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Drive while sleepy? Please take a sec and look!

Locust Fork
I spent some time in the hospital visiting my friend this afternoon. Her husband and two kids were coming back from swimming and another driver fell asleep coming over into their lane....hitting them head on. My friend's husband died instantly....the ten yr old (my son's best friend) has a broken hip, arm and fingers....and little 3 yr old sister here has head trauma but is doing well.
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When I got to the hospital I had heard about the father already. I came into the critical care unit where only the uncle was waiting with the boy....everyone was up in the rooms with the little girl and they were getting ready to move him up there to the room next to her. I said "you shure know how to get people to come see you in the middle of a busy day" and I told him how big he was since I had last seen him......and he said back to me....."I hope my dads OK."

I keep crying when I think about it. You guys be careful while driving...these things are so devastating to so many when careless accidents happen.
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Comments

46 comments

Date Votes
  • jimbowby
    [8D]-I'm sorry LF,when it happens, the pain is immeasureable, even if they're not your kin-just show you're strength if you can and let the mom take care of her sons grief--

    --I'll say a prayer for all of you--

    ----JIMBO
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  • tomahawk
    how sad, i'm sorry, i'll pray[V]
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  • Old-Colts
    This is very sad and I'm glad you are there to comfort the family! My prayers go out to this family for comfort and healing. I also pray for the other families involved in this tragedy.
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  • hotshoot
    quote:Originally posted by tomahawk
    how sad, i'm sorry, i'll pray[V]



    +1[V] sad sad sad
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  • Locust Fork
    Its one of those things that makes you realize what IS and just IS NOT important. The air conditioner in the car needing charging.....packages needing to be mailed....phone calls you didn't get to make.....e-mails you haven't answered....all of it is crap and gets put aside when you have kids close to you lose a parent. I am probobly going to be up a while tonite....even though I am dead tired.
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  • Colt Super
    You are a good friend.

    Thank you for what you're doing.

    My prayers to all.

    Doug
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  • Locust Fork
    I am as guilty as the next guy when it comes to bad driving....but I can tell you that I will be a lot more cautious for a long long time. The last time I remember being that sleepy and being behind the wheel was years and years ago....you do a lot of idiotic things when you are young. It seems now the tired drivers are plain over-worked people with too much on them. I bet the loss of money wouldn't have bothered this person nearly as much as it will bother him when he thinks about this family from now on. He was lucky and made it through the accident without any major injuries....and my friend has only said "it was a good christian man who fell asleep at the wheel."
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  • Jacob2008
    [V][V][V][V][V][V][V][V][V]

    Im sorry. Ill pray tonight, ill be up awhile with ya, still sick. Derned coffee isnt working, dont have any hot tea.

    The kid will be scarred, but his dad will always be there. My cousin, austin lost his dad in a motorcycle accident. horrible things happen.

    Sorry again for the loss.
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  • Kodiakk
    That would of ripped my heart out about what that boy said. Not much can make the heart feel better except for time. I sent a prayer for this family.
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  • spurgemastur
    Sorry to hear it. My heart goes out to that family.

    I've done my share of stupid driving: "there, but for the grace of God go I....." I get more cautious as I age.
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  • select-fire
    Could have been other factors causing the accident. Drugs, alcohol, heart attack, seizure ? Sad
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  • linthicum
    Sorry to hear, Its hard when things like that happen.

    Shows why every chance you have to be with the ones you love, You do so and make every moment the best you can no matter what you are doing.

    The family is in our prayers.

    +1 Locust Fork you are a good friend.
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  • sarge_3ad
    These things are tough for me as I never know what to say. It's very sad. I hope the family will take comfort in knowing that God is with them and that many prayers are being sent their way.
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  • WinM70
    Prayers sent, God Bless.
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  • jimdeere
    I will be praying for this family. Their lives will never be the same. I have had two family members wreck because of going to sleep. Fortunately, only their cars were torn up. If you get sleepy while driving, pulling over and taking a 10 min. nap will work wonders. I used to do it all the time. If you want to pass the hat for this family, let us know.
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  • 1911a1-fan
    sorry for the loss


    I've always said fatigued driving is just as bad as drunk driving
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  • bamafan
    Sorry to hear of the loss. It's hard for the kids to understand, sometimes. My prayers are with the famiy and friends. [V][V]
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  • Fatstrat
    Prayers sent. As a truck driver, I've seen and been 1st on the scene to too many of these accidents.
    Some helpfull tips that help me when I get tired.
    Play some music that you really like. Even better that you like to sing along with. I keep some CD's that I reserve for when I begin feeling sleepy.
    Or stop and buy yourself some kind of take along snack like a bag of chips. The stop and activity will help wake you up. And you're less likely to fall asleep while you're actively eating.
    But more than anything remember that a "power nap" WORKS. If for no other reason than to rest your eyes.
    Many times when you feel sleepy at the wheel is it actually eye fatigue. If your eyes want to close, you think you're sleepy. Just a 15 minute break/nap will work WONDERS for this! Even if you don't actually sleep. Just close your eyes for awhile and give them a break. I do it all the time.
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  • Permanently deleted user
    Prayers sent...[:(]
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  • Cutiegirlracing
    This August 1st will be 3 years since my son's father was killed in a car wreck. It's hard. Everyone tells you it will take time, but you never get over it. You just learn to live with it. And somedays are better than others.
    It makes it that much harder when you grieving kids. His two daughters took it very hard. It broke my heart to see them both crying on his grave.

    You have my best hopes and for the family.
    Traci
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  • JackBwr
    If you're sleep deprived, there aren't really any magic cures. Music, AC, etc.., it might help but if you are really tired, they won't matter. The only real good advice there is, is that it's everybody's responsibility to get the sleep they need for what they need to do the next day. Many mornings I may start out tired, but snap out of it. I always wondered how anybody could fall asleep at the wheel.

    Then, I ended up almost doing it on two occasions. The first time, I stayed up too late, then got up and took off right away for my one hour commute. Began day dreaming while I was driving 60 on hard packed snow on country road. The stop sign didn't register until I was about 200 ft away. Slammed on the breaks and slid through a 55 mph state road, going 45. About 7 seconds later, a semi blew through the intersection.

    Another time I stayed up all night and left for work the next day. I've never been so tired while driving and I'll never do it again. It just isn't worth risking your life to get to your job for another day.

    The other thing is a lot of people have that sleep apnia and many don't even realize it. They never get to the deep stage of sleep that most people do so they are never fully rested. I work with somebody that knows he has it, has gotten the breathing machine to try to help him and he won't use it. Says it's too uncomfortable. So he's overly tired almost every day.

    Yeah, I'd say the shorter the commute you have in the mornings the better off you are.
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  • pickenup
    SAD....[V]
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  • Locust Fork
    Chris....the little boy made me PROMISE to bring my son to see him at the hospital. I've tried to prepare my son for what Abby looks like but the main thing I keep going over is how I don't know if they KNOW their father has passed away. We were talking about it when I got the call yesturday morning. I told my son...you know it will be hard....but he wants to see you. I have shown him pictures of Abby and told him how if Chris HAS been told about his father he will probobly cry a lot and it will be hard.

    I am uncertain of how their finances are. They were young and just getting into the "grown up world" of things (house, two cars etc.) I know there are going to be insurance factors and such...if they set up a bank account I will post the info. Right now I think it is all too hard to deal with.
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  • Locust Fork
    I tried to find the accident on line....and I think this is it but the details of the wreck are wrong if this is the story.

    http://www.nbc13.com/gulfcoastwest/vtm/news.apx.-content-articles-VTM-2007-07-01-0009.html
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  • MVP
    That is Sad. I feel sorry for all involved and especially the kids. That is a hard one.
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  • whompuss
    Locust Fork,
    Prayers already sent for you and this family.
    God Bless and give you strength.
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  • Cubslover
    How terrible.
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  • Mr. Gunz
    Hope she gets better[:(]
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  • Permanently deleted user
    Give the family a hug for us, ...we are thinking of them and you as well..


    You said..."It seems now the tired drivers are plain over-worked people with too much on them." and you hit the nail on the head.....Reports state we are all running on caffeine or nerves....We are all tired and dont even realize just how tired we actually are....
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  • Ramtinxxl
    LF: I'll add the family to our fellowship's prayer list. That's a really tough set of circumstances. I know your friendship will mean a lot to them just now and in the weeks to come. May God bring comfort and peace to all concerned. [:(]
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