"IT'S NOT THE LENGTH OF THE GESTATION, IT'S THE EXTENT OF THE ATTACHMENT."


Thursday, August 21, 2008

Witness

WARNING: There is a picture below some may find disturbing. Consider yourself warned.

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Okay, last Thursday (the 14th) I was out and about with my grandparents. We went to a couple thrift shops (their favorite pastime since being retired) then we went to a late lunch. My grandmother and I split a margarita and we were feeling good.

It was about 3:30 when we started to head home. There was a minor traffic jam and I had to wait at a light through a couple light changes. I just figured rush hour was starting early. We were at a busy intersection when my grandfather noticed something unusual up on the overpass. We looked and tried to discern what it was. Was it a person? What is real? What was it and why were they up there?

I just happened to have my camera with me so I snapped a picture. I don't usually carry my camera with me, so figured why not? I quickly rolled down the window and took the picture while driving off through the intersection.

We got through the intersection and I saw a young man lying on the ground with a face full of blood. People were crowding all around him, clearing the blood from his mouth, and doing chest compressions. He was obviously in an accident. Just past the man, was a motorcycle several feet away from him on the pavement.

I immediately sobered up- not that I was drunk or buzzed off of half a margarita, but it certainly took away my high. I was traumatized by what I saw. I was stunned and silent the rest of the way home. So were my grandparents.

But I couldn't figure out what the "thing" on the overpass was and what it had to do with the man in the road. Did he jump and the person up above was looking down? Were they connected? It just didn't make any sense.

Later that night on the news channel and the next day in the paper, it was revealed that the young man (age 28) ran a red light and hit a truck. The accident proved lethal. On the pavement where he died, are pink paint lines signalling a fatality.

The "thing" on the bridge was real. It was a man, who shortly after the motorcycle accident decided to jump off a bridge to his death. The drop was equivalent to a 10-story drop. He died instantly. This accident is still under investigation by the T.exas R.angers. But I still have this picture and I'm not sure what to do with it. We have contacted TR to see if they want it, but haven't heard back from them. Any suggestions?

This is a picture of his last breathing moments. He was in this position for at least 5 minutes. I wonder what he was thinking. I hope he was at peace with his decision. God rest his soul.


I didn't want to zoom in, I figured the picture spoke for itself. You can barely see his car parked on the highway ahead on the right. As I drive on this section of the overpass on my way home everyday, I can see the orange paint marks on the concrete. The only thing left signalling where he once was.

Two tragedies within minutes of eachother only a few feet apart. Completely unrelated.

5 comments:

Brandy said...

Oh my gosh. I can't even imagine passing something like that. I honestly probably would have taken the picture too (I keep a camera in my purse) but of course wouldn't know what in the world to do with it later. My thoughts are definitely with the families of those two men.

Anonymous said...

kinda puts things in perspective and makes you want to hold on tighter to your loved ones. I can't imagine how you must be feeling after all that.

Anonymous said...

this brought tears to my eyes. how many times have i felt that desperate. seriously. there is other pain in the world aside from the loss of a child, and i certainly forget it. in the end i'm sure that the same emotions we deal with are the same ones that brought him there - hopelessness and unfairness. it does give perspective. i too hope he has found peace.
btw, i found your email and responded to it. thanks for letting me know you sent it.

Amy B said...

Monica, my husband is an APD officer - I can ask him to see if there is a report open and if the detective in charge wants the picture. Assuming of course that APD is in charge of the investigation...

Hennifer said...

wow. that is very intense. perspecitive. it definitely does give you that.

sorry you had to witness that.