I don't know if the driver was reaching for a cell phone, changing radio stations, or just wasn't paying attention. All I saw was the little white car clip a trailer, and then go spinning out of control. On I-74 W between Champagne and Farmer City, Illinois, parts of a Pontiac were flying everywhere as I repeated "In Jesus Name!"
The car disappeared down in the center median… still spinning.
After calling 911, I made my way across traffic to the car. Incredibly, the car had spun back onto the highway and never flipped.
I hated the feeling of not knowing what I was about to see inside the car that was missing much of its front end.
I found the driver already out and standing next to the car. Miraculously, she didn't seem to be hurt. Her car was destroyed, facing the wrong way, and partially blocking oncoming traffic. We made it back to the other side of the road and her first words were, "I think I'm going to be sick…"
The young lady was a college student going home for the weekend. She wasn't sure what had happened and only remembered clipping the trailer. I offered to let her sit in my rental car while I waited outside the car for an Illinois State Trooper.
It took 15 minutes and countless near-accidents before the IHP finally showed up. During that time, I stood on the side of a highway looking around. The whole thing overwhelming – somebody's little girl was in accident. It made me wonder what my little girl is doing right then.
As I waited on the side of the road, I did what all dads do in that situation. I stood with my hands in my pockets, with tears in my eyes, and thought about my daughter, my son, my wife, my friends, my church and those I love most.
Later, I gave the officers my contact information, told them what I had seen and moved out of their way. As I left, I told the young lady that I had prayed for her the moment I saw her car spinning and that I believe that God had kept her safe. She smiled.
As I walked off she caught me, gave me a hug… and said, "thank you" – then went back to the officers.
As reality set in, the OU football game that I was missing didn't seem like that big of a deal. The Papa Del's pizza getting cold in my car wasn't that big of a deal. The stock market that day wasn't that big of a deal. The game would go on, the pizza could be reheated and my pastor friends waiting on me would understand why I was late. I realized that night, many of the things we are consumed by aren't that big of a deal.