So during the recent snowstorm I made a very poor decision to attempt to drive into work. As there was so much snow on the road Terry let me drive the Jeep. The Jetta is a great car in the sun but lousy in inclement weather.
First, I must say that I am very disappointed in the city of Snoqualmie for not sending any snowplows into the heart of the city, during the ENTIRE snowstorm. Apparently they were to busy cleaning the streets on the Ridge. The newer housing development area. Oh Joy!! They finally got to us on Friday morning as the snow had started to melt and the streets were clearing on their own. Thank you City of Snoqualmie!!
There were so many indicators that should have told me to turn around and go home, the most obvious being Snoqualmie Parkway being closed. Instead, I turned around and headed to North Bend, a flat stretch of road that was pretty easy to navigate. I got on the highway and drove 35 mph the entire way into Issaquah and through Eastgate. People were passing me all over the place, but Terry said not to drive over 40 mph in 4 wheel drive, so I didn't. Besides I was to scared!!
Everything seemed to be going well but I began to wonder how I would get home as the snow wasn't stopping and seemed to be getting worse. That is about when it happened. My death grip on the wheel and tension in my shoulders was pretty high. I tried to get into the right lane to start to get in the lane that merges onto the I-405.
That is when it broke loose and I lost control. Terry had said, when I left, that if it breaks loose, that's it! He was right. The Jeep swerved 3 times. First right, then left, then right again, across the I-90. I finally stopped because I ran into the median. Somehow I managed to cross the entire highway, not hitting anyone and not being hit BY anyone and then crashed into the concrete median at about a 45 degree angle.
I was able to back up a little off the snow bank and at least put the car in the right direction with the flow of traffic. I was actually, at that point completely blocking the carpool on-ramp and people had to go around me to enter the highway. I sat in the spot, for about an hour, until a State Patrol officer finally stopped and asked if I needed help. He told me that communications were down, otherwise someone would have stopped sooner. Anyway, he pushed me further down the highway, out of the way of the on ramp and into a safer area, while I waited for the tow truck.
While I waited for the tow truck there were 2 very nice, Department of Transportation men that stopped to ask if I needed help. I am so thankful for them stopping, especially the last one. By then it was close to 7 o'clock at night and the temperature was really dropping. The Jeep has no insulation and I was getting pretty cold and could no longer control the shaking in my body. I guess I had a little hypothermia setting in. My female logical brain told me not to, but I gratefully got into his truck, that had the heater cranked and quickly warmed me up. I was only there for about 10 minutes when the tow truck showed up and I quickly moved to his vehicle, again with the heater blazing. Within the hour I was home and have never been so happy to see Terry and my son.
The radiator and fan are completely smushed in and the Jeep in no longer drivable at this point. When I tried to start it to drive off the highway, it squealed and smoked. No go!
The frame is bent and shifted everything over about 3 inches to the right.
The power of concrete on a steel fender.
Damage to the Jeep is pretty bad, but fixable and we are working on it right now. Damage to me...A dislocated finger, bruised elbow, bruised knee and some psychological trauma. It was 4 days before I would get back in a car and drive. Even then I was in tears at the idea of driving 5 blocks to the post office. But when you fall off a horse, and have to get back on and keep going. I am still a little tense behind the wheel, especially with Max in the car, but I keep going. Things really could have been so much worse and I am so thankful to still be here. I definitely had a guardian angel watching over me that night.
On a side note if you ever need a tow truck and you are within a 20 mile radius of the city of Issaquah, call Clark's Towing, 425-392-6000. The driver was so incredibly friendly and courteous, my knight in neon armor.
