Please Read – Be Safe This Holiday

In the past few months, I’ve made a conscious effort to put my mobile phone in the backseat when driving so I’m not tempted to answer it or read a text (even if I’m at a stop light). I was reminded this past weekend why this is so important. On Saturday, Brad and I witnessed a young mom on I-90 drift slightly left then over correct her car directly into the Clark Fork River near Bearmouth (mile marker 140). Roads were dry, the sun was out and there was no wildlife on the road. We were headed west to ski at Discovery she was headed toward Missoula. Water went 50 feet into the air when she hit the river. Her car floated down the river until it eventually came to a stop. The river filled up her car to the roof within 5-10 minutes. Luckily she had an angel on her shoulder that day…her back window had shattered and she was able to climb out of the back window and swim to shore. AND she did not have anyone else in the car with her. The first three cars that stopped were, us with Brad as a firefighter/EMT trained in swift water rescue, a paramedic from Maryland & a nurse.

The women seemed to be fine with just some scrapes and bruises, but we’ll never know if she had any internal injuries. She said she was driving from Helena, that she didn’t fall asleep and that she was distracted. She also said as she was flying off the road into the river, she thought she would never see her children again.

I beg all of you please do not drive distracted. I cannot put into words how terrifying this was to witness, fear for the safety of the driver, worry that Brad and others might have to put themselves in danger getting in the cold river with a car moving down river with a unconscious driver and then frantically try to find out if there was a child or another person in the car. You should also note that it took emergency help over 30 minutes to get there. No text, call or email is worth your life.

Happy SAFE Holidays!

Megan Glassburn