The Crash
I was driving north on Highway 5 When the machine gun carrying soldier motioned for me to stop and get out, I thought nothing of it. I knew what he was going to ask-"Do you have any drugs or guns?" I'd gotten used to armed men looking through my van.
Mexico, I was going to miss it. I'd just spent a month of lazy exploration, whale petting and beach bumming. Now I was looking forward to continuing my journey. Soon I'd be soaking in the hotsprings of Holtville. Then, up to Lake Tahoe for a week of spring skiing.
As the soldier finished his search I glanced over at the southbound lane where the line of stopped cars was growing. It was Good Friday and everybody was headed south to enjoy Easter weekend on the beach. I smiled, it was a beautiful sunny afternoon, traffic going north would be light and I'd have a pleasant drive out of Mexico. Life was good.
Giving the armed men their due respect, I exited the checkpoint slowly. I hadn't got far when a fast moving silver sedan swerved into my lane to avoid the line of stopped cars in his. He was closing fast and there was little I could do.
Seeing a car coming straight at you with no time or way to avoid it really haunts you, that long second before impact, wondering what level of hurt you'll be sent to.
The jarring impact, pain and sounds numbs and shocks you into a surrealistic limbo where time lapsed is hard to judge. I recall my van saying something like "you have been in an accident ?? have been notified. It must have been shell shocked too, forgetting it was in Mexico where its' dying cry for help would never be received.
Not sure how long I was dazed but I think I noticed wispy smoke rising from the airbag before noticing the burnt skin and pain of my left arm. Once noticed it did not let me forget, requiring constant ice to numb and cool the burnt flesh.
My nose was bleeding and breathing was painful. Later a cop told me my breathing difficulty was from the force of the seatbelt stopping me. It would be a month before I could cough or take a deep breath without chest pain, or get into or out of bed without care.
My glasses had vanished rendering me nearly blind. I lost my left eye long ago and my right eye is nearly useless without coke bottle glasses. A soldier later found them under the wreck of the other car. I was hit at a slight angle from head on and my head must've flung to the left outside the side window(thank God it was open) for my glasses to end up where they did.
To my shame I tried to ignore the screams coming from outside. Time and order of events are muddled, but once I became aware of the screaming I was too scared to investigate. My fear was the unknown death, carnage, protruding bones, loose scalps and dripping grey matter that might be encountered.
Had the crash been on some lonely highway, I would've acted as soon as I could've, ignoring my fear and apprehension. Here, help was on hand and the only thing I could've done was watch, I chose not to.
Trying to recall events, I wonder if I was unconscious for awhile. I have no recollection of any one coming up to the van to check my condition. I also can't remember seeing anyone near the other car. Who got them out or how I do not know. Once I got out of my van I saw an ambulance but it was parked away from the accident, under a bridge for shade.
The Good: No one was seriously injured.
The Bad: My planned year long voyage came to an end after only a few months.
The Ugly: It happened in Mexico
