I witnessed a guy get killed...

[GuitarDaddy]

Thats tough OP, keeping talking it out with friends and family, and posting here was also good. It's quite normal to have lingering feelings of sadness in these type situations and its always good to air it out, don't bottle it up.

I've had the great unfortune of being witness and first person on the schene in a couple of deadly accidents earlier in my life, one car vs. train and the other was a highspeed loss of control that lead to a car wrapping around a metal lightpole. In both cases it was a grizzly schene with massive blood and near decapitation, not something you forget. The best I can tell you is the vivid memories fade pretty fast with time, when they pop up just dismiss them and forget them as quick as you can. The feeling of "maybe I could have done something" happens to everybody even when common logic tells you you did nothing wrong, but that goes away pretty quick.

 

[40sTheme]

Realize life goes on.
If you feel you need to cry, yell, or whatever, do it.

 

[BoomerD]

Since you weren't involved in the accident in any way, I'm not sure why the OP should feel anything regarding this accident.

IMO, as was said earlier, seeing people killed in auto accidents is just part of life. Suck it up and get on with your own life and be glad it wasn't your car that the motorcyclist crashed into.

Yeah, I'm jaded, "battle hardened," cynical, whatever term you want to use, but I've seen far too many people die in sudden, unexpected ways for this kind of thing to bother me anymore.

Car accidents, construction accidents, combat, training accidents while in the Corps, parachute accidents, narcotics overdoses...I've seen several deaths in all those categories, and probably several others as well.

 

[nastymoon]

If its time to go its time to go you witness his time don't let it get to you just make sure you improve yourself and live everyday like its your last

 

[BoomerD]

If its time to go its time to go you witness his time don't let it get to you just make sure you improve yourself and live everyday like its your last

Indeed. It doesn't matter if you're the safest driver in the world, if you are the healthiest eater in the world, or if you never leave the safety of your house...when your number comes up...there ain't a dammed thing you can do to stop the Grim Reaper from coming to call.

 

[JulesMaximus]

That dude had zero chance. If you look at the damage on her car, he hit the very front quarter panel, almost her bumper. So he may have had .02 seconds to say a quick "oh fuck" before he hit her. It was early in the morning after all...I know most people's reflexes aren't the best at 7:45am.

As far as the turning part: I was turning out of a driveway and making a left. Here its legal to turn into the left turn lane until cross traffic clears, you just can't drive in it. So I had just stopped and was waiting for traffic to clear.

Streetview for clarity:

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=...=k6kl92hoh41iIPFAGVGzSw&cbp=12,86.96,,0,14.41

I don't know because I wasn't there but as an avid motorcyclist myself I can tell you that I constantly watch for drivers who may cross my path.

It sucks that you had to witness that though. I feel bad for the rider and his family...totally not his fault. As for you, I hope you can come to terms with what you saw.

I've seen plenty of dead people in my life but all of them were in funeral homes, not splayed out on a city street. Actually, scratch that, I did drive by a nasty accident scene on the 15 freeway probably 10+ years ago. A small white pickup truck had overturned and I saw the driver hanging halfway out the door of the truck with blood streaking down the door. I only caught a brief glimpse of it but it was gruesome. I didn't bother to research whether the guy died or not.

I also rode my bicycle through an active police investigation on my commute to work early one morning. Traffic was fucked beyond belief because of...a motorcycle accident. I know this guy died because the road was completely closed to vehicle traffic. I was allowed through though as long as I stayed far to the left and I saw the body with a sheet over it. Every time I rode through there after that I thought of that guy.

 

[Squisher]

Here its legal to turn into the left turn lane until cross traffic clears, you just can't drive in it.

Are you sure about that? The writing painted on the street shows an arrow (turning left) and the word "only".

[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Question: How far can you drive in a center turn lane? [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Answer: That depends. When preparing for a left turn a driver can travel a "reasonable" distance in the center turn lane. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]It is unlawful to use the center left turn lane for a right turn or as a merge lane when entering the roadway. [/SIZE][/FONT]

http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1586_27094-73839--,00.html

 

[zinfamous]

That is why I will never ride a motorcycle, no protection from other people hitting you.

yeah. the way I've always seen it, 90% of road safety rules are about watching out for what other drivers might do to you. I can't imagine being on a bike considering the times I've been cut-off or nearly sideswiped.

 

[rudeguy]

Are you sure about that? The writing painted on the street shows an arrow (turning left) and the word "only".




http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1586_27094-73839--,00.html

As I get older, I learn that I'm not sure about anything.


I don't see what this has to do with the accident though?

 

[rasczak]

i myself have been in that old lady's position so i know the feelings she's probably going through right now. in my case though the guy lived. you should def. see a counselor. it really does help. if you need an ear, please pm.

 

[dpodblood]

I would definitely agree with the counseling route. A lot of people who witness a traumatic event can end up with post traumatic stress, even if they were not directly involved.

 

[ObscureCaucasian]

I'm 22 and whenever someone my age gets killed it always kind of weirds me out. Makes you realize that shit can happen to you any day that's "just another day".

 

[FelixDeCat]

Same thing happened to me back in 1999. Saw a 59 year old women driving northbound get hit by an SUV driving southbound at around 45 MPH. For some reason she didnt see the oncomming vehicle and turned right in front of it.

I saw her head bounce off the airbag, her front wheels break off as she came to stop. The horn was stuck on. Classic accident scene. The SUV driver looked completely stunned as his truck was spun 180 degrees and now was facing oncomming traffic.

I only lived a block away and didnt have my cell phone. Others stopped to help. I only found out her age and the fact that she died in an article in the local paper.

Youll get over it, but you will never forget it. :'(

 

[AdamK47]

I know exactly where that happened. I use to drive 28th street every weekday. Grew up and lived in GR for 24 years before moving to a place that actually had jobs.

 

[kalrith]

A few years ago, I hit a deer while going about 60mph in a U-Haul truck. I clearly saw the deer get mangled by the impact, and that image stuck with me for a while. I can't imagine what it would be like to see a human like that (in person...not on YouTube).

If it keeps bothering you, then at the very least talk to a friend about it, or even get some counseling. IMO, you need to talk about more than typing about it for unknowns on the internet. Talk to someone IRL about it.