The Accident

So, a few weeks ago (on Rachel's birthday actually) my Dad was driving to work as he has for the last 38 years. Dad has worked at the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant since long before I was born! And for as long as I can remember he's been leaving the house before the sun comes up.

July 30, 2008 was no different. He made his coffee, ate some breakfast and was on the road to start his 39 mile one way journey. He was traveling down the 5 South in the fast lane (going the speed limit I'm sure!! hahaha) when he noticed a 2 gallon gas can sitting in the middle of the lane. It fell off of a truck/car driving in front of him and he had no time to try to swerve and avoid it. One would hope that when he hit it, it would just bounce off and leave a dent. Sure, he would have been upset. He loves his car, he takes great care of it and who would want a big gas can size dent in their car??? But, I think he would have traded the dent for what he got. This.....

When Dad's car hit the gas can unfortunately it got wedged underneath his car and wouldn't come off. At one point he said he looked in his rearview mirror and saw a line of flames following him down the fast lane because the fuel was leaking out. He pulled over to the emergency lane and tried for a minute or so to dislodge the gas can. Driving back and forth just trying to get it to come off so he could try to keep his car from completely burning up. No such luck that gas can was not coming off no matter how hard he tried. When the flames reached his side mirrors he decided it was time to get out of the car. Now, one might be asking, why the heck was he in the car long enough to watch the flames come up to the side mirrors! I said the same thing. I would have been out of that car the second I saw the flames in my rearview mirror. He's a stubborn man what can I say!?!?!?!

The fire department came and put the fire out. They had to use a 2x4 to pry the gas can off of the car. You can see the gas can in the 3rd picture on the upper right hand side. It's pretty unrecognizable!

Somehow, my Dad remained calm enough to get all of his personal things out of the car which is something that probably would not have crossed my mind! I still can't believe he was still driving the car while it was on fire!

We all got a present on Rachel's birthday this year and that present was that my Dad was OK. A little frazzeled after the whole ordeal but OK nontheless. He gave us a good scare that's for sure. Oh, and he made the news! My Mom was watching the news that morning when they reported a car fire on the 5 South. It's not the claim to fame he really wanted though!

He won't tell us how much longer he's going to make his drive to San Onofre, but if he keeps pulling Hollywood stunts like this I may go sign his retirement papers for him!