IDAHO NATIONAL TRANSPORTER Idaho
Transportation
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Nathan
Jerke Already this winter, several crashes involving Idaho Transportation Department snow plows have happened. Luckily, most have resulted in nothing more than property damage. Some have sent ITD and civilian drivers to the hospital. I was on the scene of one of these recent crashes where a civilian was sent to the hospital for apparent minor injuries. I did what I could to help at the scene, but it was obvious the crash – and the resulting injuries – affected others more than me. While I’ll make no suggestion that I did anything special (what I learned in that flagging class did come in handy after all), the first few moments after an accident always seems surreal to me. Surprise is quickly replaced with concern, adrenaline rushes through the body, and then a feeling of regret might creep in. Without much for snow gear, I stood as an observer and flagger in the snow while a sheriff’s deputy investigated, EMS worked with the crash victim, and the other ITD employees did what they had to do to assist around the site. For me, still learning the structure and duties of ITD, my appreciation of our maintenance crews grows every time I’m around them. It was the human, vulnerable side of the job that showed up on the side of the road. But, even in the most vulnerable time, the care and professionalism of the crew members for the job was never more apparent. For more District 4 news see the February edition of Interchange. Published 2-15-8 |