I was already running behind schedule and didn't want to be driving late. I had 3 hours to go and was probably going to hit some LA traffic on my drive. I set out on the open road and was only 20 minutes into my 3 hour drive when a near fatality occurred.
The scene: 4 lane road with a wide center lane for turning. Very little shoulder. Dirt fields on either side of the highway.
I was driving in the right lane when I noticed a bicyclist stopped in the dirt on the side of the road. He suddenly mounted his bike and start riding directly into the road where I was traveling 65 mph. I slammed on my brakes and swerved into the left lane which was miraculously open. He kept coming at my vehicle. My suitcase, bags, and purse flew toward the windshield inside my car. Coming to a complete stop from 65 mph requires some serious braking force.
He was coming into the left lane so I swerved again into the middle lane on the highway. I had now come to a screeching halt. I noticed the car in the left lane coming up behind me attempted to swerve but didn't make it. The bicyclist was hit. He lay on the road next to the sedan that hit him. My immediate instinct was to run to the scene.
I put my flashers on and ran down the highway turn lane, grateful there was this wide open lane that allowed me to not get hit by oncoming traffic. I saw blood all over the sedan and ground near the man. Then noticed blood was covering his head and shirt.
He stood up. I grabbed his shoulder to steady him and recommended he sit down. I then realized my hand was now covered in his blood! My ER nurse brain kicked into gear: this guy needs a c-collar and should not be getting up! However, the man was not so inclined to listen to Dr. Carrie. He was unstable on his feet and started yelling, "Someone was chasing me! I had to get away from him!" Then he proceeded to remove his shirt for some unknown reason.
I did a neurological exam (without him realizing it) by asking some questions and assessed that he was miraculously ok. He likely suffered a concussion and had a few bumps and scrapes. Since he was shirtless, I could easily assess his upper body for deformities and noticed nothing wrong. This was a miracle. This guy should be seriously injured, or even dead.
I yelled for someone to call 911 and continued to talk to the gentlemen. I asked him some questions including, "Have you been doing drugs today?" because his pupils were pinpoint. He became aggressive and lunged toward me. The older man who was now standing near me got freaked out and went back to his vehicle. I calmly responded, "I'm not here to judge you. I'm just trying to make sure you're ok and I noticed your pupils look small." He calmed down and continued to talk nonsensical speech about being chased and needing to get back on his bike.
I also noticed the driver of the sedan looked like he was in complete shock. He was still sitting in his car with the window down and was completely frozen. I recommended he move his vehicle out of the left lane and we get the guy with the bicycle off the road. This road is a through-way for tons of traffic and there is no detour route when this road shuts down.
I proceeded to escort the man with the bicycle to the shoulder and wait for the paramedics and police to respond. The guy driving the car came over to wait with us and could hardly speak. He was still in shock. I reassured him that it wasn't his fault and said I would give law enforcement a statement of the events to corroborate his story.
Finally, the police and EMS arrived. I gave the police my statement. Then, I asked the kind paramedic to wash my bloody hand and made a mental note to keep a pair of gloves in my car from now on. Feeling like my job was done on the scene, I proceeded to get in my car and finish the rest of my nearly 3 hour drive.
Side note: I have been in two horrific car accidents and suffered major concussions from them. It took months of therapy to feel safe driving again and I still have fear when someone vears into my lane or I see reckless driving.
Instead of being annoyed that my drive was significantly longer with this detour, I started praying.
How did I miraculously miss hitting him?!
How was there no vehicle in the left lane when I moved over?!
How was there a huge middle lane on this road so I could safely pull off?!
How was I, former ER nurse, the first one on the scene to lead the situation and assess the patient?!
The answer to all of these questions is, Only God.
God knew I was going to be late leaving my house that day. He knew I was going to be alert enough to handle this situation. He protected me from getting hit by another car and from hitting the bicyclist. Any amount of impact to my vehicle could have caused another concussion, which I definitely don't need.
He knew this scene needed someone with first responder and de-escalation experience because the bicyclist was definitely not an easy person to handle. He was abrasive, rude, aggressive at times, and non-compliant. But he somehow listened to my recommendation to wait for the paramedics.
God knew all of these details before it happened and carefully placed the right people there.
My inconvenience was used for someone else's miracle. And for that, I'm incredibly grateful.
What inconveniences have you experienced that are actually a part of someone else's miracle?