Haunted by a Train Wreck
Donation protected
One of the hardest things I have ever written or had to do -- this. I am one that keeps things inside and have NEVER been one to ask for help, I even have a hard time accepting little favors from others. However, my mom and I are in a desperate situation and need help now more than ever,
A little over 1 year ago a tragic accident occurred resulting in immediate life changes physically, mentally, emotionally and financially - well, in every possible way for my mom, stepdad (a tow truck driver) and I. Last October Lamar, my stepdad, was dispatched to pull a car stuck on the railroad track off. The train station told the Gwinnett County Police Officer they shut the tracks down and it was “safe to proceed”, and then gave Lamar the “go-ahead” to load the car. With surrounding commotion, noises, tow truck running, everyone’s focus on the car, officer speaking to the driver, etc. the unexpected happened - here comes an Amtrak train around the corner. The train conductor didn’t blow the horn when supposed to so no one knew a train was traveling 70+ mph and within seconds from them until the crossing guard began beeping, lights were flashing and arms were coming down. The officer yelled for everyone to run but my stepdad didn’t hear him. He had just got done backing the truck up when he saw the crossing guard blinking all lit up. As he was jumping out of his truck to run, the train plowed into the car flipping tow truck, and luckily throwing Lamar away from it rather than truck landing on him. Luckily, he walked away with a broken pelvis, fractured elbow and knee, bruised ribs and scrapes. I attached a link to one article I could find. Although my mom wasn’t financially prepared, she wound up having to retire early to take him to all of his surgeries, appointments (almost daily), and care for him at home since he couldn’t walk for months and hasn’t been back to work.
The past couple months have been very, VERY, HARD to navigate financially and has finally taken its toll. All of our options have run out. Lamar was receiving worker’s compensation but that ended a couple months ago when it was decided he couldn’t return to strenuous work. That said social security is not enough to live on. I have done everything I could do while not working myself to help her financially while I was also trying to get by and pay MY bills. I cashed out my savings account and 401k from my previous job, and will be starting a new one hopefully in December. My mom also returned to work to remedy the situation, but we all know employers hold the 1st check so it will be about 5 weeks before she gets one. I have done things to reduce the bills. I got rid of the $200+ a month cable bill and set up Hulu. Once my mom and I get some paychecks coming in we will be able to get back on our feet. Until then, I need to ask for help. We/I have never been in this situation so I find this extremely hard, especially when I have always been on the other end helping those that are in my shoes. I never realized just how much bills add up to and how quickly they come due. Every bill is a month late, almost two. It is a terrible feeling when thoughts are running through your mind every second of every day wondering how you are going to pay for this, or that. How you and your pets are going to eat. What you will do when the little bit of gas you have in your tank runs out and you need more in order to get back and forth to work, what about power and my car insurance?, How I am going get my monthly prescriptions … everything. I cannot put into words the scared, sad, sick feelings and emotions I am experiencing.
I sincerely appreciate anyone that took the time to read this and any help you can give, even if $1, it would help at this point, or words of encouragement.
A little over 1 year ago a tragic accident occurred resulting in immediate life changes physically, mentally, emotionally and financially - well, in every possible way for my mom, stepdad (a tow truck driver) and I. Last October Lamar, my stepdad, was dispatched to pull a car stuck on the railroad track off. The train station told the Gwinnett County Police Officer they shut the tracks down and it was “safe to proceed”, and then gave Lamar the “go-ahead” to load the car. With surrounding commotion, noises, tow truck running, everyone’s focus on the car, officer speaking to the driver, etc. the unexpected happened - here comes an Amtrak train around the corner. The train conductor didn’t blow the horn when supposed to so no one knew a train was traveling 70+ mph and within seconds from them until the crossing guard began beeping, lights were flashing and arms were coming down. The officer yelled for everyone to run but my stepdad didn’t hear him. He had just got done backing the truck up when he saw the crossing guard blinking all lit up. As he was jumping out of his truck to run, the train plowed into the car flipping tow truck, and luckily throwing Lamar away from it rather than truck landing on him. Luckily, he walked away with a broken pelvis, fractured elbow and knee, bruised ribs and scrapes. I attached a link to one article I could find. Although my mom wasn’t financially prepared, she wound up having to retire early to take him to all of his surgeries, appointments (almost daily), and care for him at home since he couldn’t walk for months and hasn’t been back to work.
The past couple months have been very, VERY, HARD to navigate financially and has finally taken its toll. All of our options have run out. Lamar was receiving worker’s compensation but that ended a couple months ago when it was decided he couldn’t return to strenuous work. That said social security is not enough to live on. I have done everything I could do while not working myself to help her financially while I was also trying to get by and pay MY bills. I cashed out my savings account and 401k from my previous job, and will be starting a new one hopefully in December. My mom also returned to work to remedy the situation, but we all know employers hold the 1st check so it will be about 5 weeks before she gets one. I have done things to reduce the bills. I got rid of the $200+ a month cable bill and set up Hulu. Once my mom and I get some paychecks coming in we will be able to get back on our feet. Until then, I need to ask for help. We/I have never been in this situation so I find this extremely hard, especially when I have always been on the other end helping those that are in my shoes. I never realized just how much bills add up to and how quickly they come due. Every bill is a month late, almost two. It is a terrible feeling when thoughts are running through your mind every second of every day wondering how you are going to pay for this, or that. How you and your pets are going to eat. What you will do when the little bit of gas you have in your tank runs out and you need more in order to get back and forth to work, what about power and my car insurance?, How I am going get my monthly prescriptions … everything. I cannot put into words the scared, sad, sick feelings and emotions I am experiencing.
I sincerely appreciate anyone that took the time to read this and any help you can give, even if $1, it would help at this point, or words of encouragement.
Organizer
Emily Bourke
Organizer
Duluth, GA
