Well, this page is devoted to none other than the major car accident I was in on January 4th., 1995.
My day started out pretty well, because school was let out early due to horrific raining. Let me tell you, it's really a bitch to drive on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH, up in Malibu) with about a foot of water covering the streets. Even worse was the fact that mud from the hills clouded the water, so you couldn't see any signs of lines dividing the highway (to add insult to injury, the defroster for the front windshield didn't work so my friend Nick was busy wiping it clear with tissue paper). Well, after passing a rather large truck which sprayed a ton of water on my car so I couldn't see, I dropped off all of my friends and made it home. It was about 2pm, so I decided to take a nap... I woke up later and decided that I wanted some string cheese (of all the stupid things!?!). So, I get in my 4 day-old Mitsubishi Galant ES and head down the road that leads to the market. This road is 4-laned (2 in each direction), and it's a mini-canyon road. There's only one way in or out of that place and this road was it. So, it's about 5pm, and I'm driving down the road... The canyon portion of the road, has no street lights. None whatsoever. Add that plus curves with bushes sticking out in your way makes a bad combination. Due to the heavy downpour, a tree had fallen (earlier, I assume/heard) and blocked the two lanes going in my direction. Well, it happened to be right around a corner with a bush sticking out (you'd expect less?). The last thing I remember were leaves... Then, I went unconscious and blacked out. I woke up later (dunno how much later), still in the car. I was in severe shock. I could see that my right wrist was broken (the bone was popped out... but not going through the skin), and felt myself pinned on my left leg beneath the dashboard. I could hear voices around me. They were the medics and firemen. One kind sir, turned on the radio for me. Well, I was stuck in the car... Next thing I knew was that I had a blanket put over me, and they began to cut-off the roof with the jaws-of-life. After that, they pulled the dashboard up, and pulled me out. Still in shock, I had no idea what was going on. If you've ever had an appendage completely broken in two (or in my case, three) it's the weirdest feeling... But enough of that stuff. =) So, I was hurridly rushed to the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, CA. There, I went through the routine stuff... Checking that most of me was all right. Later, I went to (with a darn tube stuck through my nostril into my lung(s)) Kaiser Hospital in West L.A. The following day, I underwent orthopedic surgery, and had a metal (I think it's somethin' other than metal, cause it doesn't set off airport alarms) rod inserted into my left femur. I also had the bone in my wrist "popped" back into place. The worst part, was when I wasn't in shock anymore. Then came the pain... Luckily, I had a nifty 'lil morphine contraption that allowed me to get it at any time by pressing a button. ;) They (hospital nurses) had me try to walk in a walker the following day... Boy did that hurt. I was stuck in a wheel chair for a little while, then a walker, then a crutch.
Today, I am *almost* back to normal. I still can't do a lot of things, because the little screws that hold the rod to the bone get in my way (usually resulting in pain). Also, even though I missed 4 months of school, I was able to graduate on time... Lucky me, I got to go to UCI. =) I am now driving a nice-n-fast '98 Estoril blue BMW M3 sedan (look on my car page for a link to my previous car, a '98 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP). Anyway, thanks for stopping by my webpage(s). Be sure to check out the photos of the car. Pictures of my car, after the accident:
