I saw a man die today
It started like any other day.
The same morning routine followed by the drive to work.
2 minutes before my exit I saw what appeared to be a blanket fly up into the air.
But as it began it's descent I knew it was a man.
He was a motorcyclist who had just struck a deer.
I stopped and ran to the guy, arriving just as another man did.
A third man was walking towards us and I asked him to call 911.
The motorcyclist was lying on his side breathing into a puddle of his own blood.
The ripples of his breaths clearly visible.
His eyes were open, but he was unresponsive.
I stopped the other guy from moving him fearful of us doing more damage.
Within seconds a State police DOT guy arrived on the scene.
He must have been in the traffic to arrive so quickly.
I had my hand on the man's shoulder and was trying to use comfort phrases like "Hang in there" Help is coming"
A few minutes passed in a blur.
Then the officer asked us to return to our vehicles and move our cars to make room for emergency response.
I said I didn't want to go until the EMTs arrived.
The cop looked at me and said politely..., "Sir, he's dead. There's nothing you can do for him."
I looked back down and the ripples were gone.
Eyes still open. Pain written on his face.
I didn't know him.
But i'll never forget him.....
The last thing I noticed was his wedding ring.
This is gonna stick with me for a while I think...
The same morning routine followed by the drive to work.
2 minutes before my exit I saw what appeared to be a blanket fly up into the air.
But as it began it's descent I knew it was a man.
He was a motorcyclist who had just struck a deer.
I stopped and ran to the guy, arriving just as another man did.
A third man was walking towards us and I asked him to call 911.
The motorcyclist was lying on his side breathing into a puddle of his own blood.
The ripples of his breaths clearly visible.
His eyes were open, but he was unresponsive.
I stopped the other guy from moving him fearful of us doing more damage.
Within seconds a State police DOT guy arrived on the scene.
He must have been in the traffic to arrive so quickly.
I had my hand on the man's shoulder and was trying to use comfort phrases like "Hang in there" Help is coming"
A few minutes passed in a blur.
Then the officer asked us to return to our vehicles and move our cars to make room for emergency response.
I said I didn't want to go until the EMTs arrived.
The cop looked at me and said politely..., "Sir, he's dead. There's nothing you can do for him."
I looked back down and the ripples were gone.
Eyes still open. Pain written on his face.
I didn't know him.
But i'll never forget him.....
The last thing I noticed was his wedding ring.
This is gonna stick with me for a while I think...
