Kestrel wrote:



> We come to a stop maybe 30 - 40 feet behind the other accident. I distinctly
> remember the trooper staring at the whole thing as it happened... clearly
> thinking "omg."  We move to the side of the road, get out of
the car, Inyuk
> pees all over the road... scared witless. Abbey... the 20 year old driving
> the Jeep Cherokee, is crying and saying sorry over and over again. Inyuk is
> ok though, as am I, and Abbey too... so ok, it's just metal. Trooper says
> he'll be with us again in a moment... and goes to finish up the other
> accident and call for a tow for my car. The Jeep is practically without a
> scratch! So we're over on the side... I give Abbey some kleenex, and tell
> her to pet Inyuk...  before long she's stopped crying, is saying how
> beautiful he is ("I'm so glad I didn't hurt him!") and Inyuk
is tentatively
> wagging his tail. Trooper comes back ("That's a fine dog") and Inyuk
> (without prompting) says "hello"...

Dogs are excellent for calming nerves. Cats, too--any kind of
petting.  I know Sable can tell when I'm upset and immediately
becomes "velcro Kitty."

> Anyway, trooper gets my statement, gets hers, and since he witnessed the
> whole thing -- he wrote up a report as well. Officer Metcalfe is a very nice
> guy. Which, thinking upon it -- every police/fireman/paramedic I've ever met
> in trying circumstances has been an absolute sweetheart and professional at
> the same time. He also told me I did exactly the right thing in trying to
> lessen/avoid the accident. Anything else would have made it worse for me,
> her, or someone else. I was pretty happy with that.

It's always good to know that you did it right.
 
> but... here I am *again* without a car... trooper Metcalfe gave us a ride
> home...

urgh... I *hate* being without a car!  Will Abby's insurance pay
for a rental?
 
> So -- Good Thinkings requested that the auto-body place not take forever to
> get the car on the road again, please!

Done and done.
 
> P.S.: Never again will I allow Inyuk in the front seat without a dog
> restraint system. I don't know why I never thought of it, but he's in as
> much danger in the car as a child that isn't restrained. Buckle the pooches
> up, folks... he slid off the seat and into the floorboard after knocking his
> head on the dash. 

Yeah... I've heard of dogs being badly injured that way. Good for
you for thinking of it; and thank ghods he's OK!
 
> I think I need a nap....

Lissa BigKestrelHugs!BeenThere! Wingling

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