Drunk Driver Rampage

10:10 am, intersection of Lawrence Expwy and Homestead Rd. (Santa Clara)
A coach bus (6-wheeler, creme color), hit 3 cars: Jeep Wrangler, Toyota van and Toyota Matrix; nobody seemed to be injured, however, the bus didn’t stop, crossed intersection on red light and kept going. See picture for details. There was no license plate on the back of the bus.

The following quote is from the blog of one of the victims:

I don’t know who I pissed off or how, but DAMN my luck is sucking lately.

I was on the way to the hospital today for some routine wound care when the car I was in got hit by a bus. There were three cars lined up at a red light on Homestead waiting to cross Lawrence Expressway, and I was in the middle one. Suddenly I heard an impact behind us. Moments later, I FELT an impact as the car behind us was pushed into us. I watched ahead of us as we were pushed into the back of the Jeep that was first at the light. Moments later, the car I was in turned sideways, and after another second or two something struck the back half of the car. We were pushed out of the way, and I turned to look and saw just a glimpse of a white bus passing by. It didn’t stop, but I didn’t see where it went.

Yes, that’s correct, on my way to the hospital today I got hit by a fucking bus.

I later found out it was a charter bus, and the driver was drunk. The cops caught him and I’m hoping won’t let him go for a very, very long time.

The driver, my friend C, finished the U-turn that the bus had already shoved us through the first half of, and pulled into the nearest driveway. We both took inventory of our body parts, decided we were intact, and got out to look at the damage and start making phone calls. After a few minutes a letter carrier came up to us and told us she’d seen the whole thing, and gave us her contact info in case we needed a witness. She said she’d seen the bus parked in a nearby parking lot moments before, with the driver apparently unconscious. At the time, not knowing he was drunk (at 10 in the morning, I might add), she speculated that he might have had a heart attack or some other health condition that caused him to pass out, and that he might have still (or again) been unconscious at the time of the accident.

C’s wife N arrived shortly. Since I’d been on the way to the hospital anyway and it was just across the street, I decided it most prudent to go there immediately and make sure the accident hadn’t aggravated my wound. N dropped me off and then returned to where C was waiting with the car to talk to the police. I kept my appointment and then, on the advice of the wound care nurse, went to Emergency to get checked out and make sure they agreed with my assessment that I was okay.

I have a little soreness in my neck and upper back, but nothing serious. Emergency tested my range of motion in several ways and verified that everything works okay. They warned me that my soreness will probably get worse for a couple of days before it gets better, told me I can take the pain killers I already have for my surgery wound for any accident pain as well, and asked me to come back and see a doctor tomorrow or Monday to make sure everything is *still* okay. While I was waiting, C arrived at Emergency and they checked him out — he’s fine too. Just a little scrape on his head and no pain.

While I was getting checked out, the cops called me and left voicemail — I imagine they want my statement, but when I called back the officer who called me was out. So I still have to deal with that, and get lots of rest, and probably take more pain killers than I have been. I’ve only been taking one a day right before I go to my wound care appointment, but I suspect tomorrow I’ll be in more pain than I’ve been in for a good long while.

Seriously.

What the fuck?