FIRST, THE FACTS...
Monday morning after a long Sunday, I missed my usual 8:08 shuttle to SMU, but made it to the bus stop just in time to catch the 8:23. Off my schedule but on our way, the bus stopped for a red light a few blocks later. As our driver prepared to proceed through the intersection, an eager woman in a brown SUV decided she wanted to make a right turn. In front of us. From the center lane. We were in the right lane.
Because I was sitting in the front row, I had a birds-eye view of the impact as the other passengers and I lurched forward together. The bus was moving slowly, and no one was injured.
Because I was sitting in the front row, I had a birds-eye view of the impact as the other passengers and I lurched forward together. The bus was moving slowly, and no one was injured.
As might be expected, the SUV definitely got the worst end of the deal in terms of property damage.
I recalled words a Highland Park police officer spoke to me a few months ago when a teenager tried to drive her daddy's pick-up truck into the same space inconveniently occupied by my rear fender: "Any accident you walk away from is a good one."
I asked the other seven passengers collectively and then individually whether they were injured. Thankfully, all were fine. Asked the same of the hapless driver of the SUV, who by then had parked her crumpled vehicle and made her way to confer with the bus driver. She was dazed but apparently otherwise unharmed. Took a dozen pictures, carefully documented details.
Our driver was professional throughout. He reacted quickly and compassionately, went by the book in every respect. After determining no one was injured, he thoughtfully apologized that we would be delayed until the next bus arrived, though the fault clearly resided entirely with the other driver.
The next shuttle arrived right on schedule, 15 minutes behind us. Our journey resumed, and as we prepared to part ways I promised my fellow travelers that my eyewitness report would accurately attest that our driver was in no way at fault. Later that morning I e-mailed a thorough account - along with photographs and other documentation I had collected - to the appropriate authorities.
INTERPRETATION #1If I had not missed the early shuttle, I would not have been in a position to come to the aid of our faithful bus driver. The passengers, our driver, and the management of "Buses By Bill, Inc." all expressed profuse appreciation for my assistance. The driver of the SUV even e-mailed me with a word of thanks for my concern and a request for some needed information that I was easily able to provide. I honestly feel like I made a real difference for the better because I was there, then.
INTERPRETATION #2
I was the only person at my bus stop when the 8:23 paused to pick me up. Had I been on the 8:08 a.m. bus as usual, this 8:23 shuttle would have been on a slightly but significantly earlier schedule. That 20 or 30 seconds may well have made the difference when it came to the timing of this unfortunate little accident. In a way, I share some responsibility for this accident.
INTERPRETATION #3-A
Perhaps my little delay actually prevented this bus from being in a more serious accident. Or maybe a passing vehicle unknown to me barely avoided a terrible accident later that morning, because our bus had blocked the right southbound lane of Greenville Avenue at University Drive in Dallas, Texas, for 15 minutes during morning rush hour. Maybe this was a part of some greater Divine plan. (But see #3-B, following...)
INTERPRETATION #3-B
Perhaps a passing vehicle unknown to me was in a terrible accident later that morning, because their schedule was affected by our bus which had blocked the right southbound lane of Greenville Avenue at University Drive in Dallas, Texas, for 15 minutes during morning rush hour. Maybe there will be painful repercussions years from now that we can never know. The universe is full of random events and chaos. It is impossible to draw any conclusions one way or the other.
INTERPRETATION #4
I'm obviously not getting enough sleep, possibly because I spend too much time obsessing about how to interpret events like this.
INTERPRETATION #5
What do you think? Which interpretive option resonates with you? Or do you have other suggestions?
What do you think? Which interpretive option resonates with you? Or do you have other suggestions?
