I was headed to work this morning southbound on 331. It was about 5:35 when things started getting interesting. I was running about 62 or 63 and a car comes hauling arse up on my bumper. They pass me in a little red fusion or something similar. They don't get around me good and another car is right on my tailgate.

I'm now driving behind an old body style (like 97 model) Chevrolet pickup. The car on my arse takes off around me in a no passing zone and I see lights oncoming so he dives in between me and the other pickup and about ran me off the road. So we all go another mile or so and this nut takes out around the old Chevrolet in another no passing zone. He made it about to side by side with the truck and again here comes oncoming lights. I start hitting my brakes because I see what's coming and sure enough the 2 cars hit head on.

The other pickup that they were passing just kept on cruising and was gone. I hopped out of the truck and called 911. There was a black guy behind me and he got out and in just a minute there were 4 of us to go try to help the folks. The car that caused the accident was the first one we got to. Small 4 door car with 5 Hispanic passengers. Both the driver and passenger in the front seat were non responsive (turned out dead). 3 in the back were all alive. Two of them were in pretty decent shape. One lady was not and her head was all busted up and bleeding everywhere. Their car caught on fire somewhere in the middle of all this. An 18 wheeler had pulled up by then so somebody went and grabbed their fire extinguisher and put out the fire.

Eventually we got one of the back doors open and got 2 of the 3 out. The woman who was bleeding so bad we left alone. We then went to the next car. I had heard that guy moaning and hollering. He's awake but I think he had been knocked out or concussed or something because he's speaking jibberish and making no sense. He is also Hispanic so that is making matters more difficult. Driver door will not open so we get in through the passenger side. He seemed to be doing pretty good and was able to stand on his own.

About that time fire and rescue and the first ambulance showed up. The lady with the banged up head took the first ambulance north I assume to Montgomery. Fire and rescue started tending to the driver of the other car. He must have passed out or fainted or something because he ended up on the ground and they rolled him onto a stretcher. The other two from the car that caused the accident also ended up on ambulances headed for the hospital.

I haven't heard any kind of update on the 4 who survived the wreck. Hopefully they all made it. Me and the black guy behind me were the only witnesses so we had to stick around to give statements and all of that.

It was really a chitty way to start off the week. Part of me wishes I hadn't even walked up there to help. The one thing that I keep replaying in my head is the collision and especially the sound of it. Even inside my truck with the radio on, that sound just keeps on playing in my head. I really don't know how fire and rescue, paramedics, and first responders do it all the time. God bless them for the work they do, but I couldn't look at that every day.

Sorry for the long post, but I need to air some thoughts

Naw man. Talk it out all you want on here. There’s many fine folks on here that are first responders that will help you though it all. Sorry you had to be involved in foolish non sense like that. In run 55-60k a year and I see it all. Why folks can’t drive right is beyond me.

And these damn illegals running our roads putting our families lives in jeopardy really pissing me off. Seems like Sunday is every illegal get on the road and drive like a Moran day up here.

Hate that you had to see and hear that, but good on you for helping out.

Those kind of things linger. Talk with others when you need to and don't bottle it up.

I understand what your dealing with. Few years ago I came up on a wreck minutes after it happened and watched a vehicle fully engulfed burn to nothing. 2 people were inside. When fire and rescue finally showed up they sprayed the fire out. I could see one of the charred bodies in there slumped over. It jacked my head up for several weeks. I kept having dreams it was my family in the wreck. I was ready to go get some professional help, to help me clear my thoughts but I eventually started having normal days again.

I hate you had to witness that.

That is terrible and explains the bad traffic yesterday. https://www.wsfa.com/2021/09/20/part-highway-331-crenshaw-county-closed-fatal-crash/

I see people get really impatient on that stretch right there and have almost been hit by illegal passers many times.

Traumatic events are just that, they leave a mark. You have to really be insensitive for them not to bother you. Thankfully they tend to fade with time. Most of them anyway,

Crenshaw - I hate you had to see and experience all that.

I understand how these things can effect you. I was the first person up on a severe wreck several years ago. A large black lady was all twisted up inside a badly wrecked and crumpled up car. Her head was twisted under her body at an unnatural angle and blood was pooling out from under the door jamb at my feet. I saw her body take the last couple breaths, then fall still.

A couple of us had stopped and walked up on it. None of us “knew what to do” so to speak and while we debated about trying to rip the door open or not (at the angle the car was if the door came open we would have had 300+ lbs of person come pouring out to fall around 3 ft) the ambulance pulled up. They just stuck a white sheet over her and started trying to figure out how to deal with the scene. I was expecting a little more effort on their part.

That really got in my head for a couple weeks; more than I would have expected. Good on you for doing the right thing and trying to help. If you wouldn’t have stopped you’d have a lot of guilt once you learned of the deaths involved .

For real talk it out with someone. If not here maybe a friend. Prayers for all involved.

Thanks for getting out of your comfort zone for total strangers. Seeing those things never gets easier to me. I've seen some really bad stuff helping the fire department as a chaplain. I urge you to talk with someone, even if it's your pastor or a psychiatrist. You don't want to carry the remorse. I'm not a licensed councilor but I'm willing to sit with you if you need someone to speak with in confidentiality. I deal with this often and am trained in crisis management. Send me a PM if you need anything. I'm in Hoover/Chelsea area but willing to come to you if needed.
If it was just paramedics they won't do much at all. They will wait for the fire department to get them out. It's a matter of safety for them.

mercy ...

Scariest thing on the road to me is drivers passing in no passing zones. My mom and aunt were almost killed by such a driver. Teenager in a Mustang. People pass me all the time in no passing zones. No regard for human life around the next curve.

These illegals and even legal Mexicans coming here and not understanding traffic laws are going to cost some lives. I had one stop in an exit lane a few years ago and I hit him from behind. Sad you had to go through that this morning, but they shouldn’t be allowed to drive in our country if they can’t speak English and don’t understand our traffic laws.

Hate that Crenshaw. I’ve been in outside sales for 20+ years and seen my fair share of bad accidents. A few of those I’ll NEVER forget unfortunately. I don’t see how first responders do it!

My wife says I drive like an old man lol. My dad has always been one of those “15 min early or you are late” people (he’s in sales too) and I guess like father like son. I try and leave way early for everything and take my time lol.

I hate to hear that you saw and were part of that. I can't imagine. My driver was at Beasley's Grocery when it happened so he had to detour around it. He said traffic backed up quick.

Terrible and yet so preventable.

I went through a similar situation about 12 years ago. The 22 y.o. girl I tended to passed away and it was hard to sleep for a month. It will get easier for you as time goes on. You did a good thing, bro.

Glad you were there to help. This is why a now carry a first aid kit and fire extinguisher with me

Man, that’s tough.