Your car

My previous post reminded me of getting your car. Dad keeps saying we didn't "get" it because it was taken right from the tow yard to the junk yard, but I don't know what else to call it. Anyway, Dad got a call on Monday, December 20th (4 months to the day since your accident-so hard to believe it's been that long!) while we were in Frankenmuth with Aunt Becky and Uncle Mike that your car was ready. We knew that we would have 24 hours to get it before the tow yard (Triangle Towing) would start charging for it. Uncle Johnny had already planned on going with Dad the day it was available, so they planned to go on Tuesday morning.
   I knew I would have to have the title available, and I thought I had all those important papers together since I went through some stuff in the spring/summer. I casually went to pull it out of the drawer in our bedroom Monday night and realized that it wasn't in there! I was in a panic. I looked through everything several times, and through papers in the file cabinets and other boxes and crates around the bedroom, but I COULD NOT FIND IT! I even found the original paperwork from Hines Park (AND even the release of lien from Ford Credit) when we bought it, with the application for the title, financing information, etc. I searched for 2 hours and was very upset the whole time that I couldn't find it. I checked online and the Secretary of State website said that duplicate titles could be purchased and available the same day for like an extra $5. I felt better, but still felt bad that Dad would have to deal with this extra step before being able to get your car. It ended up working out, but it was a very stressful night.
  Anyway, Dad had no problem at the Secretary of State that morning and went to get the stuff out of your car. He said the car was 10 times worse than the picture showed on mlive.com of the accident, which was already horrible. When I saw some of the pictures he took, it was hard to believe that you even survived the accident period and that parts of you, like your face, torso, arms and hands were UNSCRATCHED! Praise God for that and for preserving your organs for organ donation. Dad said it was very clear to him how the pillar of the car was what caused your skull fracture. He could also tell how your left leg was so damaged. He said the engine was pushed through the car to the back seat almost. It was hard to tell where your body could've even fit in the car. God's goodness and grace was even evident in all of that wreckage!
   The things that we got out of the car were your swim bag which I was hoping for, your crushed cell phone (we're still trying to see if any data can be recovered from it), the card table in the trunk, and assorted papers, CD's etc. from your car. A lot of these papers had gotten wet since the car was open to the elements in the tow yard all that time which was a shame. The drivers side door and the passenger door from that side were taken off which left it all open. The tow yard people said that the police should've let us get that stuff a long time ago. Some of the papers included a letter from Jake when you turned 16 that gave all kinds of safe driving advice, a paper that you had written out possible improvements from a Skyline game to Katie that she wrote back on (which was adorable), a deck of cards, etc. Dad laid out all the papers on the table at home because they were still wet. Your swim bag reeked (I washed it since I knew that I could do that since I had to wash it when you got home from Haiti). I also washed your WWP speedo and a beach towel. You also had some deodorant in there, cortisone cream and your shampoo/conditioner-typical stuff for you to have with you in your swim bag.
   The tow yard people (they turned out to be a wealth of knowledge) also told Dad that the offset type of collision that you had was the worst kind, even worse than a true head-on collision, because there was nothing to absorb the force of the impact, except you. (I added the "except you" part-sorry!) How I imagine that to be is that you clipped the truck and then it bounced off and the truck hit the drivers side of your car. That answered a lot of questions in my mind, because the kids and I discussed it several times about how it happened and tried to recreate a "head-on" collision with some of Carter's cars from home and we couldn't figure out how the side of your car was hit and how both cars spun around, etc. By the way, John Meadow's work truck was parked next to yours in the tow yard, which Dad took a picture of.
   Someday the detective might meet with us to go over some of the other details of the report, witness accounts, etc. I think I want to know more about what happened that day, but I'm a little afraid of some of the details in case they are disturbing or upsetting. I would like to hear firsthand so I don't have to depend on Dad to relay the details to me, but I also wouldn't mind a "filter". I will have to see how I feel about it once that day comes.
   I guess on a side note, the prosecutor's office isn't charging anyone with anything. It took so long to complete the investigation because since it wasn't a homicide, it was low priority. I don't know if I told you, but the official ruling/cause was "distracted driving/asleep at the wheel" which I guess is the same category. I don't know if it would help to know for sure what happened or not. I don't think there is any way to know for sure unless we were able to ask you. It was a true accident, sweet boy. As I said in the article when I was asked to comment on the accident being found to be your fault, I know you wouldn't hurt yourself or anyone else on purpose. We are human and we make mistakes, sweet boy. No one is mad at you. It wasn't because you were a bad driver, not careful or "inexperienced." It could have happened to ANYONE.

Side note:  When Dad texted me a picture of the inside of your car and said he couldn't believe you even survived the accident, I texted back "Strong boy." You fought as hard as you could. Your fight to stay alive kept your organs going until they could be hooked up to machines at the hospital and used to save 5 other lives. God bless you, sweet boy!