STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

At about 6 p.m. I was driving on Union Turnpike, through the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard, when a car going in the opposite direction, attempted to make a left turn onto Woodhaven when my car slammed into the passenger side door.

When I entered the intersection, the light had just turned yellow, so I had time to make it through before it turned red. I was going less than 40 mph. The Hyundai was hidden behind a large SUV who was also making the left turn in front of it so I did not see the car there. I went around the truck just to slam into the white car. I only had about a second to hit the brake but it did no good.

Immediately my airbags went off. My car was filled with what at the time I thought was smoke, but wound up to be dust from the bags. I turned off the car grabbed my purse, and got out of the car pretty quickly, thinking it might explode.

I got to the sidewalk and noticed the driver's door of the Hyundai was open and I could not see the driver. I walked back to get a look to see where he was and if he was okay and saw that he was lying on the ground, motionless. Right next to me a young man stood, calling 911 on his cell phone.

I touched the man asking if he was okay, but he did not respond. His eyes were closed but I could tell he was breathing. I wanted to cry.

I called Gary immediately and he was very upset. He asked me if I was okay. I told him I would cal him back later.

I looked at my car, a red 2004 Saturn Ion. The entire front end was crushed. I felt bad for my car. She had been a really good, safe car. Luckily I had my seat belt on.

In the next instance I noticed a lot of people around looking as I stood on the corner. And undercover police car was passing by and stopped to assist the driver of the Hyundai. One of the officers stood by directing traffic around the scene. Everyone started asking if I was okay and I said "yes, I am only concerned for that guy", motioning to the man on he ground.

It took about 15 minutes for the ambulance to get to the scene. After speaking to the man one of the EMT's said to me that he think he's going to be okay, that he's probably just in shock. Later on, on police officer said the same thing. I started to relax a little.

Another ambulance came and check my vitals and other stuff. My left hand was slightly bruised and swollen, but that was all. I declined going to the hospital.

During the next hour or so, the cops took my information, I called Gary again a few times (he was still at work in NJ), and I called Raquel a couple of times. Eventually one of the ambulances drove off with the Hyundai driver and the other one left. One of the police officers drove both cars from out of the intersection. They called for tow trucks which came pretty quickly.

After returning my documents, the cops said I could go, to just call the precinct tomorrow and get the police report. The tow truck driver was kind enough to drop me off by my house and I was able to make it back into the house before 9 p.m. Gary walked into the house about 5 minutes after me.

I feel like shit. Sure, the guy made an illegal move and the accident wasn't my fault, but I feel like shit all the same. I am sitting here typing this while trying not to cry. I have not been in a car accident since I was about 10 or 11.

I am glad I am ok. But I loved my car and will miss it. And now I have no way to get to school. I am gonna have to find a train or bus or something.

I want to crawl into a whole and disappear for a while.

ETS: The box is me, the blue is the car I hit, the brown is the SUV.