I've Been Hit By a Drunk Driver

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

I will admit, as probably a lot of us have, that many times I’ve driven when I had no business doing so.

I don’t go OUT and drink a lot anymore, so it’s less of a concern that I’ll do that. But a couple years ago, a good friend was slammed into a tree by a drunk driver. Now, if I’m out, having a good time, and I have that “geez, I just wanna get toasted” feeling. I either hand the keys to my wife, or if that’s not an option, drink water until I get home, and finish the drinking there where I’m more likely to trip over a cat than hurt someone else.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

PS: I’m starting a semi-related thread. Didn’t want to hijack this one.

22

That’s how it is when the drunk’s in an SUV and the victims are in a Kia Rio! Not blaming you for your choice of ride, but one downside to the proliferation of SUVs is the degree of damage an SUV can cause to a smaller car in a wreck.

Sorry you had this happen to you, but glad it wasn’t worse. Try to concentrate on getting better. Best wishes.

23

More best wishes. I can’t imagine being in a wreck like that. Out of curiosity, does the Kia have an airbag? I’m trying to imagine just how bad it must have been, if there was a working airbag, to have gotten your sternum broken. Can you share any more details of the accident? If these questions are in bad taste, ignore them.

And please, sue this bitch into a cardboard box under an overpass.

24

Many call for Draconian punishments for drunk drivers. What should be the punishment be for a sober person who is speeding, runs a light, and causes a death?

Not excusing DWI.

25

Totally, flyboy. That women doesn’t deserve to drive a nail into her … well, maybe she does.

26

I’m very sorry to hear that, Maui. What a way to spend your Christmas and New Years - in the hospital, in pain and feeling low, because of someone else’s extremely bad choices.

I agree with those saying look into counselling - this is a life-changing event, and it’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help with it. How do you make sense out of something so senseless that is still having a major effect on your life?

27

That’s awful, Maui Lion. I hope the path to recovery for you and your friend is as smooth as possible. You’ll get through this and it won’t always be as difficult as it is now.

28

I’ve read that somewhere that being drunk makes you more relaxed and somehow cushions blows better. Or something. I’m not sure.

29

Hully cr@p!

Lion–thank goodness you & your friend are alive!

30

From the sound of it, if they know the woman isn’t injured, then they have her name and her address and everything. That’s a relief — my uncle was nearly killed in a hit-and-run with a DWI truck in about 1977 or so. (He had been driving a VW Bug.)

At least they have this woman, hopefully under lock and key. She should have her ass slung into prison, and none too carefully.

31

Wow, sorry to hear that you experienced that. :frowning: I definitely hope that soon you’ll be able to get back to your home. It’s so unfair that people who drink can have such devastating effects on innocent people. I definitely am glad that you and your friend survived though.

32

{{Maui Lion}}

Concentrate on getting better, not on your sorrows.

33

Yikes. Best wishes to you and your friend.

34

i’m very glad you and your friend survived this.

it is easy to get down when you are in pain and in hospital through no fault of your own.

would it be possible for us to send cards and offerings of best wishes and heath to you in rehab?

i hope you and your friend recover quickly and you are home soon.

35

Sending healing thoughts your (and your friend’s) way, Maui Lion. I hope they throw the book at the drunk driver.

36

I’m sorry you’re in pain. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, and for the driver getting what she deserves.

37

Thank you everyone for your words of health and wishes, they mean so much to me right now. This is the hardest thing I have ever gone through. I will try to answer some of your questions.

First, details I suppose.

I was driving my friend Deva home as a favor; honestly I wasn’t even supposed to have been on that road, as it was a bit out of my way. As we approached an intersection high on Haleakala Highway, the car I was following suddenly swerved right.
And that’s when I saw bright lights.
The crash was deafening, but not as deafening as Deva’s screaming.
Amidst her screams my car spun as the airbags deployed and the seatbelts held firm. When I finally realized what happened, I had pain through my chest (broken sternum) and could barely breathe. I focused everything I could into one thing, which was to inch my fingers into my right pants pocket and draw out my celphone to call 911. I wasn’t fully calm at the time of course…

A man came by and pulled Deva from the car through her window. My engine was on fire. A nurse happened to have been on the road, leaving work I guess, and came to hold my hand. My right hand was covered in blood.

A cop put the engine fire out.

Eventually I was told my ankle looked broken, and emergency personnel arrived to eventually cut me out of my car. They laid me on the road and I think straightened my leg…I remember screaming.

I was taken to Maui Memorial Hospital where a catheter (ow) was put in me so I could pee, and gone through some testing. Six hours later I was flown via coast guard to Oahu and the Queen Kapiolani hospital where I had 6 hours of surgery for my hip and leg. I’m sure I have plates and screws in me now. For two days I was in ICU where my mom said I was asleep 95% of the time, and I muttered things like, “Mom, come around the glass…I can’t see you through the broken glass” and “Deva’s screaming”. I guess I was having nightmares.

I spent two weeks in the hospital there, passed out twice when attempting to sit up in/from bed, contacted an attorney who flew in from Maui to see me here that very day, lots of trials and barriers… My mom has been flying in every week to spend some days with me at a time. Every time she flies back I cry. Yeah, I’m 25 but heck, I want my mom. She’s a comfort to me.

Right now I have my friend’s laptop and connected to the WiFi here in rehab.

Learning to walk, to put on clothes, etc., is so hard. I feel depression setting in. My right leg is complete non-weight-bearing. Useless.

I crave Maui. Home. Some normalcy. But I’m days away from that at best.

I remember someone asking if things can be sent to me. Flowers are a no, but cards probably could, just don’t know how much longer I’ll be here. I know I’ll be here past Wednesday or so. If you PM me I can tell you my room number here and the name of the hospital, but I don’t know the address here right now.

Thank you everyone, so much. I’m trying so hard, and it’s painful, so hard. I will be in touch thanks to my best friend here and his laptop, he’ll be leaving it here with me. If I missed any questions, let me know, and I’ll answer them if I can.

-Shane, AKA Maui Lion

38

Thanks a lot, Johnny. I now have “Drunken Sailor” stuck in my head, the night before a Fenians show. At least I’ll probably hear it performed, which should get rid of it…

Maui Lion, I am so sorry that you are still dealing with your injuries. I hope you heal very soon.

The UL about why drunk drivers “never” got hurt was the idea that the sloshed person went limp, versus the sober driver who tensed up right before impact. :rolleyes:

39

I hope you and Deva recover quickly.

40

Maui–one day at a time. Rehab can be very difficult, as can physical therapy, because progress can be infinitesimal. Try to look at the big picture (not easy when you’re grieving the loss of the normalcy of your life, in pain, homesick and worried etc) and focus on short, small goals.

We’re all pulling for you and Deva and I hope you do win at least medical costs from the drunk.