My Personal Ordeal (June 1, 1970/7:45 a.m.)

I had just started my first job since graduating high school and finally turning

18. My father bought me a car so I could go to and from work - a 1964 Rambler.

This car had no carpet, no radio, no electronic equipment - it was just me and the

car and the open road!

I had started working for State Farm Insurance on August 31 and felt I made

a good impression. However, the second day of my new job, June 1, would

pan out to become quite different from how that day began.

I was heading into the office, ready to work, and was on Cleveland Avenue,

which crosses Main Street in East Point, Georgia. The train runs usually from

about 7:00 to 8:00 so it was not uncommon for me to have to stop, wait for

the train, then go to the office less than 5 minutes away.

I sat there, red light, and heard, and saw nothing. The arms for the cross did not

lower. There were no bells or whistles or angels waving at me to stop and think

for one second. Nope! I saw nothing, heard nothing, and proceeded to turn

right on to the railroad tracks.

That's when it happened. For whatever reason, the car stalled at that exact moment.

I heard this sound coming from underneath the carriage of the car. The car was

shaking. I was shaking.

I turned to my left and was immediately greeted by a massive engine, running a speed

of about 15 mph for the crosswalk, and my Rambler and the nose of that train

became instantly acquainted.

Right into the driver's door, the train hit, and I could hear the sound of the metal

crunching and curling around me, placing me in a metal cocoon. The car then

began to curl on to the right side as the train continued to push my car down the

tracks. They said we were pushed 170 yards. I don't recall how far, but I screamed

until the train and car stopped.

Once stopped, the car was shaped like a "U" on its right side. I looked up to the

cab of the train. My eyes locked with the engineer's eyes. I will never forget the

look in his eyes. I was 18 then, and I'll be 72 soon. I'll never forget that man's

eyes.

The car door opened up on to the tracks and I was pulled out of the car. The gas

pedal was stuck in its position as was the clutch where I had tried to get it started

and moved. They took me to the hospital from the scene.

I had no broken bones. I had no scratches. I had one really big bruise from my

left hip down to my left ankle - but other than that, I had been untouched. My

car took the majority of the impact. I complained about not getting a new car.

The old car had the frame still built in it - and that is what saved my life. I'm

grateful I had that old car.

The insurance company came to me about the accident. I knew this was coming,

I worked with State Farm! When the man got there, I was told that the settlement

could be as little as 1,000,000. I was 18 and in the state of Georgia. I would not

have kept any of the money. Had I known at the time about the man driving

the train who hit me - I would have taken the money and given it to him because

the day after he hit me? That man quit his job. I didn't know any better, so instead,

I refused the money.

Yep folks, I honestly did. I was disowned a short time later for doing that deed. It's

ok. My car saved my life and I'm alive today because of divine intervention? The car?

The time of day? The driver? Or a combination of them all?

I survived a direct impact of a moving train with my car on the driver's side on

morning in Georgia in 1970. I'm not a millionaire, but i've had a very full

life. I knew I would have this great life - I couldn't let a train stop me , now

could I?