Former state representative Mike Mass critically injured, wife killed in Atoka County collision

[steelfingers]

I knew Mike when he was the head of appropriations. He got in over his head and ended up convicted of taking a bribe from a casino group wanting to do business with the new tribal gaming. He wrote a book about it called "under the ivy" (I think. It's a good read since I know everyone he mentions and a few of the half truths.
Gambling debts past his eye balls and the corrective nature as chair of appropriations, was his downfall. He was more than a bit arrogant, but that okay if you can keep your perspective.
I pray for him and his family. I know exactly where this happened as it only a few miles from where I live. If you know the area, it's the road exiting the casino (enough said).

 

[TerryMiller]

Dave,

Thanks for that. It sounds like you have been fortunate, and my prayers are with you that you don't have serious health issues or injuries. Plus, you are proof positive that seat belts save lives.

 

[steelfingers]

From: <me>
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 2:04 PM
To: <my team and others at work>
Subject: That's How I Roll...

Dear Friends,

by now, I think you’ve all heard I was in an accident on Sunday. Since you’ve been asking, I wanted to give you all the details, latest updates, etc.

The Accident

I was northbound on I-35, exiting to I-40 westbound. I think you all know this was a bad intersection to begin with, and the construction hasn’t improved anything. Entering the ramp at Point 1, a white something-or-other cut me off on the left side, from the emergency lane. I swerved to avoid and broke the rear end loose. I fishtailed all the way down the highway (Area 2), somehow missing all of the concrete barriers. Toward the end of the ramp , after I had cleared all of concrete sections (Point 3), I departed the pavement. I suspect I fell off with the right rear tire first, based on how it rolled. I completed one full roll to the right side, coming to rest on the tires just under the bridge at Point 4.

View attachment 128584

I believe the roll actually benefitted me—as I was headed down the ramp, I could see the concrete pillar for the bridge ahead of me, so I think the roll dissipated a lot of energy that would otherwise have sent me into the pylon.

The Damage

Definitely totaled. Front windshield broken (the safety glass held together, though); left window shattered; rear windshield ejected whole; right and left rear quarter windows shattered; left A-pillar and both D-pillars collapsed; both fenders damaged; roof collapsed; undoubtedly other stuff that’s less visible.

View attachment 128585

View attachment 128586

View attachment 128587
View attachment 128588
View attachment 128589

View attachment 128591

Injuries

2 minor/none. I walked away literally laughing (adrenaline dump and a minor whang to the head may have contributed to the latter bit). I had a slightly sore neck and a cut from some glass. I reported to the hospital Monday morning after experiencing tremors, some stuttering, and mild aphasia. The doc gave me a CT, during which times symptoms abated. The ER doc looked at the CT and said—and I quote—“you don’t have a swollen head.” (So there!) I still have a small piece of glass in my hand, but the orthopedic surgeon is on vacation this week. It’s really just an annoyance. Canis doofus walked away with his tail wagging and proceeded to make friends with the responding patrolman.

Reflections

First and foremost: I’m lucky to have walked out of this one.

Second: very little luck was involved. Amusingly enough, I was discussing the amazing safety technology that has come out of the racing industry not 24 hours before the accident. Most importantly, I was wearing my seat belt! When the roof the ground, it hit hard; everything in the car went to the ceiling. It even emptied the seat-back pockets, and I found the ejecta all over the car and the highway. If I had not been strapped in, the best case is that I would have come down on my head with my full weight; worst case, I could have been ejected too. The airbags did not deploy, but they would have been no help in this case. My seat belt absolutely saved my life, and the way the frame soaked up energy kept me from any serious harm.

Third, go see the doc right away. I felt fine immediately, but a day later, started to lose the ability to form sentences. As most of y’all know, I don’t generally lack for words, so that’s a pretty significant deal for me. I’m still a little bit twitchy, but it’s getting better.

Y’all stay safe out there; I should be in the office tomorrow.

--Dave​

...so wear your damned seat belts, y'all!

Wow Dave.

 

[Dave70968]

Dave,

Thanks for that. It sounds like you have been fortunate, and my prayers are with you that you don't have serious health issues or injuries. Plus, you are proof positive that seat belts save lives.

Wow Dave.

Thank you both, and no, I don't know of any lasting health effects; matter of fact, I never even saw the surgeon about getting the glass sliver removed--it either came out on its own or became safely encapsulated.

I keep that around for discussions just such as this one. I don't believe in seat belt laws--I think you ought to be free to risk your own dumb ass however you choose--but I absolutely advocate in favor of seat belt use (ditto motorcycle helmets). I wasn't kidding about walking away laughing; I truly was. I also wasn't kidding about what would have happened if I hadn't been belted in; I'd have broken my neck at best.

This is my opportunity to be either a valuable lesson or a terrible warning, however you choose to see it.

 

[MacFromOK]

Glad yer still here.

 

[Dale00]

Dave - Amazing story. We need such reminders to be careful (not that you weren't) and to be grateful for good engineering and providence!

 

[Catt57]

From: <me>
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 2:04 PM
To: <my team and others at work>
Subject: That's How I Roll...

Dear Friends,

by now, I think you’ve all heard I was in an accident on Sunday. Since you’ve been asking, I wanted to give you all the details, latest updates, etc.

The Accident

I was northbound on I-35, exiting to I-40 westbound. I think you all know this was a bad intersection to begin with, and the construction hasn’t improved anything. Entering the ramp at Point 1, a white something-or-other cut me off on the left side, from the emergency lane. I swerved to avoid and broke the rear end loose. I fishtailed all the way down the highway (Area 2), somehow missing all of the concrete barriers. Toward the end of the ramp , after I had cleared all of concrete sections (Point 3), I departed the pavement. I suspect I fell off with the right rear tire first, based on how it rolled. I completed one full roll to the right side, coming to rest on the tires just under the bridge at Point 4.

View attachment 128584

I believe the roll actually benefitted me—as I was headed down the ramp, I could see the concrete pillar for the bridge ahead of me, so I think the roll dissipated a lot of energy that would otherwise have sent me into the pylon.

The Damage

Definitely totaled. Front windshield broken (the safety glass held together, though); left window shattered; rear windshield ejected whole; right and left rear quarter windows shattered; left A-pillar and both D-pillars collapsed; both fenders damaged; roof collapsed; undoubtedly other stuff that’s less visible.

View attachment 128585

View attachment 128586

View attachment 128587
View attachment 128588
View attachment 128589

View attachment 128591

Injuries

2 minor/none. I walked away literally laughing (adrenaline dump and a minor whang to the head may have contributed to the latter bit). I had a slightly sore neck and a cut from some glass. I reported to the hospital Monday morning after experiencing tremors, some stuttering, and mild aphasia. The doc gave me a CT, during which times symptoms abated. The ER doc looked at the CT and said—and I quote—“you don’t have a swollen head.” (So there!) I still have a small piece of glass in my hand, but the orthopedic surgeon is on vacation this week. It’s really just an annoyance. Canis doofus walked away with his tail wagging and proceeded to make friends with the responding patrolman.

Reflections

First and foremost: I’m lucky to have walked out of this one.

Second: very little luck was involved. Amusingly enough, I was discussing the amazing safety technology that has come out of the racing industry not 24 hours before the accident. Most importantly, I was wearing my seat belt! When the roof the ground, it hit hard; everything in the car went to the ceiling. It even emptied the seat-back pockets, and I found the ejecta all over the car and the highway. If I had not been strapped in, the best case is that I would have come down on my head with my full weight; worst case, I could have been ejected too. The airbags did not deploy, but they would have been no help in this case. My seat belt absolutely saved my life, and the way the frame soaked up energy kept me from any serious harm.

Third, go see the doc right away. I felt fine immediately, but a day later, started to lose the ability to form sentences. As most of y’all know, I don’t generally lack for words, so that’s a pretty significant deal for me. I’m still a little bit twitchy, but it’s getting better.

Y’all stay safe out there; I should be in the office tomorrow.

--Dave​

...so wear your damned seat belts, y'all!

WoW! Glad ypu were able to walk away..