How it feels ...

A true story by Andrew Thompson

How do you adequately describe something that takes less five seconds to unfold? One event that changes how you view life and leaves you wondering how and why it happened, let alone, surviving, walking away and even playing sports the next day? Its 4:30 AM and I am awake to drive to Malaysia to play at least 18 holes of golf and possibly 36. I am concerned about playing 36 because later that night there is a "relaxed wear" party following the APEC Summit convention. What is "relaxed wear" when Obama is in the area, there are some US Embassy officials around, and at the very least some minor political figures to be at the party. I can figure this out later, for now, I have to find my golf wear, prepare the water bottles, sun screen, towels, passport, malaysian ringitt, etc. Not too mention, my mind is waundering with the fact I need to get fuel because it is illegal to cross the border with less then 3/4 tank full of gas. Nevermind, off to the shower.

Its 5:07 AM and I am in my car to go pick up my friend, Wee Seong. Wee Seong is actually more of an acquaintence, the brother in law of a friend of work, whom we will play golf with later. II have played golf with Wee Seong before; he's a pretty cool cat so small talk should be no problem. His condo is less than 1/8 mile from mine, so he's an easy get. However, I am supposed to be there at 5:15 - I am early and decide to go top up my fuel. I return at 5:18 and true to form he is waiting for me. We both know the importance of hitting the border before the morning traffic and to be at the course at 6:30 to change, relax and be the first to tee off. It has been raining, but not since I have been up. I can tell because the ground is still wet. Great, no landing the ball before the green and running on, you have to hit at the glad and hope the ball sticks. This is immensly harder.

5:30 and we are well on the way to the border, however, I miss a turn and head south instead of north; its not a terribly bad mistake (so I thought) as I am able to take the very next exit and get back on the freeway heading in the right direction. The delay probably cost us about 4 minutes, nothing major when crossing the border this early. It is still dark, roads still a darker shade of black due to the rains about an hour ago. Its 5:40 and I pass a sign that reads "Speeding Kills" - one of the 1000's of reminders posted in Singapore. I remember thinking, that speeding doesn't kill; people driving where they shouldn't be cause most accidents. Its very typical for mopeds ands slow trucks to dominate the outer lanes, criss-crossing where they shouldn't be; there vehicles are not even commissioned to do the speed limit

Its 5:42, and I have to navigate a left bend - keep in mind we are driving in Singapore, where we drive opposite my friends in the US. The roads are still somewhat dark with some road lamps that aren't nearly adequate enough - particularly for what I am about to NOT see. Up ahead I notice a small lorry, this is a grey delivery truck, commissioned to travel 70 KM/hr. I remember thnking that lorry is driving way too slow to be in this lane (the fast lane) and I need to get around him so I move left. As I am going down hill, I am traveling at about 90-100 KM/Hr. There are NO hazard lights or warning triangles to warn that he has stalled out. I am not sure he is moving or not.

Seconds later, there is an explosion, my car lifts three feet into the air and is redirected toward the lorry; brakes, wheel turns, just relax, there is nothing you can do about it. You are on an amusement ride controlled by someone else. I hope these seat belts work, I hope that swivel bolt holds, is someone in that lorry, no more time to think.

Glass is flying the at me, and I am blasted worse than when I was a 125 lb 14 year old hit by a line backer while fielding a punt; head up, unsuspecting of the imminent blow. The airbag has hit me, burning my forehead and cinging my shirt. Blood is coming down by forehead and into my eye socket; its warm but emitting slowly. Chest feels wierd, but at the same time, I feel nothing, everything is numb and I have to look at my body to make sure everything is where it was this morning. My leg and feet have bruises, lacerations and I am resting in glass. My friend is moaning like I have never heard before; he is obviously in serious pain but alive. I ask him if he is alright, focusing is difficult at best. I need to turn off that ringing and turn on my hazards; I turn the key to the off position; good, the ringing has stopped. The dashboard is a mess; the hazard button is no longer attached, it doesn't work. Mirror hanging, wires I have never seen before are exposed, steering wheel is in my lap, glass everywhere. I can no longer see the lorry; the hood and broken windshield are blocking my view.

Trying to make sense of it all. "What did I hit?" I ask. Wee Seong says "the Lorry dropped a brick" - still moaning. We call our friends, but they are already across the border - "we won't make it, we've been in an accident." "yeah go on ahead without us". I am pretty sure he will live now. Someone is running across the street toward us. I try to open my door, its jammed shut. I tell my friend that we need to get out before we are rear ended; he stays there for what seems like 5 minutes. The kid who ran across the street asks if we are ok, and I ask is anyone in the lorry? "No", he says. Later I find out he was the driver.

We managed to get out through the passenger door and I am walking around on the freeway to see what I hit; I am unaware of more danger - I mean what else could possibly happen to me. I find no bricks, no sign of what I hit. The lorry driver is trying to warn others who are honking, flashing lights, I begin to feel worse. Somoeone tells me to get out of the freeway; for some reason I comply but I have no idea why. I go back to my friend, he is having difficulty breathing. The airbag must have gotten him good; he says my head is swollen and bloody; I feel nothing. I take some pics and wait for the police. Then I notice the smoking gun. Its a rim, beat to crap and severe scratches from being slid on the road. I take another look at the lorry. Its right front side is unusually lower than the left; the Lorry had been driving with a flat tires, the tire came off the rim and then the rim came completely off the truck. I think the lorry driver must have been driving a while like this; at any rate, the lorry was definitely not maintained and dropped its rim. The rim had caused my car to lift into the air and redirect my car. There was nothing I could do, it was the same color has the poorly lit street - I never saw it

About 45 minutes later an ambulance shows up; my friend is transported to hospital and I refuse treatment. I feel fine just a bit tense; they clean my wounds and put some bandages on. I have to wait for the police to show and my insurance investigator and the leasing company. Nearly 4 hours later I leave the scene in another leased car. Later I find out that Wee Seong has 3 fractured ribs and has to stay in the hospital for two days. He is currently on two weeks medical leave. The doctors ask me to come in because I probably have internal injuries. No pee in the blood, I can walk around, just don't do any sit ups, I am ok. Besides I have to play ball tomorrow. We have important games to decide playoff seeding. No time to wait inside a hospital. I went 6-8 at the plate in a losing effort. Oh well, at least I brought it after being in a life threatening accident the day before.

Its 3:30 AM on Monday morning: i instinctively get out of bed the nornal way by lifting by upper body with my abs. Bad idea, I suppose I have some cracked ribs or at least heavy bruising. I can't breathe for a few seconds as I stand, and eventually the pain subsides. I pop another 1000 MG of Ibuprofen and back to bed. The next time I remember to get out of bed backwards; it doesn't hurt to bend over, only to stand up straight or use the abs....

I am on the way to the doctor now; although, I don't say I told you so very often, I hope I am right and nothing serious is wrong. I have a flight this weekend to play a tournament in Bangkok....

- Andrew