My poor car, "Whoops" is all mangled up!	Hi you guys…I thought I’d veer off from talking about “fun stuff’ and talk about something relatively serious that’s happened. Some of you already know that I was involved in a car accident on Tuesday, May 9th. Don’t worry – I am perfectly FINE.
What happened was I was about to cross over a westbound street (in my car – I was driving alone) after my morning class let out at around 11:30 a.m. It was a really nice day, clear and sunny. When I stopped at the stop sign, I couldn’t see if a car was coming because of an obscuring tree and two parked cars. So I moved my car forward slowly to get a better view. But that was when I saw the incoming car and I realized I was too far into the street and he was going pretty fast. We collided and his passenger’s front door was dented and my entire front bumper/hood was badly damaged. There were two guys in the other car (a 1982 large-sized car) and they were a little hurt – the driver had a sore knee and the passenger had a sore neck/back. I was fine – I ran out to see if they were okay but I was really scared and everything.	The hapless victim of my little boo boo!
Just waiting around for the tow truck to show up.	Someone called 911 and the police came 10 minutes later – I also had someone call one of my interpreters so she arrived about 5 minutes after the police did. The black guys had to go to the hospital in an ambulance. It was a really scary experience, but I was able to see how paramedics worked on accident victims. I watched as they put a neck brace on the passenger and drag him out through the driver’s side door (since the passenger’s door was dented). I found out that they both worked at SCAD and the car belonged to the driver’s wife. She arrived at the scene and she came up to me, gave me her name and phone number, hugged me and said everything would work out (she was really nice). She also works at SCAD as a shuttle/bus driver. Anyway, she got in the wrecked car and left.
I knew my car, even though it could run, was in NO shape to be driven anywhere so the police called a tow truck for me and gave me a traffic citation for “failure to yield”. Even though the police knew from my side of the story what happened, he said that the other car still had the right of way (which I already knew!) but I still got a ticket. So I have to go to court (this is mandatory after a citation is given because an accident was involved).	Getting ready to be picked up by the tow truck.
The accident site at rest.	I was also really scared about my parents’ (especially my dad’s) reaction to this - I was worried: would this be considered an incredibly irresponsible act that I had done? what was going to happen to my car? So… I called my dad after my interpreter drove me home…he wasn’t mad at me because of the accident but was really glad that I was okay.
My family and I are going to take care of this car situation and we are assured that everything will work out, one way or another. I am truly grateful and blessed that nobody was seriously hurt (well, except maybe my car!) and it could have been much worse.	Another shot of the "accident site."
The line at the stop sign where I was supposed to stop before the accident happened.	As for the condition of my car, it would need an entirely new bumper and hood and the frame is apparently broken. My windows weren’t cracked or anything.
Yes, I did want a new car in the past (who doesn’t know about me being a Miata owner-wannabe!), but this kind of situation helped me realize not to take anything for granted. Anyway…I just wanted you guys to know what happened and that I am really OK – I am still walking on two legs and still can sign with both arms and hands (and fingers too!)	And finally, the "stop sign."

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