Hot Rod Cowgirl

A few weeks ago we were on the way home from Seattle, WA. on a fast and furious Sunday. We delivered a customer vehicle to its owner that morning…

WB, Ellie and I got up super early in the wee morning hours and hit the trail to Seattle, WA. which for us is I-82 to I-90…about 200 miles, one way.

We were excited to deliver the outrageous, flashy red “69” Barracuda back to her owner, he was so excited to see his girl and drive her again! It was a joy to me to meet the owner and his lovely wife…and also their friends who had seen them through the Barracuda frame off restoration.

After unloading the Barracuda we went in search of a gas station that sold diesel…when we tow our triple axle 30′ car trailer with our crew cab dually, we are the same length as a semi truck and trailer…it’s hard to maneuver in tight places, which would be gas stations with lots of small cars running in and out, cutting you off.

All the delays we experienced on that Sunday morning, were a blessing, as the delays kept us safe.

We got back on I-90 about 11:50am….traffic was heavy but we were getting through it and closer to Ellensburg, WA. where we hoped the heavier traffic would disappear as we turned towards Yakima.

It was about 12:45 pm and I turned to check Ellie to make sure she was doing ok and then I heard WB say “HANG ON!!!”

I turned and saw several cars and pick ups crashing and one going backwards in front of us…no warning or time to react, it all happened so fast!

By God’s grace, WB was able to get us stopped, our empty car trailer has a weight of 6000 pounds. That’s a heavy load on the hitch and that weight pushes against us in stopping quickly…the trailer tires were ruined but we were stopped and alive! If we had a car in the trailer, adding more hitch weight on us, we may not have been able to get stopped.

Directly in front of us was a small white SUV…and then the massive wreck. You can see our pick up and trailer with our name on it and the small white SUV right behind the Washington Department Of Transportation truck. As soon as WB got us stopped…we both watched our side mirrors wondering if we would also get hit from behind or the sides. We had lots of smaller cars behind us that got stopped but were sitting  kittywampus or crooked, as well as RV’s and pick ups with boats…all miracles in that they were able to stop without warning like us.

Once we saw it was safe to get out, and no one was going to crash into us…WB grabbed our first aid kit and told me to sit tight with Ellie and pray…and I prayed and prayed hard.

The driver of the small white SUV that separated us from the wreck, told us later that he, his wife and two daughters were on vacation from Georgia, he told us”by God’s intervention, we got stopped behind him, as all he could see in his mirror was our big rig and he knew if we hit them it would not be good.” WB was ready to drive us off into the median to avoid hitting him or anyone and we agreed, God was there that day in all our lives!

As  a grateful cancer survivor, I know life is lived right now and in the moment…I truly appreciate it! We never know what today will bring to our lives…life is sacred with each breath we take!

My heart goes out to all the injured and their families…one passenger was gravely hurt, they did cpr for over an hour, unfortunately they did not survive. Those who had serious injuries went to the hospital once the medics arrived.

Traffic was backed up behind us 22 miles on I-90, as the freeway was closed for several hours. After three hours of waiting, they opened a single lane of freeway up so that we all could head for home.

I took the photos above and below when we got home that Sunday evening. No storm or rain and yet, the double rainbow lasted for several minutes. I felt it was God letting me know He was protecting us and He also had those who stepped into His arms in heaven.

We continue to pray for all of those who were involved in the wreck, the families of those who did not make it and also to those who did. I give thanks for those who helped, performing first aid until the paramedics arrived and to the nurse who stopped her vehicle in the opposite lanes and came to help. God bless all of you…I pray healing on all your lives.

And to my husband who was in control of our truck and trailer, he got us stopped safely, and then he went to help those directly involved. He has always been my White Knight and yup he still is!

I love you WB:)

Praying that you will be blessed wherever you are…wishing you a peaceful weekend! Your lives are precious…HRCG is over and out for now but hang on, I will be back!