My 18yr driving career has had lots of close calls, but nothing like on 07/11/05. I am convinced there are angels watching everyone. To make it short. I was a company driver for BPAMACO working lots of over time and a second job so my wife could stay home. That morning in Atlanta going to a station in the rain, my fatigue hit me. Some one cut off three cars in front of me and I was faced with a panic stop at 45mph. I was going to bulldoze everyone. Till this point I had been a safe hazmat driver with not incidents at all in 10yrs. Instead of causing other injuries I tried to steer around the cars on the shoulder. Wet and steep I had no chance. The loaded tanker with 9000gal gas rolled over on to the roof and came to rest against a power pole. I saw nothing but dirt rain and darkness. I was pinned in my grave I thought and could barely breath. Not sure if gas was leaking I began to say God don't let me die today. I could not even yell I was in shock. Then I heard a voice say are you ok. All I could muster was get me out of here! A bearded man broke through the damaged cab somehow and pulled me out into the rain. I limped up to the road to call someone and looked for him minutes later and he vanished. The event changed my life. God Bless |
