The Other Side of 911

"Because you have made the Lord, who is your refuge, even the most high, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone." Psalm 91:9-12 NKJV


Our family witnessed a miracle tonight.

As a 911 police dispatcher, there have been many heartbreaking calls I've taken throughout my career. Yes, I admit it. I enjoy the adrenaline rush of an action-packed call. But, I'm forever grateful that I don't have to watch in living color what's really happening.

Tonight we witnessed a horrifying vehicle accident. One that I wish I'd never seen. I realized that sitting in a chair at the police department, and being on the other side of a 911 call is a much better place to be.

Our family was just getting onto the freeway, when my husband Paul accelerated to merge with traffic. "Geesh!" I heard him say, as a wooden garage door tumbled through the air and landed with a thud, throwing up dust and debris not more than fifty feet in front of us.

Our prior joking and laughing quickly shifted to stunned silence as we watched a small pickup truck careen out of control, skidding sideways across three lanes. As the driver over corrected, the truck was instantly airborne. We watched in horror as this vehicle cartwheeled off of the freeway and over the thirty foot embankment.

As Paul pulled our car over, I silently prayed that he would stop before the children could catch a glimpse of the potential fatality. He quickly unbuckled his seat belt and told me, "Call 911." Bolting out of our car and sprinting down the freeway, over the embankment, and out of sight.

I called my friends at the police department I work for, knowing they could get me through to CHP (California Highway Patrol) much faster than I could on my cell phone. I was so proud to hear my three youngest children begin to pray for this man and their Daddy. The lookey-lu's gathered, pulling their cars over onto the shoulder. Some even getting out and standing, peering over the edge to view the carnage below. A small crowd gathered. Maybe they were in shock, but no one seemed to have the courage to run down the steep embankment and attempt to climb over the barbed wire fence to help.

No one, except my husband.

Praise God, the driver was alive when my husband found him. His truck eventually landing upside down on a frontage road below. Partially ejected out of the passenger window, he was conscious. His work tools, ladders, and lots of broken glass had been launched and scattered alongside the road, out of the way of oncoming commute traffic.

We thought for sure this man was dead. After talking with the officer tonight, Paul was told that the driver had only a minor complaint of back pain.

I was so proud of my precious husband today. The kids were pretty amazed with their father too. One moment they were talking to their dad and the next moment, they witnessed Clark Kent transform into Superman - right before their eyes.

Our family witnessed a miracle tonight. A man's life was spared,innocent drivers were kept out of harms way, and my husband actually sprinted. To God be the glory!