In the Ditch

We got out of town late, when heading to Utah, for our "Traditions Weekend" with Jason's family. (It was my fault... sorry family.)

Our "Traditions Weekend" was at the Olsen's new home in Lewiston, UT. Never having been there before, we followed the GPS on Jason's phone for direction. After getting off at Tremonton, the GPS started taking us along some back highway roads which seemed dark and abandoned at the late hour. At one point the GPS said we had missed our turn, but recalculated and took us onto a little country road.

The kids had just drifted off to sleep.

We turned onto the little country road and quickly found it to be (what felt like) pure ice. We were creeping along, but soon started to gain speed because of the incline. Our van started sliding a little, Jason corrected. The van fish-tailed, Jason corrected. After several slides and corrections, the van seemed like it was going to gain control. I was confident that we were going to make it and then just like that.... we were in the ditch!!!

Actually it felt more like slow-motion. I saw the van sliding, heading for the ditch. I braced myself and then CRUNCH.... we were in it. ---On the other hand, our poor sleeping kids had no idea what was coming and had quite the rude awakening.

The pictures don't look nearly as dramatic as being inside actually felt. :)

When we were at a complete stop, we sat there for a moment. (It seemed like a minute, but I'm sure it was just seconds.) Then I noticed the engine revving high and smoke pouring in from the vent. I said to Jason, "Turn it off! Turn the engine off!" The smoke concerned me. I didn't know if it meant fire, so I yelled to the kids, "Get out of the van!"

They started whimpering, fussing and panicking,..."I can't find my shoes!"..."My door is stuck!"..."My glasses..I can't find my glasses!"

I remember saying, "Shoes. Coat. Get out!...Shoes. Coat. Get out!"

It was a deep ditch. And because we were almost completely on our side, gravity was working against us. The doors took extra effort to push open. I literally had to climb out of the passenger seat over the driver's side seat, to get out of the van. With much commotion and crying, we quickly made sure everyone got out and then evaluated our situation.

Hmmmm. It's about 12:30-1:00 in the morning. It's about 20 degrees. We're on some little, abandoned country road and have no idea where we are... or where we are going. If we called 911, we wouldn't know how to tell them to find us. There is no blood, no broken bones, no damage to anyone's property (but ours) and doesn't feel like an emergency. What should we do?

We called Nate and Cathy and told them we were in a ditch. They said they would come get us.

A few minutes later, we saw a car coming up the road. They stopped. We told them we were ok, but didn't know where we were. They didn't seem familiar with the area, so called someone to help. They also gave us the phone number to the local sheriff's office. They said they couldn't stay because they were on their way to work.

As they tried to make it up the icy hill, they slid backwards. After several attempts, they gave up and eventually drove carefully backwards to the bottom of the hill, turned around and went another way.

Jason called the local sheriff's office. He said he got an answering machine, that sounded like someone's home, so didn't leave a message. We had help on the way, so decided we just needed to sit tight.

I made the courageous journey, back into the smoke-filled car and found warmer shoes for myself, as well as coats, blankets and the lost glasses. --I checked out the broken back window. We think Taylee hit her head on it and broke the latch off. Taylee had a big knot on the side of her head. --Jason and I were surprisingly calm, but the kids were kinda freaking out (especially #1). We reminded them, "No one is badly hurt. We are all together. Help is on the way. We are ok."

Another man came by minutes later. We asked him to confirm where we were..he told us something slightly different from the first car. Great! How are we going to tell Nate and Cathy how to find us, if we don't know where we are?!

When he was on his way, we decided we probably should get back in the car. It was COLD! We let the van air-out a little (the kids were worried about toxic fumes)and then climbed in and sat sideways...kinda hanging on to our seats. We said a prayer of thanks. Thanks for our safety. Thanks for the passing cars. And thanks for help on the way. (We never saw another car, the whole time we were waiting. Heavenly Father sent 2 angel cars to give us an idea of where we were at.)

Jason suggested we sing songs. He sang a solo...mostly. :)

Many of us wanted to continue freaking out and worry about the slightest movement of the car. Some believed we just might tip all the way over. And some of us proclaimed it as, "the WORST thing that had EVER happened to them".

We kept back-and-forth phone contact with Cathy and Nate. Dad Smullin stayed at "homebase" and used his phone to "ping" our phone, to give them better directions on how to get to us.

The GPS got us into this mess...we'd use it to get us out. :)

We were NOT on the beaten path. I think it took about 1 1/2 to 2 hours for them to find us, but we were grateful for only a few bumps, bruises and cold fingers and toes.

It was nice to see familiar faces. Nate and Cathy drove up in their truck and Jared and J.C. in the Tahoe. We did a quick vehicle evaluation and decided NOT to try and pull it out, in the middle of nowhere, in the dark and cold, at 2-2:30am. We thought we would call insurance and a tow truck in the morning.

We transferred all of our stuff from our van to their truck and climbed into the warm vehicles. Ahhhh.... warmth.

By the time we got to the Olsen's house, told our story to Mom and Dad Smullin and settled in, it was 4:00am! It was nice to be there safe, out of the weather and with family.

In the morning, Jason contacted our insurance company and a local tow truck. Nate and Jason took off to meet the tow truck.

When reaching the scene, the tow truck driver asked if the police had been called. No. So then they called (and waited) for the police to show up.

When the officer arrived, he was instantly hostile. He got out of his car with his hand on his gun holster and yelled across the road to Jason, "Hey! Why didn't you call me last night!"

Jason tried to explain the situation. The officer was not in a listen mood. At some point the officer said, "When you don't report an accident, it makes me think you were drinking."

Uhhh, no.

Then he proceeded to tell Jason that he could ticket him for several things. He eventually cited Jason for "leaving the scene of an accident". What?!! We left our own van in a ditch. No serious injuries, no damage to other's property, we were off the road, out of the way of other vehicles....what?

Nate and Jason spent a good part of the day, towing the van, getting the van checked out by a local repair shop, and making phone calls back-and-forth with the insurance people.

It took a big chunk out of their family time. We are sooo appreciative of Nate and Cathy's generosity and kindness. Nate jumped right in and helped in any way needed. Sooo grateful for wonderful family that care about us.

Thanks again Nate and Cathy!

The rest of the story...

The officer said that the ticket could be cleared up fairly easily over the phone, since we were from out-of-state, but that was NOT the case. We were told we would have to come back to Utah and stand before a judge in CRIMINAL court. Because of the expense and time of travel, we continued calling the prosecutor, hoping something else could be arranged. Days and weeks past, before we finally got a hold of the prosecutor (Jason played A LOT of phone tag!). After giving Jason a hard time and interrogating him with questions about his driving record and the accident, he FINALLY dismissed the case. Whew.

BTW-Tiffany, thank you for giving us legal advice and being willing to come over and write up a report if needed. I felt relieved to know that you were here to help. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention, our van is drivable!

The passenger doors are crunched and have to be slammed extra hard to shut and the front passenger outside handle is broken off (still can be opened from inside).... but it's drivable. We drove it home and have been driving it ever since. Even when the insurance adjuster declared it "totalled" we paid the deductible, then bought it back from the insurance company for $1,200, so we could have 2 working vehicles.

(Until Jason's truck decided to have problems with the radiator. Fixed that. And then the brakes went out!)

I feel a little self-conscious when driving my scraped up van, but most of all I am grateful that it's been paid for and runs. :) I'm also grateful for our safety and protection on that night. It could have been worse. I know we were blessed.