PDA

View Full Version : Take a moment please......



ChromeGorilla
03-14-2006, 03:08 PM
Man I feel bad when others post threads like this but unfortunately today its me.

I got a phone call while in class today from my sister. She NEVER calls my cell. I couldn't answer. A minute later she calls again. Then after she called, my dad was calling me..... I knew something was up. I stepped out and answered it.

My grandma and grandpa were in their RV heading from St. Pete to TX to visit my uncle. They live in NY but have been in FL visiting friends. Well an hour outside of Tallahassee a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel he drifted into my grandma's left quarter panel. RV fish tailed then barrel rolled off the HWY. My grandfather was walking from the back to the front when it happened. He is a kinda of fragile guy with heart and lung issues to begin with. Not good.

When the RV came to a rest it was on it's side my grandmother couldn't get unbuckled her shoulder are broken and she just couldn't do it. My grandfather was yelling he couldn't breath...... The RV had caught on fire. Plus one of his O2 tanks exploded. 2 truckers pulled over, smashed the window out and pulled my grandma and grandpa out. The RV was 100% burned down.

Grandma just had some fractures and hopped in the ambulance. My grandfather was air lifted to Memorial Hospital in Tallahassee. last I heard both are stable. My grandmother should be discharged today, but my grandpa will prob have to stay till he's decent enough to travel home, asuming he's ends up OK and pulls through this.

They lost EVERYTHING they had with them. She feels so helpless, and I could tell how she felt talking with her on the phone. She only has the clothes on her back. All ID, Credit cards, insurance papers/cards........ money, clothes.... all burned in the RV. They had lots with them as they were on the road for 3 months. And no family even remotely close. :(

So my mom is flying down first thing in the morning. Probably aunts too.

The guy who fell asleep at the wheel pulled over after he saw what happened..... and told the police that he fell asleep and hit them.... :mad:


I just hope my grandfather is OK. That is one man I am NOT ready to say good bye to.

onesubdrvr
03-14-2006, 03:11 PM
Scott,

You grandparents and family will be in our thoughts and prayers, please drop me a note or give me a call if I can do anything for you.

Wayne, Cari, Heather, Rebecca, Sydney and Riley

Reedy
03-14-2006, 03:40 PM
Scot, our thoughts will be with your family. My grandfather was the guy who taught me to fish, hunt, swear, fix stuff and just generaly have a good time. He was a railroad man, and a good man.

ChromeGorilla
03-14-2006, 04:04 PM
He was a railroad man, and a good man.

My grandpa is both of those.

ChromeGorilla
03-14-2006, 04:08 PM
Scott, your right..... god bless those truckers that helped.

As far as the guy who hit my grandmother..... I dunno what will come of it, but he straight up admitted on the police report to falling asleep an waking up when he hit them.

Budmann
03-14-2006, 04:38 PM
Wow!!!! So sorry to hear about your Grandparents!! Your thoughts are with us and anything we can do to help, we'll do!!

Barry Eller
03-14-2006, 04:46 PM
Sorry. Very sorry.

Reedy
03-14-2006, 05:01 PM
Do you know if they were on I 10?

ChromeGorilla
03-14-2006, 05:56 PM
Yes they were on I-10...

Please excuse my language..............

Get this ****, the hospital discharged my grandparents (thank god there OK....) and will not give my grandfather an oxygen tank, or any of his meds (alot of different ones... that basically keep him alive), remember all his were lost in the wreck. His clothes are cut from the EMT's. No friggin anything. So my grandpas doctor called the hospital and told him what his history is and what meds he requires and they told him he's not licensed FL and they don't feel comfortable taking his word. So the hospital shoed them out the door and paid for a cab to a hotel....thats it. These assholes better hope nothing happens after the fact..... no meds/oxygen...what the **** is wrong with people? My grandma is crying over the phone saying grandpa is having trouble breathing....... My mom is trying all she can from NY....

My mom, called the red cross and they have been a great help. they got my grandparents clothes and food for the day (just happened a minute ago)....no thanks to the hospital. but still no meds and oxygen. Well, as I am typing my mom called.... she had grandpas doctor call every script he needs to a Walgreens and she gave her CC # so they can get his meds to him. So now they are discharged, my mom bought plane tickets for my grandparents for first thing in the morning...... but one thing ....remember ...no ID no nothing on them.... burned up. So a family lawyer is trying to coordinate with the airline to get them on a plane (my family was having no luck whatsoever). Hopefully the airline lets the red cross escort them aboard....

All in all thank goodness they are both alive first and foremost. But all the other **** just pisses me off...... god forbid someone help an elderly couple out who just had a horrible accident and are in a horrible cicumstance. The hospital, the doctors, airline....... sad world we live in I think sometimes.... but then again... there's people like the 2 semi drivers would pulled my family out of the RV....


Sorry for the language....... just how I feel right now.....

But yes... they are OK for now....


Thanks everyone.

Cuda
03-14-2006, 06:48 PM
Damn Scott, I don't know what to say. I guess be happy they are alive, all other things can be replaced. I wish I was closer to Tallahassee.

ChromeGorilla
03-14-2006, 07:05 PM
Thanks Joe. I really appreciate that. Pictures of you accident flashed in my head but with a RV instead of a pickup.... scarry crap.

Latest is that the Red Cross came through big time. Got them clothes food and a bed for the night. They will also be able to escort then onto the plane in the AM........

Thanks everyone.

BUIZILLA
03-14-2006, 07:15 PM
wow...... i'm speechless, I feel kinda helpless reading this and wanting to help somehow....

what can we do??

JH

ChromeGorilla
03-14-2006, 07:45 PM
Jim, I guess we can be thankfull my grandfather was nothing but banged up. Pretty amazing considering his conditions and the fact he was walking in the RV when it rolled. My grandma ended up with a broken shoulder and a couple other fractures... but all in all they're alive. They just need to get home and start relax. Cause next comes insurance dealings.... :rolleyes: that oughta be interesting.....

BUIZILLA
03-14-2006, 08:05 PM
Scott, are they FMCA members?? CoachNet ?? FMCA has remarkable benefits they can tap into, if they are members... i've seen them pay for MedVac, hotels, food, rental cars, cash advances, yada-yada.... they may also have *purchase price* insurance coverage like I do, very common on RV's, if it's a total, they will pay the full purchase amount, plus expenses, plus stated values on personal property...
posting on www.rv.net would be a good start to ask about how to handle things.

JH

Jraysray
03-14-2006, 08:31 PM
Thanks Joe. I really appreciate that. Pictures of you accident flashed in my head but with a RV instead of a pickup.... scarry crap.
Latest is that the Red Cross came through big time. Got them clothes food and a bed for the night. They will also be able to escort then onto the plane in the AM........
Thanks everyone.

I was out and "about" with the military during my service commitment and my family had no idea where I was. My dad was diagnosed with cancer and had only weeks to live. My family was stonewalled while trying to locate me and became very frustrated.

To make a long story short, there were two groups working together to find me and get me home. The RED CROSS and the “GOD squad”

The Chaplin in conjunction with the RED CROSS was able to move mountains for me in the military.

In the civilian world they really make a difference in so many different ways. Whether it is a blanket and a sandwich or as in my case, locating servicemen all over the world in emergencies, they really step up and help out.

I am very selective as to where my charities go but they ALWAYS are on my list.

Thank goodness you grandparents are still here and the driver had the nuts to own up to it.

Schnook
03-14-2006, 09:12 PM
Keep your chin up. It sounds like your grandparents will be o.k., but they're gonna need you to be strong for them. They will be in our prayers.

Donzi Jenn
03-15-2006, 09:57 AM
Randy and I will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to help, buddy!

MOP
03-15-2006, 07:44 PM
Very sorry to read your post, I sure hope things are going better by now. I will keep your folks in my thoughts.

Sincerly
MOP

ChromeGorilla
03-15-2006, 09:19 PM
Well they are home and "well". My grandpa was totaly out of it at the hospital in FL and told them his leg hurt... they never xrayed. Well when my mom picked him up today in Albany at the airport the flight attendants rushed him off to my mom..... He was in such pain he litteraly had some tears streaming. Probably took every once he had not to sob out loud... tough SOB..... My mom took him to the ER and turns out his knee is way tore up.... broken knee and they didn't find that down there.... :rolleyes:


Anyway.... all the EMT's, helo pilot, and two truckers who helped showed up yesterday to check on them at the hospital. One of the truckers gave my grandma some cash out of his own pocket.... she refused but he made her.

They guy who hit them also showed up at the hospital. My grandmother has no ill will for him...... she is a better person than I....... she joked with me..."Boy is hs insurance company gonna love him...."


Thakns for the thoughts everyone.

If anyone is in the Tallahassee area, I guess this was all over the news. They were about an hour west of Tall. I-10 was shutdown, black smoked billowing in the air, helo landed right in the Hwy..... I have been trying to find a link to the story but no luck so far. Nurse said there was video as well.... I'm still looking....

onesubdrvr
03-15-2006, 09:23 PM
Scott,

I'm not gonna slam the hospital here, but I will say atleast they are with family in a more normal environment, and hopefully better health care.

As you know, it could have been much worse. Thank god they are safe. I'll keep them in my thoughts and prayers as they make their full recoveries.

Wayne & Family

riverrat
03-15-2006, 11:09 PM
God bless you and your family Scott. I'm sure that things will work out. I'm praying for you & yours!

the rat...

Schnook
03-16-2006, 05:27 AM
Wow, what an ordeal. I hope things continue to improve. I work in a hospital and I am absolutely appalled at the treatment your Grandparents received. I'm sorry they had to go through all that.

MOP
03-16-2006, 05:44 AM
Your grandma is a bigger person then most, proves you come from good stock. I bet the hospitals malpractice lawyers will also be busy.

Phil

Forrest
03-16-2006, 05:02 PM
Wow! They are lucky to be alive. I've been away from here for a few days and this is the first that I heard about the accident. I'm only about 2 miles from Tallahassee Memorial Hosipital and my wife works there. We would have been more that happy to help out in any way that we could . . . if I had only known. It sounds like what TMH was doing is getting them out as quick as they could and cover their ass at the same time . . . all to cut cost. Not real nice.