that modern auto engineering is even more about safety than it is about speed and power. Thank God your son and his friends were able to benefit from it.
Those photos are incredibly frightening. You are all very lucky! I am so happy to hear that he is ok. I am sure he will be leery for a long time, but that is not necessarily a bad thing!
Jay & Francy:
As parents our worse nightmare would be to receive the “call” and I am sorry this has happened to you both. I am catch up here on the latest with your son’s accident and it just gives me goosebumps and a sick feeling deep in my stomach. I am so grateful to hear things have turned out for the boys in the end. Wow– this would just tear me up to see this ‘piece of metal’… definitely someone was watching out for those boys that day.
I totally understand the reluctance of your son, I think we all would feel a little gun shy, I know I have and still ’til this day struggle from a past accident. I hope your guy knows the chances of having this happen again in his lifetime are pretty slim. May you be blessed and perhaps may we learn something greater from such occurrences in our lives.
God Bless my friends!
Jay & Francy – Everyone parents worst nightmare – just thinking about that call makes me cringe and cry. However – James is fine & so are his friends and that’s what is most important. I’ll echo what has already been said – Someone was definitely looking out for young James. Thankfully, the car took the brunt of the injuries & can easily be replaced.
On the lighter side – Is this the same son and car that you helped with the gas run a few weeks back? Seems like maybe he needs a brand new 2008 for back to school?! He’s sure to be the envy of everyone in his class (and can do more errands for Thompsons’ Realty, too
)
Maybe he should give the pix to his high school principal to show the “perils of driving”. This obviously was not James’ fault of driving, but just as shock value! It creates more emotion when the kids know each other. Just a thought.:)
Jay I can tell you exactly what the outcome could have looked like if the impact was back about 12-18 inches as a very good friend had it happen to them. Lets just say your son is very lucky the impact was at that point.
Those pictures really bring back some memories that scared the crap out of me and it was only a friend. Can’t imagine what it would be like if it was my daughter…and really don’t want to.
Glad that everyone is doing well.
So happy to hear everything is well for James amd his friends. This pcture is horrific and I’m sure seeing it in person made it difficult to comprehend the “what if’s”? I went through this exact scenario when my daughter was 16. She was driving on a permit with her dad, brother and sister and turned left in front of someone. The police department called my home phone and left a message. They did tell me my family was okay, but the fear is undescribable and the blessings counted that my family was safe.
Best to you and your family!
Jay and Francy,
A picture is worth a thousand words . . . and a ton of gratitude that everyone is okay. I can’t look at your pictures without feeling like I want to hug my kids one more time as every day is a gift.
Glad everyone is okay!
Thank god he and his friends are all okay!!! They are so very lucky!
Its great to hear he and his friend are ok. Thankfully cars are built very well today to protect drivers. It looks as though the air bag deployed. Did you ask your son how effective the airbag was?
Jay,
I could deal with the first photo and was thankful for all, but when I saw the second photo, all I could was OMG! Holy crap and thank goodness they all are well. Sorry for cursing on your blog, but Geez Louise!!!!
OMG! I would have totally had a laundry problem after seeing the car! I hope y’all bought some lottery tickets, because you sure are lucky he survived!
God bless your son and I truly hope that he get’s better. Here’s a toast to the Infinity that potentially saved his life, and a hope for a safer future!
Thanks for all the comments and kind words folks.
It was a single-car accident, so no others (except a large and very sturdy pine tree) were harmed.
As for the air bags, hard to know if they helped, but they certainly didn’t hurt (aside from the burns from them on James’ forearms). But far better to have minor burns than a steering wheel to the face/chest.
We consider ourselves very, very lucky.
And we consider the safety and design engineers at Infiniti our new best friends.
thank goodness your son and his friends are ok, looking at those pictures, you’d think that the person behind the wheels could be in real trouble…
Jay – Thank God no one died or was seriously injured! I hope your son (and you) are not too scared to let him get behind the wheel again. I know I’d be scared, but there is a lot of truth in the adage about getting back in the saddle as soon as possible after falling from the horse.
First of all, Thank God he survived it. Secondly, Oh – My – God!? What did they hit? Or what hit them? I mean that’s one nasty blow!! Your son is lucky to have survived that but seriously, you gota tell us, how did that happen?
Yikes! I just the read the whole story! I didn’t see the link pointing to http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/one-phone-call-a-parent-never-wants-to-get/1115 – Sorry about that.
I just wanted to add something to this. You said that Francy had opposed the idea and she was a bit concerned about your son’s driving and safety. She was right?! Not becuase you were wrong because from what I read, you sound like a great father who believes in his son and is very very supportive! But you know what, mothers have this very weird instinct, this 6th sense that we as guys don’t really have. I don’t know but it seems that there is a connection between a mother and her children and somehow she knows what’s going to happen more often than the father. I am saying this because this happened to my many times. Most of the times when my mother warned me about something and I didn’t listen, it actually came true!!!
I am so glad your son is fine now! Seatbelts and airbags are life savers!
OMG Jay – I agree wth everyone else and thank God that the people are OK. Equipment can always be replaced, but not the kids.
I think I’ll just put my kids in bubble-wrap going forward…