The absolute worst accident I have ever seen happened this afternoon. Chatter on the scanner turned to tense voices talking 10-15 victims, at least 4 DOA, multiple airships called, multiple ambulances called. Rescue personal from all over the high desert headed to 15 miles north of Barstow.

The reporter and I hit the deck running I think. Going over the best and quickest route in my head, driving carefully but fast, teaching her how to change lenses on the Nikon. Adrenaline pumping through tired veins we sped north. We arrived on scene to find a wrecked RV and two other vehicles. And three bodies under tarps and a quilt with more injured being tended to by rescue workers.

The RV, northbound with ten passengers, had drifted into the center divider and hit an embankment/berm. The force of this pushed the carriage of the vehicle forward and off of the frame and wheels crushing most of those on the inside.

The other two cars were a separate southbound accident that had happened at about the same time and in the same location. One car stopped suddenly, whether because of witnessing the RV accident or because of rubber-necking (no one knows yet), and another rammed into it.

Legal freeway speed here is 70 MPH with most drivers going between 75-80. You can imagine the destruction. Five people from the RV were killed and five injured - two were unresponsive the last I heard. The other accident had four more injuries. The people in the RV were all couples coming back from a holiday cruise. Five couples and now not couples.

One elderly gentlemen about 70 was the only passenger of the RV to escape unscathed. He was a newlywed - his bride was one of the two victims that could not be immediately removed from the RV because of the crushed condition of the vehicle. He sat in shock, not comprehending what had happened. He had been asleep and could only remember a bump as the RV left the road.

Two sisters were comforted by their mother (who had been driving the van that rear-ended the other car) as they were triaged by paramedics. After the medic engine left with the girls, the mom and a younger brother walked slowly toward a patrol car that would follow the girls to the hospital. I placed a hand on her arm to tell her how sorry I was that her daughters had been injured and how glad I was that they would be ok.

She simply fell into my arms, crying with relief and mother-pain. I held her for a long while, letting her cry while the reporter talked with the young boy. I felt so helpless and this was all I could do. The two talked with us a little bit and after another hug left. A compassionate CHP officer said he wished he could have done that.

Once again I am reminded of the preciousness of life and how suddenly it can end. I hear others talk about the philosophy of life and death, how death is natural and part of nature's cycle and not to be feared.

Maybe so, but a buttercup yellow tarp with only blue feet showing is not natural. This is not how it should end.

February 21, 1998

Lara Hartley

"It is often the threat of loss that makes us realize what we value most."