car crashes into Bay

Where did ya'll hear/see that she was coming from the ER?

I have not heard or seen anything other than rapunzels post regarding her coming from the hospital/ER. But I am very concerned that people are all complaining and saying they hate the very bridge that is our lifeline during hurricane evacuations. That bridge is not that hard to navigate ,whether it be dark or not, if you are going the speed limit and not driving crazy (i.e.passing in the no passing section etc.)And I am sure at 4AM there wasnt that much traffic on it. I feel bad for her and her family but had there not been a mention of the ER I am curious how many people would be blaming that bridge had she been coming from anywhere other than the ER. But from the desciption of the accident given in the paper, she must have been speeding to not be able to get control of the car after going off the road on the west side and then over-correcting and then running off the other side.

I have not heard or seen anything other than rapunzels post regarding her coming from the hospital/ER. But I am very concerned that people are all complaining and saying they hate the very bridge that is our lifeline during hurricane evacuations. That bridge is not that hard to navigate ,whether it be dark or not, if you are going the speed limit and not driving crazy (i.e.passing in the no passing section etc.)And I am sure at 4AM there wasnt that much traffic on it. I feel bad for her and her family but had there not been a mention of the ER I am curious how many people would be blaming that bridge had she been coming from anywhere other than the ER. But from the desciption of the accident given in the paper, she must have been speeding to not be able to get control of the car after going off the road on the west side and then over-correcting and then running off the other side.

Ahh Finally an Eye wittiness!

Ahh Finally an Eye wittiness!

No I wasnt a witness but I have seen alot that were close to this very thing in my many trips over that bridge. As I said in my post, I gather that from what I read in the article that was posted. I am amazed at the driving of some folks ,particularly people leaving here and heading back north on Sunday mornings during the summer. You would think that Alabama and Georgia were slipping into the atmosphere the way some people fly past you when heading home. But it seems that the WCSD is only there if I am going 8 mph over the speed limit and are all to willing to flash those lights at me.

she must have been speeding to not be able to get control of the car after going off the road on the west side and then over-correcting and then running off the other side.

Let's stop jumping to conclusions. It was reported to take place at 4am, and it is just as likely that she fell asleep behind the wheel after a very long day. It could be just as likely that she dropped her hairbrush onto the floor of the car and was reaching for it. We weren't there and we don't know. I do know this, it takes only seconds for one to crash a car and lose their life.

Let's stop jumping to conclusions.


it takes only seconds for one to crash a car and lose their life.

Yes, and Yes! Thanks SJ! very logical post. I would feel awful if any of the family members read some of these post!

What a horrible memory for that poor child. Losing a parent like that is hard enough, witnessing it helplessly is heartbreaking.

My prayers are with all of them.

Such a sad story, and right before Christmas.

But from the description of the accident given in the papershe must have been speeding.

As I said in my post, I gather that from what I read in the article that was posted.

I think I clarified that it was mine and mine alone "conclusion". I didnt mean to offend anyone by posting my opinion on the matter. It is a horrible tragedy to happen at this, or any time, for that matter. But we should not let the horrible circumstances cloud our objectivity. As you said SJoe, there could many reasons behind this, from excessive speed to talking on a cell phone, to dropping a hairbrush...etc.etc, that we will never know.

Could be wrong, but I believe the "jog" in the road from the causeway to the bridge is one of the reasons DOT wants to go shore-to-shore with the next bridge. Most bridges that were built to replace original bridges have the curve on the approach to the bridge, but the curve is normally more gradual and more forgiving. With the causeway being only so wide, there wasn't much of an option when the current bridge was being built.

I also could be wrong about this too, but I do not remember nearly the number of vehicle accidents on the bridge/causeway before the highrise bridge was built. Obviously we have more traffic than we used to, but I know that I drive much faster and without as much thought on the current bridge than I did on the old drawbridge.

Such a shame, though...that poor little boy. I cannot imagine.

Was the accident before the picnic tables, on that side of the hwy? I never even thought about it but you're right, there is a 'jog' there. That's a curve, right?
SN, your 'tar is so sweet. Is that your granny and son?

It is a jog and a dip which makes some cars bottom out their springs/shocks when you are coming off the bridge.

Was the accident before the picnic tables, on that side of the hwy? I never even thought about it but you're right, there is a 'jog' there. That's a curve, right?
SN, your 'tar is so sweet. Is that your granny and son?

Yep! Actually Fuzz's granny, who turned 88 in June, and ShallowsSquirt. He loves his great-grandma.

there is a jog, (curve) and a dip and it is very dark. Add the fog to it and it is very dangerous, even if you are doing the speed limit. That is the exact spot where two people were killed at dusk a few months ago. If you are not familiar with that bridge it is dangerous. I think the county needs to look into lighting that area.

I have not heard or seen anything other than rapunzels post regarding her coming from the hospital/ER. But I am very concerned that people are all complaining and saying they hate the very bridge that is our lifeline during hurricane evacuations. That bridge is not that hard to navigate ,whether it be dark or not, if you are going the speed limit and not driving crazy (i.e.passing in the no passing section etc.)And I am sure at 4AM there wasnt that much traffic on it. I feel bad for her and her family but had there not been a mention of the ER I am curious how many people would be blaming that bridge had she been coming from anywhere other than the ER. But from the desciption of the accident given in the paper, she must have been speeding to not be able to get control of the car after going off the road on the west side and then over-correcting and then running off the other side.

I say I hate that bridge because I used to live in a cottage with a view of the thing, and can't tell you how many times I saw multitudes of flashing lights up there after a fatal or near fatal accident.

It's all well and good to drive the speed limit and not drive crazy, but you have no control over other motorists. Most of the fatalities are not the crazy drivers themselves, but the people they hit.

The bridge is poorly designed, and has a hugely disproportionate number of fatalities as a result. I don't see how we can blame that on the tourists.

Oh, and the local TV news reported this morning that the woman had been seen in the SHEC emergency room for a migraine just before the accident. My guess is she had either a flash of intense pain (maybe headlights from a passing car) or she fell asleep.

I say I hate that bridge because I used to live in a cottage with a view of the thing, and can't tell you how many times I saw multitudes of flashing lights up there after a fatal or near fatal accident.

It's all well and good to drive the speed limit and not drive crazy, but you have no control over other motorists. Most of the fatalities are not the crazy drivers themselves, but the people they hit.

The bridge is poorly designed, and has a hugely disproportionate number of fatalities as a result. I don't see how we can blame that on the tourists.

Oh, and the local TV news reported this morning that the woman had been seen in the SHEC emergency room for a migraine just before the accident. My guess is she had either a flash of intense pain (maybe headlights from a passing car) or she fell asleep.

Hard to see straight with a migraine, and coming off of 'em is tough, too. I am in no way, shape, or form judging her or condemning her, but that will make me think twice about driving home with or after a migraine...

Y'all be careful out there, will you?

@sandy pants..the accident that you are speaking of was an elderly couple,correct? If it is the one I am thinking of they were hit head on by a drunk driver who was also killed in the accident. With his passengers being seriously injured.

Hard to see straight with a migraine, and coming off of 'em is tough, too. I am in no way, shape, or form judging her or condemning her, but that will make me think twice about driving home with or after a migraine...

I'm sure glad you aren't judging her, because if the ER releases you in the middle of the night, what are you going to do? I know, call somebody, but maybe she didn't have anyone to call. The list of people I would call in the middle of the night for something I sure didn't think would kill me is very, very short.

Reason #4,067 why they need to accelerate the construction of a 4 lane 331! Much harder to have a head on collision when there's no oncoming traffic.

Considering the poor woman had a 10 year old with her for a predawn ER visit, I'd say her support system was limited.

You find out very quickly who your TRUE friends are when you need things like a ride home from the ER at 4am!

Last time I was in the ER I called a friend in case they needed to drug me. Her husband didn't understand why I didn't just call a cab (neither of us like him very much).

I'm sure glad you aren't judging her, because if the ER releases you in the middle of the night, what are you going to do? I know, call somebody, but maybe she didn't have anyone to call. The list of people I would call in the middle of the night for something I sure didn't think would kill me is very, very short.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Maybe there were people who would have gladly come to pick her up, but in the middle of the night with a migraine and a child, you don't want to bother anyone, and you don't want to take a cab because you'll have to come get the car...

Reason #4,067 why they need to accelerate the construction of a 4 lane 331! Much harder to have a head on collision when there's no oncoming traffic.

Considering the poor woman had a 10 year old with her for a predawn ER visit, I'd say her support system was limited.

You find out very quickly who your TRUE friends are when you need things like a ride home from the ER at 4am!

Last time I was in the ER I called a friend in case they needed to drug me. Her husband didn't understand why I didn't just call a cab (neither of us like him very much).

It's amazing to think how many people either don't have anyone or at least think that they don't.

About 10 years ago my parents were in a midnight head-on collision in a northern suburb of Atlanta. My mother was taken to the nearest hospital, but my father was airlifted to Grady in downtown Atlanta. My brother called me to tell me he was headed to Grady and for me to go see about Mom. By then it was 1 a.m., and I had literally been up since the wee hours with a long work/rehearsal schedule. I burst into hysterics and told him I was in no shape to drive to Atlanta. He said that I had to go, to suck it up and call one of my nearest and dearest. If it weren't for that direct order from my big bossy brother, I would have jumped in the car and driven my delirious, severely sleep-deprived, hysterical self to Alpharetta.

I was embarrassed to do it, but I followed his advice, and she and her roommate were at my house before I could even think about it. We didn't make it home with Mom (who was treated and released) until about 8 the next morning, but both of my friends were so gracious.

For some reason I was thinking about it only yesterday. It still embarrasses me that I called them in hysterics in the middle of the night and kept them in a waiting room until dawn, but they made it crystal clear that that's what friends are for.

I'm always hearing that I should count my blessings, but I'm afraid it involves math that is way over my head.

They made it crystal clear that that's what friends are for.

I'm always hearing that I should count my blessings, but I'm afraid it involves math that is way over my head.

My new signature quote!

Someone once told me: "Yes, it's inconvenient to come pick you up, but it would be WAY more inconvenient to have to go to your funeral."

We crossed that bridge around 1:45 a.m. that morning driving down from St. Louis. It was extremely foggy, but I didn't hear any mention of that possibly being a factor.

I have an update about her children. Three of them go to Butler and 1 goes to ECMS. They are living with their Grandmother (Sonya) here in SRB. A number of people at Butler are providing meals to the family and there has been a fund set up for the children.

Please help in any way you can. PM me if you wish to deliver meals and I will get you in touch with someone who is coordinating it.

I was blessed enough to be able to deliver a meal tonight and spoke with Sonya. She is a lovely woman who lost her only daughter (she has 2 sons) and now has the task of raising her grandchildren. My heart goes out to all of them.

I am going to make another post about this on its own thread also.

Here is part of an email about it:

I spoke with Sonya yesterday evening. and she did get an account set up at People's First Community Bank. The name is: "Shanna Day Childrens Benefit Fund". There will be something in the NWF Daily News this weekend.

If you are still interested in helping with food, I know she would appreciate it. Sonya is on disability now, and is still trying to wrap her mind around all of this. She is very appreciative of any help.