This is a true story. It recently occurred outside of Kalispell. 

Night has fallen. A senior adult traveling south on a rural two lane paved road hits a deer. The animal dies immediately, remaining in front of the car, with the driver staying in her automobile. A citizen traveling in the north bound lane stops to help. He puts out flares. Another south bound car rear ends the senior adult. The one who ran into the parked car gets out of her car, but leaves it in reverse. Her vehicle backs down the road approximately 500 feet before going into the ditch. She pursues it.

 
In the meantime another northbound vehicle hits the man who had stopped to help the senior adult. The struck victim crashes into the windshield, flies over the vehicle and onto the road. Soon afterwards, another vehicle runs over him and stops on top of him.

“Life is fragile and valuable; live today with gratitude and treat life as a gift, even on difficult days.”

Chaplain Drew Buckner

Chaplain Randy Olson responds as do I, though Randy arrives first and interacts with drivers and loved ones of the injured man. By the time I arrive only responders are on scene. 

Randy and I both make our way to the hospital. He does follow up. Firefighters report that it took thirty minutes to discern what exactly had happened. 

The driver miraculously survived, but was very seriously injured. Multiple lessons could be learned: If you are involved in an auto accident, get off of the road as soon as possible; drive with maximum alertness and caution; know that accidents require everyone to slow down when passing by; life is fragile and valuable; live today with gratitude and treat life as a gift, even on difficult days.