Kinda like in the movies....

I see movies everywhere in everything...mostly while 'people watching' and general observations. Normally what I see and hear are quite comical or otherwise enterataining.  I wish they all were.

Yesterday I went visited Disneyland with a friend and really had a great time.  We're both 'Mouse House' veterns, so we didn't feel the need to rush around to each and every single ride, attraction or show like chickens with our heads cut off.  It was a leisurely day of trying out "lesser" attractions for the first time and visting recently added rides.

One attraction I wish I hadn't seen was the one where an SUV unknowingly drives over a man lying in the middle of a major highway.  It was very disturbing...like in a thriller movie.  Except it wasn't a movie.

On the drive home, we were having a good laugh about the day, singing songs and (like normal) dreading having to wake up early for work the next day.  We closed the park down...and were glad to do it.  

A little over halfway home, I saw a car parked on the shoulder.  I glanced at it and briefly wondered what happened.   Then it became clear.

I drove past a MAN'S body lying the in lane to my right.  A man's lifeless body.

It was dark.  The highway was six lanes of pretty steady traffic, despite the late hour.  Speeds were set well above a meandering pace.  Just when the realization hit that an ACTUAL PERSON was in the highway, an SUV sped over him.    He stopped, we didn't.

Our speed, location and surrounding drivers prevented me from doing so.  We all would have been compromised if I did.  I can't even fully describe what either I nor my friend felt.  I continued to drive and urged my friend to take my phone to call 911.  She did.  Stunned, dismayed, appalled are all inappropriate descriptions for what we felt.   I immediately prayed for all involved.    

We made it home purely by the Grace of God.  I dropped my friend home then continued on to the (longer) street route home.  I was done with the highway for the night.

Showered and safely in my bed,  I thought about how the tragedy we witnessed was kinda like a movie.  But not at all.  There was no stunt man, no carefully placed cars, no fake blood, no intricate choreography.  It was real.  A man was dead.  And at least two cars ran over him.

Later in the morning...this all happened about 12:45am (as I said, we closed the park down)...I researched more about the accident, despite my better judgement.  I found one article that  pointed to the same event.  Apparently a man was running in the highway and a lady (in the car on the shoulder) struck him.  She pulled over and reported it.  Then, because he was still in the middle of the highway, other cars ran over him.  It is not clear why the man was running in the street.  The woman who initially hit him was not injured nor cited for any wrong doing...which is good, because I'm beyond traumatized by seeing it.  I can't imagine if I was actually a part of it.  I thanked (and am thanking Him continuously) that I did not runover or hit him.  I don't think I'd be able to handle it.  I know I wouldn't have.

Life is precious.  I am ever grateful to my Creator that he spared mine yesterday [and then].  Prayers again to all involved and the family of the deceased.