I try not to write about negative things, this isn’t that sort of a blog. But on the way to work today, I was caught behind an accident that is the top story in the news and is being quoted by many who report on or attend to such scenes as the most horrific they have ever seen.

I enter the freeway at McCallum Road every morning on my commute to Chilliwack. Within a minute I am passing the next exit, Sumas Road/Hwy 11.

However, today as I entered we immediately ground to a halt, as the horrific accident had just occurred at the Sumas exit. A van carrying seventeen farm workers lost control and flipped, anding upside down on top of the concrete divider. Three people died instantly. Two air ambulances landed on the freeway in front of our shut down line of traffic, and the traffic helicopter overhead reported that there was eight ground ambulance. After that, we had to split our cars apart for another ambulance to come down the center of the freeway, and two more simply went the wrong way down the other side since there was no traffic, though I think they were ones that had already made a run to the hospital and were returning for a second load. I’m sure there were probably more that entered at Sumas or further east.

While most of us waited patiently, glad it was not us; some people acted as if this was done to inconvenience them. Traffic was shut down in both directions , and would remain so for six hours; and vehicles were being directed off at the exits. However, since we were past the McCallum exit, we were trapped. The impatient pulled their vehicles onto the freeway shoulder and drove backwards to escape, same at surprising speeds. I must imagine that when they arrived at McCallum, the police there that were diverting traffic were probably not too pleased with the route they took to get there.

I guess my point to those impatient people in particular is that we all do live hectic lives now, and it seems like there is less and less hours in the day; but when the unexpected happens, sometimes you must accept it. This was a horrible tragedy, but at least it did not happen to you or your loved ones, not to belittle that they were someone’s loved ones. If you lose an hour or two from one day because you needed to let emergency crews help those that needed it, so be it. While the freeway remained closed for hours, they did let those of us trapped through after an hour and a half; slowly driving by the crushed, inverted van and the tarp with six pairs of boots sticking out one end. From what I understand from others that took the now packed side roads, those of us that were patient probably got there before you did.

But you probably only thought about how we were making you late for your latte.