My Accident
On the Great old Gravel Nass Road
Oct 4, 1973
The Hazards of the Job! Tourists that didn't know which side of the
road to drive on! This couple from Nelson, were heading south at
the old 52 mile hairpin corner, (now cut straight through on the left in
this picture). The man and his wife were taken to Terrace Hospital by Helicopter,
and I got to ride in the plush 1950 era, Columbia Cellulose Ambulance.
Broken wrist, and nose and eye cuts for me. Lacerated Liver and internal
bleeding for the wife, and facial cuts for the driver. 2 German shepherd
dogs were killed in the back seat, from the spare tire ripping through
the back seat, from the force of the impact. Another reason to always
bolt the spare tire in place after it is changed or used. It becomes
a lethal projectile when you have a head on accident. This is proof!
In those days all we had was lap belts, and if I was wearing a shoulder
belt, I might have had only the broken wrist. In 1973 the vehicles
didn't have collapsible steering wheel shafts, and when the car hit the
front wheels of the truck, it pushed the steering wheel up into my face.
The good news we all lived through it!
The first person on the scene, and the one who called for help, turned
out to be my neighbour, Trevor Hansen, who was hauling cedar poles south
at the time, and was about 1/4 mile behind the car. I was driving
a BC Tel Dodge Power Wagon at the time. I was doing approx 30-40 mph, and
he was estimated to be doing about 50-60, so the impact was equivalent
to about 90-100 mph head-on into a wall.
The Gory details---
By the time Trevor got to me, I was able to open the passenger door, and
climb out, into the ditch. The whole time not being able to see,
due to the blood from the cut above my eye, and across my nose. When
Trevor finally came up to me, he turned away and got sick. Boy that
gave me loads of encouragement! When he turned back to look at me
the 2nd time, he ended up getting sick again. Then I knew I wasn't
a very pretty sight. He finally recovered enough, to give me a rag
to wipe the blood from my eyes, so I could see clearly. That is when
I told him to go see the people in the other car, since I could hear the
one dog still barking. When he opened the door, the one dog that
was still alive, took off running, and was found dead, a few months
later by a trapper in the area.
Old Nass Road
This is a small lake off the old Nass Road, in this photo
I am pretty sure it is called Sand Lake.
Lat/ Long- 54°58'09''N, 128°58'12''W
Now this road is called the Nisga'a Highway,
or officially now, Highway 113 (2015)
Lake located between Kalum Lake and Lava Lake.
Oscar Peak would be just to the left in this picture. Named after Oscar Olander.
I think this was where the home of an old trapper was,
On the spit just north of the pullout there.
I might be wrong on that part.
Photo of Sand Lake by Brian Wolfe
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