. This morning I had a dentist appointment in a neighboring town. It was about a 30-minute drive, all to take advantage of a new patient special: cleaning/xrays/exam for just $95. This must be the 4th new dentist I've been to in the last 2 years, only to take advantage of these "special" prices because I can no longer justify paying $150 for a cleaning at my long-time dentist here in town. I still want good dental care, and I don't think I'm comfortable going to a university where students do your teeth.
So I'm driving home from the dentist, my head full of thoughts about whether or not I'll return to them in 6 months. (They did a good job, but if I return in 6 months, the price will be their standard price, which is $150, not including x-rays.)
I was already in my home town, driving on a secondary, two-lane highway a bit past noon when a car approaching me from the other direction, maybe 500 feet from my car, suddenly and without warning careened into a guardrail with such force that the car went airborne, just as I was coming abreast of the car. I had no time to really think but I remember swerving to the right breakdown lane to avoid being involved in the crash but at the same time I kept driving in case someone behind me plowed into me. I couldn't see what happened to the car after that, but I turned in about a quarter mile down the road and called 911. The police car with siren went past me as I continued on my way home.
That was pretty scary. It seemed so surreal. There were no blaring horns or other warnings of anything unusual going on...it all happened so quietly on a clear and sunny day. The driver must've been going 40 or 45 mph, but when it hit the guardrail on its right, I actually saw the car lift up sideways on its left wheels and fly up about 4 or 5 feet off the ground. It was like a stunt you might see in the movies.
The first thing I thought is that the driver was either texting or talking on the phone. Or maybe someone had a heart attack and just lost control of the vehicle. I don't really know. I hope they're all right.
Airborne
April 1st, 2013 at 11:29 pm
April 2nd, 2013 at 12:05 am 1364861147
April 2nd, 2013 at 12:18 am 1364861924
This reminds me that my cousin's wife was in a horrible accident very recently, but walked away without a scratch. She was stopped at a light, a vehicle hit hers, and her car ended up flipping over, upside down. Totally *crazy.* I figure the odds of that happening have to be pretty slim. It was just a regular sedan.
April 2nd, 2013 at 12:38 am 1364863086
April 2nd, 2013 at 12:38 am 1364863115
April 2nd, 2013 at 12:53 am 1364864029
April 2nd, 2013 at 02:04 am 1364868274
April 2nd, 2013 at 02:47 am 1364870822
April 2nd, 2013 at 10:23 am 1364898189
A side note: I trust dental students WAY more than a dentist out in private practice. Dental students are closely monitored - who's watching the private practice dentists?? I've been going there 11 years and ended up there due to a major mistake by a private practice dentist. It's not for everyone of course, but it has been the perfect solution for me.
April 2nd, 2013 at 01:35 pm 1364909735
I second dmontngrey on the dental students. I don't have access any more, but the dental students do a great job and have experts watching their every move. The one drawback is that they may be quite a bit slower.
April 2nd, 2013 at 06:48 pm 1364928493
April 4th, 2013 at 05:57 pm 1365098264