Had a 911 experience lately?
This morning was my first, and God willing, last.

My colleague and I were on CA I-80 East headed for a campaign launch in Sacramento about driving green with the Bureau of Automotive Repair. I understood what she meant by, “talk about irony,” after it happened. I was tired since I woke up at 5 am and remembered joking with another colleague to go to Sacramento on my behalf the day before.

In the car, she was telling me all about her weekend and meeting her friend’s traditional “rodeo show star, cowboy” family. We both laughed hysterically after she let out a “YEE HAH!”

7: 34 am: It happened instantaneously. I didn’t feel tired anymore.

A green recycling truck, two lanes to our right began weaving uncontrollably. It crashed into the blue PT Cruiser directly to its right, which sent the PT cruiser spinning out of control. The impact sent it right, slamming into the metal fence, then left, crashing into the concrete divider. The truck parked in the shoulder a few minutes later.

I immediately called 911. I sensed no one else would. Few cars were on the road, and they were all going too fast.

I was on hold for nearly fifteen minutes. 7:47 am: I made contact with a live operator. I didn’t know what was more shocking: the accident or being on hold for so long.

Luckily, the obviously injured driver seemed she’d survive. We stayed for a few minutes, and I caught a quick glimpse of her moving her body slowly.

“Thank God they’re sending someone and she’ll be okay, but imagine, what would have happened if this were a serious life and death situation?” my colleague said. “15 minutes can make all the difference.”

I couldn’t have agreed more.