Spring break of my junior year of college was there before I knew it. Other college kids are off to Mexico to drink themselves into a vegetative state, and there I was, just trying to get away for a couple days to catch some fish and enjoy the outdoors with one of my best friends that I hadn’t seen for months.
Monday, April 4, 2016. I took off to spend my spring break deep in the hills of Montana. As I headed over McDonald pass in between Helena and Missoula, I was confronted with a complete and utter blizzard with 4 inches of snow on the road and 40 mph crosswinds. After taking it nice and slow, I finally drop down into Helena where it cleared up a bit.
We met up at Walmart to grab a few last minute supplies, and we were off.
We stopped at the very last sign of civilization to grab some dinner and watch the Men’s NCAA basketball championship, where Villanova dropped a buzzer beater over North Carolina for the win, after they went back and forth multiple times within the last seconds of the game.
Next Stop: camp
We got out there pretty late, after all we had to stay to watch the end of the game.
By this time the roads were beyond terrible, having snowed in the mountains earlier that day, melted, and by this time it was raining like a cow pissing on a flat rock.
First things first: we got camp set up and tried to salvage any hope we initially had of staying dry, then headed out to get some firewood.
Before I could even fathom what was going on, my tire is off the side of the road.
We remained half on, half off the road for about 10 feet, and just before the truck came to a slow stop, I felt gravity start to take its toll.
The truck rolled.
And rolled again..
And again…
Somehow, miraculously, we landed wheels down in a creek bed.
In my disoriented state, I looked to my right and the only thing visible was the roof of my truck. Which was caved so far in it had pinned down my center console, and was crushed right on top of where my life long friend was sitting.
As you can probably imagine, I had only thoughts of absolute terror running through my head… What just happened? What had I just done?
Long story short, there had been 2 accidents in the exact same spot in the previous 2 year. In the first instance, the driver had been ejected from the car, pinned against the tree that my truck hit, and lost both legs… The second instance, they didn’t make it….
The officer that helped us out told me ” I honestly have no idea how you two are alive, I have never seen anybody survive something like this. You boys had someone watching over you”.
With every traumatizing event in someones life, you realize things.
Here are my 5 takeaways:
1. Tell your parents you love them every chance you get.
2. There is a bright side in every situation- hell, we are both alive.
3. You’re going to need help every once in a while.
4. As cliché as it seems- tomorrow is never guaranteed. Seize the day.
5. Never stop moving forward. After an instance like this, it’s natural to want to hit the pause button on life. Don’t, keep moving forward.
Shelton Todd
Omg cuz so glad to hear that you and your friend are ok! Indeed someone watching over you