Just after grandson David left for work at 6:40, I received a text message about an accident on the highway. I signed up for emergency messages from the county, and this was the first one I received. It said, “Jonathan Creek Road is closed @Powell Saw Mill due to a traffic accident. Avoid the area.”
We knew David was driving the other way and proceeded with our morning walk. Going down the steep hill, we realized people were using Qualla Road to get around the blockage. Normally about five cars pass us, and this time there must have been 15.
This was the scene we saw as we crossed the road. I had zoomed in with the camera, so we were not as close as it appears.
John suspected there had been a death, because we didn’t get a message that the road was opened until three and a half hours later. We didn’t expect to know anything more and went about our day. After school, neighbor Logan (9) visited with us for an hour or so. Bob came to the door to get him, and John asked if he knew anything about the accident. He had the details. There had been a previous accident on the road, a bit closer to I-40. Claud, a first responder, sped toward the site and smashed into the back of a logging truck. He was killed instantly. Bob knew him, because Claud was the one who responded to a couple of emergency calls on our street.
It is sobering to find you have a slight connection with someone whose life ended abruptly like that. It’s a warning to stay prayed up and ready to go.
On a brighter note, I found some blooms on plants near the fence. Neighbor Joyce shared a bunch of roots with us a year ago. They not only survived our over-eager mowers, they grew and blossomed.
Mehrling Muse 
Oh that is always sad when you know someone whose life is cut far too short:(
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You just never know when that call will come.
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You are right. Most of us tend to forget it from day to day.
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Auto accident deaths are always sad. No one is ready to go that way. The flower is beautiful.
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I’m glad there was a brighter note. Any death in an accident is bad but that of a First Responder is cruel fate.
Huge Hugs
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Yes, Claude was rushing to help someone when he died.
xxx Endless Hugs xxx
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There are so many accidents anymore – I worry people aren’t paying attention or speeding or texting, and beginning in January, marijuana will be legal to buy for recreational use in Michigan. It is bad enough with alcohol-related deaths. I’m sorry you knew this person who met with such a violent death. The flower is a bright spot in this post.
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I didn’t know Claude, but neighbor Bob did. Guess Michigan will be weed-choked next year.
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The heat and humidity today will likely bring more weeds, not to mention the dreaded mosquitoes … and now we worry about this EEE mosquito virus. Three people have died, one is in a coma, and one person just found out they had it yesterday. Today I’ll go to the botanical gardens/community garden as I don’t want to tread in watery area, wooded areas and where I was going t ogo today, there was a woman murdered in a field a mile away – police have no leads as it was a big field, not close to any stores/gas stations with surveillance cameras. Not going there either … it has not been a Summer of joy here on many levels.
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To many bad or unpleasant things happened near you. Hope the next season is better.
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I hope so too – we are having some raucous storms tomorrow and a few showers over night. Enough already with the storms (and rain)!
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Accidents do happen and it is sad when someone that you know dies.
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It was just an accident we shrugged our shoulders at until we found out neighbor Bob knew the man.
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It is so sad when life ends abruptly especially someone on their way to help another. Your plant has such a gorgeous bloom 💗🌸
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It’s so sad when there’s such a tragic loss, especially when it was a first responder on his way to help. My thoughts and prayers for his family and friends. It’s just a reminder of how fragile and unpredictable this life can be–it IS important to be prayed up and ready to go!
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Thank you for your prayers. As you said, life is fragile.
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Sorry to hear this!
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I’m so sorry you had this happen. It’s always sobering. Love your concept of keeping prayed up. What a great phrase.
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The accident hit Bob harder than it did us. We noticed lots of cars at the fire station, both this morning when we went out and this afternoon when we came home. Those people are grieving together.
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So sad.
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