This weekend was way too interesting...

[kellinator]

Last night a little before 8 (in other words, after dark) I was driving down LaVista. The light had just turned green and I had just driven through the North Druid Hills intersection when suddenly, out of seemingly nowhere, a child materialized in my headlights.

It all happened so fast. I slammed on the brakes, but there just wasn't time. The car hit the little boy and he landed on the hood, then fell down, then got up and ran off. His mother ran across the street and picked him up.

I pulled over into the Dunkin' Donuts parking lot. We were all hysterical. Luckily the couple in the car next to me saw what happened and pulled over too. They were the only calm ones in the bunch.

The little boy was okay. He just had a skinned knee and elbow. By the end of talking to the police and all he was fine, running around excitedly and telling me it was all right.

Everyone told me it wasn't my fault. Intellectually, I understand this and even agree with it. But there's a part of me that can't get past it. What kind of monster hits a child with a car? Me, apparently.

After it was all over, I just felt so damn alone. When I had my wreck in February 2001, adric and I were dating and he and his parents were terrific. He took me to the emergency room and held my hand, then his parents insisted I come over for the night so I wouldn't be alone. This time, I just wanted a shoulder to cry on, but there was none to be had in the vicinity. atomicnumber51's in San Francisco, scarcrest's in Jackson, ariedana's in Nashville, gamgee's in Austin, 10dimensions and alison_says are way the hell out in Smyrna, I couldn't get ptwarhol on the phone and I wasn't even sure if alanator was back from his trip yet.

It was just really not a good night. But I keep telling myself that it could have been so much worse...

Comments

[whysoblue.livejournal.com]

Wow. I can only imagine how traumatic that was. Fortunately, it all seems to have turned out ok and that is what you should focus on.

Look at it this way -- you've given that kid a story that he's going to boast about the rest of his life. "Yeah, man, when I was 6 I got hit by a car! Flipped up on the hood and everything. Walked away from it with barely a scratch." I bet that kid feels like superman today.

[vill.livejournal.com]

Yipes.

I'm glad you're OK.

My first thought is actually "What kind of mother doesn't keep her child out of the street after dark?"

My cousin was backing out of a parking space once and hit a toddler who had toddled away from its mother in the parking lot. The little one was right next to my cousin's bumper and in no way visible from any mirror. The kid went onto hands and knees when hit (tapped softly enough to push him over but not hard enough for my cousin to feel any impact in the driver's seat), and none of the wheels hit him, thank goodness. My cousin, having no way of knowing anything had happened, drove on out of the parking lot and was later arrested for hit-and-run (but the charges were dropped, as no damage was done and it was clear there was no way of him knowing that the kid was there or that he had hit him).

So it could be worse, yes. I'm still glad you're OK.

[heathrow.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine how you are feeling right now.

Allow me to join in the chorus of telling you that this is not your fault. However, I am here to share in your anxiety and fear and relief.

Everyone is okay - that is what is important.

[amai-unmei.livejournal.com]

My first thought is actually "What kind of mother doesn't keep her child out of the street after dark?"

I thought the same thing. Where were the parents???

re: the toddler story ... All I can think again is, "where were the parents?" It's a testament to careful driving that the kids in both scenarios were not hurt, but you have to wonder what was going in the parental units' heads. Kids need to be kept clear from cars. What's so hard to understand about that? Sheesh.

[unanon.livejournal.com]

*pales* I'm so glad everyone is OK.

Still, scary as hell for you. I'll join with everyone in reiterating that 'No, it wasn't your fault,' but still, *trembles*

That's why accidents, by their very accidental nature, SUCK. No one really is at fault, but the consequences are sometimes terrible.

Luckily, this case was scary, but not tragic. *hugs*

[maida-mac.livejournal.com]

Parents can't be everywhere either, but yeah, I agree. :p

Wasn't your fault, Kelly. Shit happens. *hugs*

[ariedana.livejournal.com]

I'm just glad you and the kid are okay. And like I said, everything happens for a reason, even if it's not apparent. Remember that.

[vill.livejournal.com]

No, they can't be everywhere, but at the same time neither my brother nor I ever ran into a street without looking, nor did we let go of our mother's hands in parking lots (unless we were riding in a stroller or a shopping cart, of course). I see WAY too many kids running through stores, off curbs, into streets with their parents just ambling along behind them nowadays, talking on their cell phones or carrying groceries and not even saying "Stop right there and wait for me."

[salog.livejournal.com]

If you ever need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to vent to. Mine is only a short drive away, and would be there in a sec for you.

[amai-unmei.livejournal.com]

I think people in general really do not have enough fear of the innate power of a 2-ton vehicle and its influence on the immediate environment: that goes for many parents, folks that talk/apply makeup/read behind the wheel, people who speed in school zones, pedestrians that just dart out in traffic outside of proper rules, etc.

Since the boy's OK, it's fine. And the parking lot incident as well ... but it's still frightening to think of all the little things people do around cars without thinking of the responsibility that comes with wielding one of the things. And in Atlanta? The boy was lucky he came across kellinator ... a lot of people would have just driven away regardless of SuperBoy's injuries. Everybody is lucky on all sides, I guess.

[mfree.livejournal.com]

*hug* I don't know what to say, or if even saying anything will help you feel better, but I can hope that you work through this quickly :)

[maida-mac.livejournal.com]

The only thing that I meant was that even the most vigilant parent occasionally has a child who runs off. My youngest has been described by a good friend as "ADD gone horribly wrong". Even being careful as hell and doing my damnedest to instill caution in him, he occasionally disappears for a few moments. :p

Re: Accident

[scarcrest.livejournal.com]

It was just really not a good night. But I keep telling myself that it could have been so much worse...

This sounds like the worst sort of "If only"-itis. Not tormenting yourself over something good that didn't happen, but over something bad that didn't happen. At which point you miss the good that did happen -- in this case, the fact the kid was OK.

It'll pass in time. You're strong enough to deal with this. I'm here for you whenever you need me.

[maida-mac.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, people are not nearly scared enough of the power a vehicle has and the damage it can do. Stupid, but definitely so. And children have even less concern about such things, unfortunately.

[fanagle.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness Kelly, I'm so sorry to hear about this. What happened is nobody's fault, especially yours. I can't even begin to imagine how you're feeling.

*hugs and support*

[edie22.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry, Kelly!! This is horrible, and I'm sure in your situation I would be a hysterical mess. I may not be nearby physically, but you can always call me if you need to talk.

[cjunkie.livejournal.com]

wow! You poor baby. Geez, I'd have been out like a light if that happened. I'm glad everything turned out okay!

[whitecrow0.livejournal.com]

He ran into the street. You did not mow him down. You didn't leave the scene. You didn't behave as a monster or a coward or even an incompetent would.
It's okay to be shaken up. Means you're human.
{{{{}}}}

[bouncepogo.livejournal.com]

Oh Kell, I am so glad you and the kid are ok. I agree with the others on the "Why was he allowed to run into the street after dark anyways?" line of thought.

I can understand how shaken you must be - give yourself some time to work through it, I know you're strong and you'll be ok. :)

[spiritchaser1.livejournal.com]

I know you are feeling awful about this. But some accidents are unavoidable. The child should not have been in the street, you tried to avoid it.

*hug*

[rubrchick]

Everyone else has said it so much better than I ever could, so I'll just give you a *hug*.

*hugs*

[thermidor.livejournal.com]

It's so not your fault. Kids sometimes break away from their parents and barrel into the street. I'm glad the police were there and you weren't held at fault, just in case some unscrupulous lawyer gets wind of it.

A family friend had this happen to her- it wasn't her fault but she was badly shaken. She had a few sessions with a therapist to help her be comfortable driving again.

I'm glad everyone was OK and hopefully the kid learned a valuable lesson.

[39orangestreet.livejournal.com]

oh my. i'm glad you are ok.

coincidentally, that was exactly the intersection where i had a big car wreck in high school...

[snowelf.livejournal.com]

*nods* I am glad everyone is okay, and yes, the kid should have been watched.

[lonesomenumber1]

The important thing is that the kid's OK.

That being said, I don't freak easily, but that would shake me up, too.