4 YEARS LATER: REMEMBERING THE ACCIDENT

For those that don't know already, 4 years ago I was in a tragic car accident that resulted in a 15-year old girl, Candis Nicole Williams, losing her life. I don't like to remember that day, June 17th, but it seems like of the 20 minutes surrounding that crash I remember every second of, every heartbeat.

It was after 6pm and I was just finishing up my day of work putting up direction signs for the film crew to follow the next day for Food Lion commercial. I had just put up my last sign on exit 30 in Davidson and started to pull my 15' box truck onto Interstate 77. It was a short merge lane, but I didn't think anything of it. I checked my mirrors. Checked ahead of me. I was going to have to ride the emergency lane for a second. Checked my mirrors. Then... BANG. I hit something. My airbag went off (hardly noticed it) and I coasted for about 400 feet before I came to a complete stop. I couldn't see in front of me because the hood was bent upwards. I must have hit a parked car, I thought.

I jumped out of the truck and noticed a Ford Taurus. Not only that, but there were people inside of it! At the same moment I saw the back side of the car catch fire. That wasn't suppose to happen. I ran to the driver's window and beat on it. "Get out of the car. It's on fire". Her door was locked and didn't seem to really understand what I was saying. I ran to the passenger door and was able to open it. I told the girl to hop out of the car. She started to and then saw flames and for some reason wouldn't leave the car, I think seeing the fire had scared her. The back door was locked as well and the door was jammed. The back seat was lifted up a bit from the accident. We were running out of time and options. I ran and found a big stick and told everyone to back away from the windows. I proceeded to knock them all out and reach the stick in for them to grab and be pulled out. The didn't grab.

Meanwhile, the smoke was growing thick and the fire getting stronger. Boats were pulling up alongside the highway and throwing fire extinguishers to assist. Traffic was stopped in both directions along the highway. A crowd of people stood about 50 feet from the car afraid that at any second it would blow up. A few brave souls would grab one of the fire extinguishers and run up to the car for a second, spray and run off. The heat was that bad. I could feel my skin peeling off of my arms and face.

I jumped on the hood of the car and broke out the front windshield. Then grabbed the window with my hands and peeled it back. Miraculously not getting cut at all. I reached the stick in to the older lady that was driving and she finally grabbed it and I pulled her out. Then the younger girl and now the girl in the back was all that was left. She was having difficulty jumping over the front seat. So I ran to the window of her door and yelled for her to grab the stick again. The car was getting so hot and smokey that I couldn't hardly see or breath. I held it into the window as long as I could and ran out for a quick breath. Over and over I did this until finally I saw her... sitting, twirling her scolded blonde locks, her eyes closed, she was at peace. It was over. She never screamed. It was as if she was ready to meet her Maker. I was too at that point. I couldn't take it. I wanted it to be me.

Why her GOD?! She didn't deserve that! She's just a little girl! I was overwhelmed. I walked over the woman that was driving. It was the girl's aunt. I didn't have words, but she did. She actually embrassed me and said "She's at a better place now. She's with Jesus." WHAT!?!?! That was so comforting. I was amazed to hear that from her. HOW could she say that?!

Well, here is what I know about Candis. She loved God. She really and truly did. She and her sister, Stephanie, would spend most of their days in or around their church. She sang in the choir and wasn't afraid to sit on the front row for the service. She was a blessing to those that knew her. She was an angel. Her parents were separated and she lived with her father and his sister (their aunt).

Candis and her aunt and sister had just come from swimming in the lake. Just moments before the accident her aunt had jokingly said, "Candis, you and your sister love the water so much you'll probably both die swimming in it." and Candis' response was, "Whatever the Lord wills." What an amazing response.

Candis' life and death have both made a big difference. From what I have heard from the aunt's sister and their pastor great things are happening. Their family is beginning to attend church more regularly. One or two relatives have gotten saved and the family was given a hefty sum of money from the insurance of the production company that I was working for that week. The production company was also very kind to me.

After the accident, I was charged with 'Homocide by Vehicle', but that was thrown out in the courts after the Defense Attorney (who would normally be against me) pulled out evidence FOR ME that my own lawyer didn't know! It was amazing! I won't go into the details, but the accident wasn't my fault- which was a big burden lifted off of my shoulders. My face and arms looked like fried chicken and the Burn Center at Wakeforest told me that it'd take a year or longer to heal and some of it may never heal. But people prayed and prayed and a week or two later I was fine. Amazing. I'm very grateful to have so many wonderful friends that helped me and loved me during this time. You all meant so much to me. Since the accident I went and visited a 'Shrink', too, (per my sister's recommendation) and it was good. He was a Christian, too, and he offered much wisdom and support. I was against those 'Shrink'-kinda folks, but after trying one I'd recommend them to everyone. We all hate to admit that we have issues that we can't handle on our own, but it's the strength to admit it that helps us to change our condition.

I go and visit Candis' gravesite as often as I can. I lay in the grass and pray for her family and that God will be able to use me to do the work for both her and I. I hope He does. I want to make good choices in my life. I want to help love others.