Car crashes and other matters of life and death

 One night, during my junior year of college, a friend of mine went out in search of his own tombstone.

His name was Eric. He'd spotted an old stone with his own name on it in a local cemetery, and wanted to have it. So one night, he, his girlfriend and a few others went out to see if they could abscond with it.

I'm unclear whether they managed to dig it out of the ground or if they failed at that. I do know that as they drove out of the cemetery with the car lights off, they were broadsided by another car. No one was injured but Eric. They drove to a local hospital--which refused to take him as a patient. The laws were different in those days.

On the way to the next nearest hospital, Eric, moaning in pain, died.

Ours was a very small college, and this was a very large blow. I wrote his eulogy.

I think of this now because a week ago, my daughter, driving across an intersection, was broadsided by someone running a red light. Her car was totaled. But she lived, because today we have side air-bags and better laws. She's dealing with some bruises, but she'll be all right.

So -- share some of your car-crash experiences!

AlextheKay wants to share the pain!