So last night, a group of us rented a little party bus to trek on down to the Oktoberfest at Torrance' s Alpine Village. We rented the bus so that we could all be free to drink without worry. Surely, on a bus, we would be safer.
WRONG!
It first went awry when the bus driver got a little turned around getting off the 110 freeway. We went a bit past the where we needed to be. And then at the intersection of Normandie and Torrance Blvd. - a not-so-great neighborhood, might I add - there was a car accident. One small car had rear ended another. Our bus driver, totally oblivious, SLAMMED into the rear car.
I didn't even know what had happened at first. I just heard the sound. I thought we'd just stopped short. And me, sitting on the rear bench of the bus, right in the middle, with nothing in front of me to stop me -- I flew (I mean, I really flew) right off the seat and out into the aisle, where I landed SPLAT! on my whole body.
Much thanks to all of my friends who reacted quickly and to whomever helped me up (I don't even remember now).
No thanks at all to the EMTs who couldn't even treat my skinned elbow and knee because they claimed they did not carry anything that could clean a wound or bandages in their truck. I'm still not buying that story. And on that note, no thanks at all to the bus driver who didn't have a proper first aid kit on board.
Luckily, all the PD and CHP officers who came to the scene were nice guys.
My brother was the true saint of the evening, driving all the way down there to get me so I could go home. I could not get myself to go down to Oktoberfest after that. I wanted my bed. And like a gallon of Bactine.
Mentally, I was much better this morning but I'm sore as all get out. The bruises are all starting to show - on the tops of my legs, my knee, elbow, my left arm, and on the right side of my chest so far.
{{sigh}}
I'll say this, after my accident in 2005, I am aware of how much worse this could have been. And I am thankful that on a bus of over a dozen friends, only one of us was really injured (though I'm sure we will all have jacked up backs and necks now) and that only one other passenger (in the middle car) was hurt (and I hope she is okay - she was hysterical and clutching her chest).
Thanks to everyone who's been asking -- I'm okay. Much love to fellow bus passengers. Hope everyone else is getting some rest, too.
