Tuesday of this week, Jackson texted me saying "I crashed at JTEC". I was doing TRX over Zoom, and I didn't see the text come through. An hour later when I did see it, I was pretty worried that he used the word "crash" , and also that he didn't actually call us to see what he should do etc. I had to call him several times before he picked up, and he explained that while parking, he hit a girl's car and caused minimal damage. We went over the proper procedure for handling an accident, namely, CALLING your parents to get a hold of them immediately for help!
Three days later, on a Friday morning during my muscle mix class, my phone rang. Luckily it was close by and I heard it, because I picked up and Jackson said " I'm hanging upside down in the minivan! I got in a real crash this time!" I just dropped everything and ran to my car to get over there as fast as I could! At least I knew he wasn't too hurt because he called me, but I was so confused as to how the van could roll when he was on Friendship and Mirabella, in our neighborhood! When I arrived at the scene, a fireman ran over to me first to let me know that everyone was ok, and that Jackson was really nervous about how I would react. I was in total shock looking at the minivan and the other car, an old Audi convertible. Jackson was driving with Ethan in the front seat to go pick up their prom dates to get tested for COVID19 (in order to attend the dance, everyone had to be tested). Ethan was navigating to his date's house, and had told Jackson to turn left. So Jackson got in the suicide lane to turn left, and then Ethan asked him to instead turn right. From the suicide lane, Jackson turned right, only checking his mirror. He did not do a head check, and consequently , a teenage girl drove into the passenger side door and pushed both vehicles into a retention ditch on the side of the road. The boys described the roll as being very slow, and those seatbelts did their jobs keeping them completely safe! They were able to unbuckle and crawl out the back of the van, where a witness had opened the trunk for them.
After all the paperwork was filled out, information was collected, Ethan's mom offered to take the boys to the rest of their prom activities. Sweet Becky Bowen saw me run out of the gym, and she came and stood outside with me in the freezing cold air just to be a support. It was such a nice thing for her to do, and I wouldn't have thought I would have needed that, or I wouldn't have thought to offer that for someone, but I loved having her there to help process the overwhelming situation! It was a testimony to me that Heavenly Father is aware of me specifically, and he often sends me ministering angels in times of need!
I went home and got in my nice warm bed and just bawled thinking of how serious that accident could have been. Jackson spoke in church two days later and described how he felt the Spirit and knew that he and Ethan were in God's hands being protected. I don't know when we will be ready for Jackson, or any of our kids to be behind the wheel again, but this was a memorable learning experience for us all on many levels!
