This evening, I was driving on the freeway, heading to my grandfather’s house. My sister was in the passenger’s seat. We were following the GPS, which directed us to the 710.
The freeway curved and I was about to enter a small tunnel when my sister gasped and said, “I think I see fire.”
One side of the freeway was engulfed in flames. I hit the brakes.
“Oh shit,” I said.
I hit reverse. Cars behind me did the same. Some veered off the road. Soon, my sister was on the phone with my parents, yelling, “The fire is right there!”
There was so much black smoke. We heard loud crackling noises. A ball of fire rolled in front of us. My sister ordered me to keep backing up.
We noticed a ramp to our right. Cars were getting on it. I hesitated as I had no idea how far the fire had spread.
“I’m scared to go that way,” I said.
A woman behind us had stepped out of her car. My sister opened her door and stepped out, too.
“What should we do?” my sister asked.
The woman motioned toward the ramp. “Just go,” she said.
Seeing more and more cars head that direction, I followed. After driving in smoke for several seconds, we finally saw the exit. My sister was shaking and crying. I was in disbelief.
When we got home, we read that a fuel tanker had plunged into a riverbed and exploded. The driver was killed, though no other injuries were reported.
The whole thing unfolded like a scene from a movie and I still can’t believe it was real. My fingers are shaking as I type this.
My sister and I talked for hours afterward and tried to remember everything that went through our heads. We both thought about driving the opposite way on the freeway. She thought about checking to see if I had any water bottles. (She remembered the fire scene in 90210 where Kelly and some girl shoved wet towels under the door.) I thought about taking a picture (OMG, I need help).
We’re both OK, and I’m so thankful. But I can’t stop thinking, what if?
32 responses so far ↓
1 mandy // Jun 14, 2009 at 6:21 am
That is so scary. I am glad that both you and your sister are safe!
2 Amy // Jun 14, 2009 at 7:40 am
I’m so glad you are both OK…what a frightening experience. Take care.
3 Fishing Around // Jun 14, 2009 at 8:21 am
Oh wow. Glad you gals are okay.
4 L .Val // Jun 14, 2009 at 9:01 am
Holy Crap!! I would have peed my pants, for sure!! Thank God no one else was hurt or killed…. that is seriously some scary stuff. Glad you guys are ok. :)
5 candice // Jun 14, 2009 at 9:24 am
wow. no wonder the 91 freeway was so jam packed during that time. i was looking at the freeway from the overpass in cerritos and wondered why the heck is there so much traffic! glad to hear you’re ok. =)
6 thatShortChick // Jun 14, 2009 at 9:49 am
there would have been NO WAY I would’ve been able to continue driving! so glad you and your sister got back home safely.
7 Jamie // Jun 14, 2009 at 10:07 am
This is so incredibly scary. I’m so happy you guys are safe.
8 Bridget // Jun 14, 2009 at 10:36 am
That is terrifying. I’m so glad you’re both safe and sound!
9 Vanessa // Jun 14, 2009 at 11:15 am
How scary! Glad you are both safe, but I agree, when you come that close to life threatening danger, you always think what if? I try to answer the question with “because it’s not my time.” Again, glad you are safe!
10 Laurie | Your Ill-fitting Overcoat // Jun 14, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Holy shit, girl!!! I’m so glad you and your sister are ok!
11 LowClassInk // Jun 14, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Jesus, that sounds terrifying. Good to hear you and your sister emerged unscathed.
12 Kathy Cano-Murillo // Jun 14, 2009 at 6:54 pm
What a story, thank goodness for quick thinking and guardian angels! Glad you are A-OK! Hopefully the nerves will settle.
Hugs!
Kathy :-)
13 Kyla Roma // Jun 14, 2009 at 7:32 pm
That’s so scary Michelle – I’m glad you’re doing alright!!
14 Andhari // Jun 14, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I’m glad both of you are okay, that’s crazy, especially happened in a freeway like that :(
15 Shivani // Jun 14, 2009 at 8:42 pm
meeshie! i was on the 405 at that time and saw the fire off in the distance. i am SOO glad you are ok. it looked so scary from far away, i can’t imagine what you went through.
16 nicoleantoinette // Jun 14, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Omg!! I’m so glad this had the ending it did- but SCARY.
17 Phil // Jun 14, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I saw your twitter about it and was practically in shock just from that, so I can only imagine how you felt. Scary! Hope you feel better and a bit calmer today!
18 Tim // Jun 15, 2009 at 12:51 am
holy shit michelle. you drove thru it!?! crazy scary. sucks for the driver =-(
19 Taylor Giacoma // Jun 15, 2009 at 4:58 am
Sounds like clear-headed, quick thinking, despite being understandably terrified, saved you and your sister. Glad you’re ok!
20 Marie // Jun 15, 2009 at 7:05 am
Very freaking scary! Glad you two are ok.
21 Taek // Jun 15, 2009 at 9:12 am
Glad to hear you and your sis got out of that alright Michelle. Sounds pretty surreal. I do find it funny how coming to a near death experience you still somehow managed to think of 90210. What does that say? Haha.
22 Mermanda // Jun 15, 2009 at 9:25 am
So crazy! And you know why I believe you? Because you didn’t live blog about this as you were holding a baby that your heroic boyfriend pulled from the flames. (Miss Musing Anyone?)
Anyhow, that must have been horrifying. I’m glad you are both okay. Eat some ice cream. Take a nap. Trust me. It works.
23 katelin // Jun 15, 2009 at 4:41 pm
ohmygosh that is so scary. gah. glad you and your sister were alright, i would have been so freaked out too.
24 Nina // Jun 15, 2009 at 4:54 pm
God, Michelle. I’m so glad you and your sister are okay.
25 bodelou // Jun 15, 2009 at 10:57 pm
dang girl. glad to hear everything ended up okay.
those kinds of what if moments always have me feeling strange for awhile afterward. i suppose you have to think about it like, what if it hadnt happened? how different would your thoughts be right now?
26 Jo // Jun 15, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Random fact: Students with autism almost invariably answer the (psychological assessment) question: “You see your neighbor’s house on fire, what do you do?” with:
“Close the windows.”
I always find this fascinating because, shit, why we always gotta be heroes for? Sometimes, we need to just save ourselves.
—
But your post was intense. Glad you & you’re sister are safe!
27 nicopolitan // Jun 16, 2009 at 12:09 am
HOLY CRAP I knew something went down but I didn’t know you were in the smoke!
Glad you’re safe in any case.
28 raych // Jun 16, 2009 at 12:09 am
oh man! i live near that junction, but was out of town this last weekend. . . i didn’t even know that happened!
29 nao // Jun 16, 2009 at 11:51 am
thank god you guys are ok…
30 SoMi's Nilsa // Jun 17, 2009 at 11:50 am
OMG. You have me worried for all you people living in Cali. And then you go and tell me it wasn’t an earth fire, but a truck fire. That could happen anywhere? Wow. Wow. WOW. I’m glad to hear you’re ok. What a scare!
31 Sensibly Sassy // Jun 17, 2009 at 3:53 pm
oh my gosh so glad you guys are ok. That is frightening
32 Just Fine and Dandy // Jun 18, 2009 at 10:46 am
What a crazy story! So glad you two are safe and that you were able to remain calm enough to make some smart decisions…
Leave a Comment