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First, I want to thank everyone who expressed concern and sent condolences for the other members. It has been very nice to see and hear from you all...much more than you might think. And I know some of you have tried calling too but my phone is still with all our luggage and there is no word when we will get anything returned. I thought I would give some info and insight...some of you might be wondering about things...
For those of you who don't know, I was a member of the Formula Car team from MSU,Mankato that was involved in the accident in Michigan on May 17th where we lost three members. I was in the second van with 8 other students which was following the first van with trailer. The 9 of us were the first ones on the scene. It is something I hope nobody has to go through. Two friends of mine and I had just completed a First Aid and CPR class two weeks prior to the accident and had just recieved our First Responder/CPR cards....I can only say that I am glad to have taken the class but it is unfortunate the skills were needed.
I dont know how much I can say because the police, etc. have asked that we don't share information before the investigation is complete. There has been speculation that the van may have been overloaded and the trailer was loaded improperly. My personal opinion is that it was not overloaded or loaded improperly. I know every precaution had been taken....everything was checked before we left...everything was adjusted. The trailer and van drove perfectly all the way into Michigan. We discussed who would be driving, when, and accidents other teams had where drivers had fallen asleep. We made sure this wouldnt happen to us.
Where do I start? Well...I remember the engine and transmission sitting in the westbound lanes of traffic about 30 feet from the van, just like someone set it there with an engine hoist...still bolted together. There were parts scattered all over. The air was heavy and it smelled like dirt...the pants I was wearing have holes in the legs now from kneeling in the grass where battery acid sprayed, my friends have said the same thing happened with theirs. There are other things I'd rather not have witnessed and will never forget.
Immediatly following the accident was panic and disbelief. Time seemed to be going so fast. Everyone in the second van except the driver and front passenger was asleep, including me...waking up just in time to see a huge dirt cloud and the back of a trailer rolling over. This is all I saw and I heard someone say that was our trailer. I first thought it was an accident across the median, not related to us. We all ran out of our van and over to the other. My friends and I were helping as best we could, others stood in shock not knowing where to begin or what to do (by no fault of their own). Before I knew it there were 2 or 3 dark blue trucks on the scene. They looked like ambulances, but they had no lettering. We later found out these were some people with the National Guard heading back out East from Wisconsin and they were right behind us when the accident happened. It is a miracle they were there...they acted so quickly it was unbelievable. They took the rest of us aside and had a big tent they gathered us in, gave us water, and took information. I can't thank them enough. I remember helicopters circling and traffic backed up for miles. We spent most of that night and the next day at the hospital.
As of now, 5 of the 6 injured have been released from the hospital. One is still hanging on. He was in the critical care unit until yesterday when they brought him back to MN. His condition seems to be improving and he is making progress slowly. We are all hoping for the best. It is hard to say at this point. I hope he pulls through...it was great having him on the team and working with him, always joking, always laughing, a very hard worker...never a dull moment. The rest of us have met the families of the three that passed away and did attend wakes and/or the funeral services. We were all friends and I cant believe they are gone.
Wear your seatbelt, drive safe, and don't take anything for granted.
-Mike
For those of you who don't know, I was a member of the Formula Car team from MSU,Mankato that was involved in the accident in Michigan on May 17th where we lost three members. I was in the second van with 8 other students which was following the first van with trailer. The 9 of us were the first ones on the scene. It is something I hope nobody has to go through. Two friends of mine and I had just completed a First Aid and CPR class two weeks prior to the accident and had just recieved our First Responder/CPR cards....I can only say that I am glad to have taken the class but it is unfortunate the skills were needed.
I dont know how much I can say because the police, etc. have asked that we don't share information before the investigation is complete. There has been speculation that the van may have been overloaded and the trailer was loaded improperly. My personal opinion is that it was not overloaded or loaded improperly. I know every precaution had been taken....everything was checked before we left...everything was adjusted. The trailer and van drove perfectly all the way into Michigan. We discussed who would be driving, when, and accidents other teams had where drivers had fallen asleep. We made sure this wouldnt happen to us.
Where do I start? Well...I remember the engine and transmission sitting in the westbound lanes of traffic about 30 feet from the van, just like someone set it there with an engine hoist...still bolted together. There were parts scattered all over. The air was heavy and it smelled like dirt...the pants I was wearing have holes in the legs now from kneeling in the grass where battery acid sprayed, my friends have said the same thing happened with theirs. There are other things I'd rather not have witnessed and will never forget.
Immediatly following the accident was panic and disbelief. Time seemed to be going so fast. Everyone in the second van except the driver and front passenger was asleep, including me...waking up just in time to see a huge dirt cloud and the back of a trailer rolling over. This is all I saw and I heard someone say that was our trailer. I first thought it was an accident across the median, not related to us. We all ran out of our van and over to the other. My friends and I were helping as best we could, others stood in shock not knowing where to begin or what to do (by no fault of their own). Before I knew it there were 2 or 3 dark blue trucks on the scene. They looked like ambulances, but they had no lettering. We later found out these were some people with the National Guard heading back out East from Wisconsin and they were right behind us when the accident happened. It is a miracle they were there...they acted so quickly it was unbelievable. They took the rest of us aside and had a big tent they gathered us in, gave us water, and took information. I can't thank them enough. I remember helicopters circling and traffic backed up for miles. We spent most of that night and the next day at the hospital.
As of now, 5 of the 6 injured have been released from the hospital. One is still hanging on. He was in the critical care unit until yesterday when they brought him back to MN. His condition seems to be improving and he is making progress slowly. We are all hoping for the best. It is hard to say at this point. I hope he pulls through...it was great having him on the team and working with him, always joking, always laughing, a very hard worker...never a dull moment. The rest of us have met the families of the three that passed away and did attend wakes and/or the funeral services. We were all friends and I cant believe they are gone.
Wear your seatbelt, drive safe, and don't take anything for granted.
-Mike
TCS Auto-X Driver
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