[Leica] We're thankful to be alive in 2008

[kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)]

what a harrowing experience Adam and Jan... even to read about it,  
absolutely riveting.

very fortunate you two, to have both survived,

somehow a life altering experience...


have a happy new year,


Steve


On Jan 1, 2008, at 3:17 PM, Adam Bridge wrote:

> My wife and I were involved in a one-car roll-over accident just east
> of Barstow, CA on I-40. Jan may have fallen asleep. When I saw us
> drifting toward the side of the road I said something and she awoke
> with a start, over correct, and we began a series of escalating
> swerves that ended up with us hitting the beginning of an Armco
> barrier which we sheered off, became airborne, and came down having
> turned 360 in the air and some greater amount after we hit the ground.
> We came to rest on the passenger side of the car. Within moments two
> good samaratins with EMT training were helping us. My wife was
> bleeding profusely from a 6 cm cut in the top of her head, she was
> hanging from her seat, supported by the seat belt. It took about 45
> minutes to get us out - they had to cut off the pillars on the drivers
> side and peel it back.
>
> We were taken to Barstow where we added to an already full ER. We were
> treated well, but slowly, since we were not experiencing any real
> pain. After four hours we were x-rayed, CAT scanned, and finally about
> 2:00 AM released. We had only my small camera bag and Jan's shoulder
> bag. Fortunately she had her cell phone and our son in DC was able to
> find a room for us for the night. Barstow has no taxi service so a
> hospital nurse took us to the Holiday Inn Express. They had cut off
> our clothes and we were drenched in blood and (it turns out) broken
> eggs etc. All our belongings, cameras (save the Leica) were in the car
> that was towed to a junk yard.
>
> The next day Jan talked a driver at the tow service to pick us up so
> we could have clothes and rescue our valuables. Our daughter and her
> boyfriend drove down from the Bay Area and we packed up the truck with
> our belongings. We found my iPhone by calling it...it still worked. My
> M8 still worked although the lens hood on the 35 sumicron had been
> sheered off. The lenses seem well packed and survived. I have not
> tried the 1Ds MkII or looked at the 560 teleyt.
>
> I have a broken left shoulder socket where some event pushed my arm
> hard into the socket.
>
> Here are photos of the car from the iphone:
>
> http://gallery.mac.com/abridge#100015&view=grid&bgcolor=black&sel=6
>
> We are blessed to be alive, to have honest people who stopped and
> helped, to have kind caregivers and thoughtful people all around. I'm
> sure the desk clerk at the Holiday Inn was shocked but she rallied and
> found us something to eat and drink and had found an easy-access room
> for us.
>
> There are miracles. I do not know what I have ever done to deserve
> this one but I hope to, somehow, pay it back.
>
> Adam & Jan Bridge
>
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